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Guelph Gryphons logo.1950-2000
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The University of Guelph plays their collegiate football in the city of Guelph. The Guelph Gryphons football program started their collegiate football program in 1950 (prior to 1968 they were known as the OAC Aggies). But much like other football programs in Canada, Guelph started playing rugby-football in the late 19th century. The first significant date in Guelph history was in 1925 in which Guelph fielded an intercollegiate rugby team in which they were group champions for that year.3
The OAC Aggies from 1925.Circa 1925
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Game program for the OAC Aggies.1955-1960
Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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During the 20th century, the Gryphons were in four other football conferences. Guelph's best seasons were during their time in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA). The Gryphons first successful season within the OUA was during 1981 in which Guelph made it to their first Yates Cup championship. In that season, Guelph finished the season with a 4-2-1 record and played a semi-final game against the University of Toronto (U of T) in which Guelph went on to win and played the Western Mustangs in the Yates Cup championship. In their first ever Yates Cup championship game, Guelph came up short as they lost 17-7.Guelph's next successful season was in 1984 in which they finished that season with a 9-3 record within the CIAU. With that record, Guelph played in their second ever Yates Cup which Guelph won their first ever Yates Cup in school history as they defeated McMaster 31-26. With that win in the Yates Cup, Guelph went on to play in the Central Bowl in one of the national semi-finals. This Central Bowl was Guelph's first and last time they participated in. In this game, Guelph played and defeated the Calgary Dinos by the score of 12-7. With that victory Guelph participated in their first ever Vanier Cup against the Mount Allison Mounties. In the championship game, Mount Allison was leading the game 13-7 until the fourth quarter when Guelph score 15 straight points, and won their first Vanier Cup 22-13.
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Guelph fans at the 1984 Vanier Cup.24 November 1984
Varsity Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Game action from the 1984 Vanier Cup.24 November 1984
Varsity Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Blaine Schmidt with the Vanier Cup.24 November 1984
Varsity Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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To end the 1980s, Guelph returned to two more Yates Cup championships both resulting in losses to Western and Laurier respectively. During the 1990s, Guelph made two more Yates Cup appearances. Guelph's first Yates Cup appearance in the 1990s was during the the 1992 season in which Guelph went on to play and defeat the Western Mustangs 45-10. With their second Yates Cup in school history, Guelph went on to play in the Churchill Bowl where Guelph went on to play the Queen's Golden Gaels. In this national semi-final game, Queen's went on to win the game 23-16, and Guelph was denied the chance to return to the Vanier Cup.Guelphs next time they were in the Yates Cup was during the 1996 season, where Guelph played the Waterloo Warriors. In the Ontario championship, Guelph captured their third Yates Cup in history as they won the game 23-13. With that win in the Yates Cup, Guelph returned to the Churchill Bowl where they played the Saskatchewan Huskies, and in this national semi-final game, Saskatchewan defeated Guelph 33-9 and once again was denied a chance to play in the Vanier Cup.
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