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Ottawa Gee-Gees logo.1894-2000
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The Ottawa Gee-Gees started their football program in the latter part of the 19th century in which they were known as Ottawa College. Ottawa College started playing in the Quebec Rugby Football Union (QRFU) during the 1894 season. In their first season, Ottawa College finished the regular season in first place by going 4-0. By being in first place that year, the Canadian final was set and it was between Queen's University who was a member of the Ontario Rugby Football Union (ORFU) and Ottawa College. In the championship game, Ottawa College won the championship game when they defeated Queen's university by the score of 8-7. Ottawa's time in the QRFU was a successful one in which they won seven more Quebec championships and four national championships.The next union in which Ottawa College would play for is the Canadian Intercollegiate Rugby Football Union (CIRFU) in which they were a part of from 1905 to 1912. During their time within the CIRFU, Ottawa College would only win one championship which was during the 1907 season, when the won their first Yates Cup. During their championship season, Ottawa College would finish first when they defeated such schools as McGill University, Queen's University, and the University of Toronto (U of T).
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Game action from 1909 with Ottawa College.Circa 1909
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After the 1912 season, due to financial restrictions, World War I and II, and union stoppage from 1915-1918 & 1940-1944, Ottawa decided to shut down the football operations. In fact, the University of Ottawa did not return until the start of the 1955 season in which they were playing exhibition games against their new found rival; the University of Carleton. With the University of Ottawa's new rival; there was a game in which these two universities played in which the winning school got bragging rights for Ottawa. Known as the Panda Game, the winner between these two universities got the prize of a stuffed panda bear. In the first ever Panda Game between Ottawa and Carleton, Carleton won the game and got possession of the bear in which they defeated the University of Ottawa by the score of 14-6.With two straight losses in the Panda Game against Carleton, The University of Ottawa finally won their first Panda Game during the 1957 season in which they were a part of the Ontario Intercollegiate Football Conference (OIFC). They were in the OIFC until the end of the 1966 season. During Ottawa's time within the OIFC, they did not win any championships, but defeated the Carleton Ravens nine times in that time span including winning seven straight from 1957-1963.
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After their time within the OIFC, the University of Ottawa started to participate in the West division of the Central Canada Intercollegiate Football Conference (CCIFC) from 1967-1970. Within the West division, Ottawa was joined by Carleton, Laurentian University, the University of Guelph, Waterloo, the University of Windsor, and York University. During the three Panda Game's that was played during Ottawa's time within the CCIFC, the Gee-Gees won three. The only lost in the Panda Bowl was during the 1969 season.Ottawa's only championships during their time within the CCIFC was during the 1970 season in which they won their first Atlantic Bowl championship against the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds. In that championship game, Ottawa went on to win that game 24-13, and advanced to their first ever Canadian College Bowl championship that was played in Toronto. In the national championship game, the University of Ottawa played Western Canada powerhouse, the Manitoba Bisons, and unfortunately for Ottawa, they lost a close game by the score of 24-15.
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The 1970 Ottawa Gee-Gees.Circa 1970
Frank Clair Stadium, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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Captain Neil Wyatt recieves the Atlantic Bowl.14 November 1970
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
Credits:Wamboldt-Waterfield Photography Limited
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Game action from the 1970 Canadian College Bowl.21 November 1970
Varsity Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Following the Gee-Gees time within the CCIFC, Ottawa went on to play for three seasons in the Ontario University Athletics Association (OUAA). The two universities that were a part of their division was Laurentian and York. In the three seasons in the OUAA, Ottawa did not win any championship, but won two more Panda Games. The only time in which Ottawa lost the Panda Game was in 1971.The last conference in which the University of Ottawa were a part of was the Ontario Quebec Intercollegiate Football Conference (OQIFC), and they were part of this conference until the year 2000. One of Ottawa's most successful seasons was during the 1975 season in which they won three championships. In this season, Ottawa finished the regular season with a 7-0 record and with that record, the University of Ottawa challenged the University of Toronto Varsity Blues for the Yates Cup and in that championship game, Ottawa went on to win the Yates Cup by the score of 14-7, and went on to play in their first ever Churchill Bowl against the Windsor Lancers. In this national semi-final game, the University of Ottawa defeated Windsor in a blow out by the score of 45-6. And with that win, Ottawa went to their second national schampionship game against the Calgary Dinos. In their second appearance, Ottawa won their first national championship by defeating Calgary 14-9 by an outstanding running game by Ottawa.
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Roster from the 1975 Canadian College Bowl.21 November 1975
Exhibition Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Game action from the 1975 Canadian College Bowl.21 November 1975
Exhibition Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Credits:University of Ottawa archives
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Canadian College Bowl chmapions, the Ottawa Gee-Gees.Circa 1975
Frank Clair Stadium, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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The following season in 1976, Ottawa went on to win their third and last Yates Cup in the 20th century when they defeated Bishop's University 22-20. With that win in the Yates Cup, Ottawa returned to the Atlantic Bowl in which they played Acadia. In this national semi-final game against Acadia, Ottawa wound up losing the game 18-16 and was denied a chance to play in another Canadian College Bowl. Ottawa's next championship season was during the 1980 season, in which the University of Ottawa became the first ever champions of the Dunsmore Cup (the Dunsmore Cup is for the champions for the OQIFC). In that championship game, Ottawa defeated Queen's University in a close game by a score of 13-12. With that win in the Dunsmore Cup, Ottawa once again returned to the Atlantic Bowl in which Ottawa once again played Acadia. In this championship game, Ottawa got their revenge from their last defeat and defeated the Axemen 28-8. With that win in the Atlantic Bowl, Ottawa returned to their third Canadian College Bowl where they faced the Alberta Golden Bears. In this championship game, Ottawa was defeated 40-21.Ottawa's next two championships came 15 seasons later in 1995 when they won back to back championships in the Dunsmore Cup. These two championships were the last ones in which Ottawa won in the 20th century.
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