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Waterloo Warriors logo.1957-2000
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The Waterloo Warriors started their collegiate football program during the 1957 season in which Waterloo were a part of the Ontario Intercollegiate Football Conference (OIFC), which was a combination of newly appointed schools and as well schools that were previous instituted. The Warriors were part of this conference until the end of the 1966 season.Following their stint in the OIFC, Waterloo had moved to another football conference with 11 other universities. The Conference that Waterloo was a part of during that time was the Central Canada Intercollegiate Football Conference (CCIFC) to the end of the 1970 season.
Following the CCIFC season, the Warriors entered the Ontario University Athletic Association (OUAA) from 1971-1973, they were in the same division as Western, and Windsor University. During their time within the OUAA, the Warriors compiled an 8-15 record with their best season was during the 1971 season in which they finished a 4-4 record.
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The next conference in which the Warriors in played in was the Ontario-Quebec Intercollegiate Football Conference (OQIFC). During the Warriors time in the OQIFC, Waterloo made their first playoff appearance in school history in 1978 when they played a semi-final game against the Wilfred Laurier Golden Hawks. In that semi-final game, the Warriors lost a close game 30-23. Even with that loss, this was the most successful season up to date in which they finished the season with a 4-3 record.Waterloo's next playoff appearance was during the 1989 season in which they were part of the Ontario University Association (OUA). In the 1989 season, the Warriors finished another season in which they had another 4-3 record. In that playoff semi-final game against Western University, the Warriors were outmatched as they were defeated 49-7. Also during the 1989 season, former head coach and Canadian Football Hall of Fame Member Dave 'Tuffy' Knight won the Frank Tindall award for being the best coach in collegiate football that season. Dave Knight was the first coach in Waterloo history to win the Frank Tindall Award.
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Dave Knight with the Frank Tindall award.Circa 1989
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Credits:Lewko Hryhorijiw
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Waterloo's first playoff victory came during the 1996 season in which Waterloo finished that season with a 7-1 record, their best record in school history. In the Yates Cup semi-final game against Wilfred Laurier, Waterloo won the game in overtime by the score of 26-23 and advanced to their first Yates Cup championship. In the Yates Cup final against the Guelph Gryphons, once again Waterloo put up a effort but came up short in the Yates Cup as they were defeated 23-13.In the following season with that momentum in hand, Waterloo once again finished an outstanding season with a 6-2 record and once again in contention for the Yates Cup. Waterloo defeated the Golden Hawks in semi-final action 45-6 and went on to play in their second straight Yates Cup against the Western Mustangs. In this seasons Yates Cup game, Waterloo went on to win their first Yates Cup in school history 30-10, and with that win Waterloo went on to play in the Churchill Bowl against the Ottawa Gee-Gees. In the national semi-final game, the Warriors lost the game 44-37, but that was not the end of this story for this season. It was found out that Ottawa was using an ineligible player in that bowl game and had to forfeit that bowl game, so Waterloo won that game 1-0, but it was too late for them to participate in the Vanier Cup game.
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Game program from the 1997 Churchill Bowl.15 November 1997
Frank Clair Stadium, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Roster from the 1997 Churchill Bowl.15 November 1997
Frank Clair Stadium, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Waterloo's next Yates Cup victory was in 1999 in which the Warriors defeated the Golden Hawks 32-21 for their second Yates Cup in school history. With their second Yates Cup in school history, the Warriors went on to play in their first ever Atlantic Bowl in Halifax. The Warriors played the AUS champions, Saint Mary's Huskies in which they were defeated 21-14 and were denied another chance to play for the Vanier Cup. In the Warriors time, this was a team in which they were good enough to get so far but not complete their championship dreams. |
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