The
HUDDLE 30 JANUARY 2017 ISSUE 13
Official Newsletter of the Blues Football Alumni Network and the University of Toronto Varsity Blues Football Program www.bfan.ca www.varsityblues.ca
Presidents’ Message Dear Alumni and Friends:
Welcome to the HUDDLE, the official newsletter of the BLUES FOOTBALL ALUMNI NETWORK (formerly known as Friends of Football).
2017 is here and we are at the onset of celebrating another graduating class of Varsity Blues that have battled in our honour. They have made considerable sacrifices to represent our program out on the gridiron. Most will have played their last down of football. It is bittersweet. For some it will be a double edged sword leaving the on field roster of the Blues. They will move on from football to make more of an impact outside the white lines armed with the unique education gained within. That is our real Varsity Blues Football legacy.
On March 25th at the Annual Captain's/Alumni Dinner the Graduates will be received on stage and thanked for their years service BLEEDING BLUE for one of the most storied football programs in the world. As they are leaving the stage they will be welcomed with open arms to continue making a difference in the Program. All will join a well-established fraternity where no eligibility restriction exists, the BLUES FOOTBALL ALUMNI NETWORK. They will all have the opportunity to help advance the football program, scoring touchdowns off the field by being a valued, active member.
We welcome the promotion of Beth Ali to Executive Director, Athletics and Physical Activity. Beth remains an Executive member of our BFAN enhancing our communication and relationship with the Faculty. We would like to congratulate Beth on her success and thank her for one of her first moves in her new position. Beth has strengthened our coaching staff by creating two more full time positions (Offensive and Defensive Coordinators) with attractive salary, benefits and pension. Beth has also extended the Alumni an opportunity to be involved with the committee to interview the candidates. We welcome this involvement as our leadership group (BFAN Executive) continually strives to encourage a more improved working relationship with the University and our coaching staff. Our hope is to create a proper synergy that will provide the wisdom and leadership to turn our football program around. We applaud Beth and encourage her to be our champion for the football team within the university. Beth has agreed to have the athletic department pick up the administrative duties of publishing our newsletter "THE HUDDLE" and still have it remain the Voice of BFAN our Alumni. We are also working on steps to have our website (www.bfan.ca) partner with the Varsity Blues website (www.varsityblues.ca) so that the athletic staff can perform our updates more regularly and eliminate any of our administrate costs.
We look forward to much better success on the field this year with input from what Coach Gary says will be an upgrade to four full time coaches on staff with one designated as a full time recruiting coordinator. THE HUDDLE
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Our BFAN Leadership group is continually striving to create enhanced partnerships. We are constantly looking to develop a more cohesive leadership group with the university and the coaching staff. We need to all pull in the same direction to create synergy for excellence in leadership within the program.
GOLF TOURNAMENT/DINNER: We are building on the success of our popular Golf Tournament at King Valley scheduled for this August 21st. We thank Mike Steele (Chair) and the tournament committee for all their hard work running the event. Mike has volunteered to lead the charge for Hole Sponsorship at this year’s event. We are pleased to announce that John Finlayson '83 Yates Cup Champion Quarterback and former Captain has volunteered to Co-Chair the event with me this year. John is currently the CEO of Clublink and we appreciate and thank him for his support. Sign up early to guarantee your position to this outstanding venue as it sells out months in advance.
NOTES: We say thank you to Adam Crawford '83, Simon Nassar '15 and Boris Isakov '15 in leading our Alumni involvement in a partnership committee with four athletics staff members. We would also like to congratulate Justin Marra '14 for being elected as a Football Representative on the THolders Executive Committee.
We are always looking and need Alumni to step forward to assist anyway they can. We are pleased that Coach Gary has asked for our involvement in the scouting/recruiting process. We have had several open discussions on how to improve and develop our program. In an effort to be successful in and around the GTA we are looking to develop a support system in conjunction with his overall scouting plan. Our Alumni will help establish and develop a network with our high school coaches and also help reconnect our Blues that are out there coaching. Look to our next issue to see a more detailed explanation of how our network can become an asset in this area. DAN FERADAY
President Blues Football Alumni Network
Ray Zaremba & VARSITY Stadium: In the House As you walk up to the Adam Zimmerman Room in the Pavilion, at the south end of Varsity Stadium, look up! There you will see an original work of art, painted by Varsity Blues alumni Ray Zaremba. Ray’s painting of the original Varsity Stadium has been installed along with the names of all those who contributed to our fundraising by purchasing one of the prints. Congratulations Ray and thank you to all those who purchased a print. This is a fitting tribute to a place that holds such incredible memories for generations of players, their families and the community. The VARSITY Presentation (L-R) Beth Ali, Ray Zaremba, Mike Steele, Varsity Blues Captains & Alumni Dinner, April 2016 The VARSITY displayed in its rightful place of honour, Varsity Pavilion, January 2017
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Upcoming Events
Varsity Blues High Performance Football Academy February 11, 28, 25 and March 4, 11 The Academy provides elite high school football players access to the high performance integrated support system that has been developed at the University of Toronto, including access to the Goldring Centre, world-class strength and conditioning coaching, nutrition and injury prevention, and football instruction and teaching, in efforts to develop their skills and prepare them for football at the next level. For more information, go to www.varsityblues.ca/footballacademy
Varsity Blues Captains & Alumni Dinner
Saturday March 25, 2017 6:15PM Reception 7:00PM Dinner Chestnut Residence - 89 Chestnut Street
Get your Dinner tickets! $125 each Available at www.varsityblues.ca/football
Varsity Leadership Foundation Golf Tournament Monday, August 21, 2017 King Valley Golf Club, King City
Registration will open soon Details will be available on www.bfan.ca
2017 Varsity Blues Football Schedule Home Monday, September 4 Saturday, September 16 Thursday, October 5 Saturday, October 21
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vs. vs. vs. vs.
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Windsor Guelph McMaster Queen's
Away Sunday, August 27 Saturday, September 9 Saturday, September 23 Saturday, October 14
@ @ @ @
Laurier Waterloo York Carleton
Bye Saturday, September 30
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Coaches Corner I hope all of you had a Happy Holiday Season with your family and friends.
We are excited to get back to work building the University of Toronto Football Program in 2017.
One of the greatest privileges that come with being the Head Coach at the University of Toronto is the student athletes you have the opportunity to coach. The young men attending this university and playing for the Varsity Blues are part of a special brotherhood.
Our commitment to these young men is to continue to build a high-performance football program. The University and the newly appointed Executive Director, Beth Ali, has enhanced our ability to deliver on that commitment by creating two full time positions (Offensive and Defensive Coordinator). We are also creating a full time position for a Recruiting Coordinator/Internal Academic person which will require fundraising efforts to sustain. Our goal is to have all positions filled by early to mid February 2017.
The program is fortunate to have a supportive Alumni association which has been critical to the building process. We are committed to getting the Alumni more involved in the recruitment and mentoring of student athletes in the program. You will be hearing from me throughout the year with program updates on our coaching staff, players, recruits, Blues in the CFL and upcoming events. I look forward to seeing you at the Captain’s and Alumni Dinner (details in newsletter). Happy New Year and All the Best in 2017 Go Blues!
COACH GARY
CIS Football: A view from the Executive Director’s Chair In June of 2015, CIS (now U SPORTS) football coaches and athlete directors met as a group for the first time in decades. This meeting was initiated by both coaches and directors in an effort to navigate the rapidly changing landscape of CIS football and to discuss pressing issues such as increasing costs, player safety and education, lack of parity in programs, and compliance in the areas of recruiting, eligibility, scholarships and enticements. Upon returning from this meeting, U of T Athletic Director Beth Ali spoke at the Friends of Football Annual Meeting and provided the following perspective based on the conversation at the CIS meeting and her experience as a football athletic director.
University football is a passion – it is loved and embraced across Canada by student athletes, coaches, alumni and fans. It is a sport that raises the profile of its participating institutions, provides an outstanding athletic experience for its student athletes and contributes to the fabric of Canadian tradition in much the same way as does the Canadian Football League. When speaking of their football experiences, former student athletes often speak wistfully of a time gone by, becoming misty eyed at the memories of championships, bowl games or big wins and at the comradery of brothers forming friendships that have lasted a lifetime. THE HUDDLE
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But what is university football like in 2017? If you speak to many athletic directors across the country, they will tell you it is a race – a race to build and maintain a competitive program and to keep up with sister institutions – and that race is increasingly expensive.
FACILITIES Across Canada, universities are investing in infrastructure and football stadiums on many university campuses are changing. Grass is being replaced by field turf – an artificial surface that will allow for competitive games to be played regardless of the weather and in some cases covered in the winter by a dome for year round training. When the new stadium at U of T opened in 2007, it was state of the art, a prototype by which all others would be compared. Since that time, new stadiums have been built at schools such as McMaster, Guelph, and Winnipeg and Queens University. . Each of these facilities is television and webcast equipped and they have large video screens with the capability of providing replays and entertaining the fans. ATHLETIC SCHOLARSHIPS In the early 2000’s Canadian universities started to award athletic scholarships (also known as AFA’s) to incoming and continuing student athletes who were able to meet the academic and athletic requirements to be eligible. In the sport of football, the funding envelope is approximately $256,000 per year for athletic scholarships (using an average tuition and fee amount to $8000). In order to qualify, the entering student athlete must have an average of 80% or higher in the marks used to assess admission to the university. A continuing student must have an average of 65% or higher (70% in Ontario) in the university courses taken the previous year in order to qualify for a scholarship in the next year. In all of U SPORTS except Ontario, students may receive a maximum of tuition and fees. In Ontario, the total amount awarded to an individual student athlete is capped at $4500 per year.
In order compete for the best recruits, universities must be prepared to offer the maximum amount possible in athletic scholarships and so, using the conservative figures above, this is over a $1 million every four years. TRAINING CAMPS In the past, training camps consisted of the athletes meeting at the field, getting their equipment and entering into a 3-5 day training camp to prepare for the season. In today’s U SPORTS football world, training camps have become more intricate. In many cases, there are two training camps each year, one in the late summer and one in the spring. The more elaborate the camp, the more enticing it is for the top recruits so often, programs enhance these camps to the fullest. Camps can last for a full week or more with athletes staying in residence and provided with all amenities necessary for success. A full kit of clothing is often provided to the student athletes, packages often amounting to over $200 per athlete. Even more interesting is the advent of the international training camp where some U SPORTS programs fly their student athletes to US destinations for their spring camp. Conservatively, a spring camp such as this would cost $80,000 and the fall camps are usually between $35,000 and $60,000. In the U SPORTS, fall training camp rosters are limited to 110 athletes – this limit was initiated to discourage over recruiting and to allow talented football athletes to be dispersed across more U SPORTS programs. The playing roster is limited to 90 athletes and again, the intent of this new rule is to limit the number of athletes’ one university can recruit. Fall camp $40,000
International spring camp - $80,000
Kit - $22,000
HUMAN RESOURCES The race to the top has also encouraged the hiring of more full time coaches in the U SPORTS. Many programs now have 5 or 6 full time coaches on staff in addition to the 10 stipend coaches. Using a mix of full time contract and full time appointed coaches, the annual cost of 4 full time coaches and 10 stipend coaches would be approximately $400,000 per year. Player safety and injury prevention has fortunately also become a priority in today’s U SPORTS football environment. Physicians, athletic and physio therapists as well as top notch strength and conditioning coaches is the norm in each program and the annual cost would vary but an approximate number could be $120,000. THE RECRUITING INCENTIVES All schools are looking for an edge in recruiting as the recruitment of the top football student athletes is instrumental to the success of any high performing football program. In some cases, schools have acquired 3 or more sets of uniforms and 4 sets of helmets to entice student athletes to attend. Costs to outfit a team of 100 would conservatively be $60,000.
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THE COMPETITIONS Depending on where the team is located, the costs vary for travel to exhibition, league and playoff games. However, moving, accommodating and feeding approximately 110 athletes and coaches over the course of 9 to 14 games is extremely expensive and an approximate figure of $75,000 for 10 games in Ontario (mostly bus travel) is likely conservative.
FINANCES With an annual budget of between $2 and 2.5 million for the competitive programs (and some considerably higher), it is little wonder that coaches and directors are concerned about the continuing costs of football. With many athletic departments restructuring and cutting to make their budgets work, outside sources of revenue have become increasingly important. In most cases, football programs require the student athlete to contribute some money to play. While this would have been unheard of 25 years ago, according to the most recent survey, 80% of the football schools in Ontario charged a fee to each athlete ranging in amounts from $250 to $600 per year. The student athletes and coaches also raise funds through various means – camps, pancake breakfasts, officiating flag football intramurals to name a few.
Another significant source of funding is the football alumni and boosters at each school. In discussions with other directors in the U SPORTS, it is reported that football alumni are becoming more and more involved in funding the football programs in some cases providing annual gifts in excess of $500,000 to support the budget of the football programs. In most cases, the most successful programs have the highest alumni financial contributions.
THE U OF T SCENARIO Over the past 5 years, the funding of the football program from the university operating funds (which is supported through the student ancillary fee) has increased significantly (40%) in order to bring the program in line with the mid to lower tier in the OUA. The total contribution is now at $600,000 annually. Over the same period of time, the football alumni has contributed approximately $50,000 a year through the Varsity Leadership Foundation to support athletic scholarships and other members of the alumni, including the 1965 Team and the 1993 Team have started scholarships in the name of their team and coaches Ron Murphy and Bob Laycoe. The student athletes are contributing an additional $20,000 a year through fund raising efforts.
We continue to work with all our partners to bridge the gap and fund the program at a level that will increase our competitiveness. In January 2017, U of T athletics funded 2 new full time appointed positions in the football program – an offensive coordinator and a defensive coordinator. Funding for a recruiting coordinator/Academic Support , one post-game meal per week after practice, increases to the recruiting budget and continuing to fund the scholarships are priority projects for the program and the cost to fund these is approximately $350,000 annually.
I would like to thank the Blues Football Alumni Network (formerly Friends of Football), the Varsity Leadership Foundation, the Varsity Blues Parents and supporters of the program for their continuing efforts on behalf of our coaches and student athletes. There have been many ups and downs over the years and in the down time, the environment was very negative. In 2017, there are fresh faces in virtually every position within the Blues Football Program. I would ask that you leave the past behind and continue to support the current and future student athletes donning the Blue and White and representing you and the university with pride. All the best.
BETH ALI
Executive Director Athletics and Co-Curricular Physical Activity
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Captains’ Message As a player that has been competing on the Varsity Blues Football team for the last four years, I have witnessed the tremendous benefit of the alumni presence. From hearing their stories, to seeing their continued comradery and friendship, it reinforces some of the many benefits of playing football (other than playing the game itself!). Personally, I have had many positive experiences with our alumni. Dr. David Hamilton and I had the opportunity to get to know each other this past summer when I was hired to do marketing for his business. During this time, I learned a great deal of information on the medical profession (my field of choice). He has since taken me under his wing and is working to get me observer experience in hospitals. These experiences would have been hard to come by if it weren’t for David.
The Alumni’s continued financial support can never go unnoticed. As a player who has attended the golf tournament for the last four years, I have seen the increased commitment and turnout to these events. No thanks are enough. It is upon the alumni’s shoulders in which this current team will have the tools to achieve success and we thank you. MICHAEL LESLIE
Linebacker (2014-current) Chemistry / Hometown – Calgary
2016 Varsity Leadership Foundation Golf Tournament Recap August 8, 2016 was truly a great day at the prestigious King Valley Golf Club in King City. The renewal of friendships, the opportunity to share some laughs/stories and our unshakable belief in the University of Toronto Varsity Blues Football Program are the foundation that unites us all. The weather could not have been better as the players challenged themselves on the course and the reception and dinner allowed everyone time to reconnect, meet some of the coaching staff and just unwind. Thank you to the golf committee for their commitment and dedication to the tournament - Stuart Brindle, Rick Jeysman, George Polyzois, Ray Reynolds and Wendy Kane. The Varsity Blues Football Program wishes to extend a special thank you to the 2016 Tournament Chair Mike Steele for his tireless efforts, his passion, his leadership and his unwavering commitment. You were the Tournament's Captain and MVP!
Tournament Champions 2nd Best Score Most Honest Team
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Ibnu Ongko, Alex Nayyar, Colin Hwang, Peter Woo George Polyzois, Michael Tutty, John Tutty, Jeremy Phillips Dave Leslie, Michael Leslie, Sam Delage, Chantal Gagne
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LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP
1927 2016
ADAM HARTLEY ZIMMERMAN Reprint: University of Toronto, Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education November 16, 2016
Successful Canadian businessman and tireless ally of the University of Toronto Adam Zimmerman died on October 19 at the age of 89. Zimmerman (Trinity 4T9, Football) was an avid supporter of the U of T football program, first as a fan and a player, and later as a strong advocate, financial supporter and vocal champion. On September 27, 2013, the U of T Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education honoured Zimmerman in a ceremony to formally name the key gathering place in the Varsity Centre pavilion the Adam Zimmerman Room. Below is an article written on that occasion for the 2013 fall issue of Pursuit Magazine.
Adam Zimmerman first got football fever nearly 70 years ago when, as a high school student at University of Toronto Schools, he and good friend Bill Saunderson made weekly visits to Varsity Stadium. They joined some 20,000 fellow fans who packed the stands to cheer on the Blues, reveling in the spirit that swept the campus.
Zimmerman (Trinity 4T9, Football) has seen the program through thick and thin, first as a fan and a player himself, and later as a strong advocate, financial supporter and vocal champion. Friends, family and fellow former Blues gathered on September 27 to honour Zimmerman, during a ceremony to formally name the key gathering place in the Varsity Centre pavilion the Adam Zimmerman Room. Zimmerman was joined at the event by his wife and fellow U of T alum, The Honorable Barbara McDougall. “It’s safe to say that Adam Zimmerman, from his days at Trinity and, of course, his proud days as a member of the Varsity Blues football team, has shown extraordinary leadership capacity,” said President David Naylor, who went on to list Zimmerman’s many accomplishments in business and his tireless support of the University of Toronto. “We are fortunate that he has remained involved in the University of Toronto long after he left our campus, and I’m very happy that the spirit of Adam Zimmerman will be here looking out over the Varsity field for many, many decades to come.” A founding member of the Friends of Football, which rallied against the University’s plan to cancel the football program, Zimmerman’s reputation as a business leader and his passionate advocacy helped convince the THE HUDDLE
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University to change its mind. His efforts and volunteerism over the years have earned him the University’s Arbor Award and the Faculty’s Loudon Award for the Advancement of Athletics.
Taking in the view of the new Varsity Stadium from the sunlit space which now bears his name, Zimmerman’s nostalgia shone through. “I always loved football; I really loved it. This place has had a long history in my family and I’m proud of it.” With a birds-eye view of the state-of-the-art new stadium, the Adam Zimmerman Room offered guests of the event the best seat in the house for the Blues’ battle against the Carleton Ravens, which kicked off as the reception wound down. In the spirit of the celebration, the Blues chased the Ravens away, 50-10.
Stay Connected
We would like to connect with as many current Players and Alumni as possible. If you know of anyone that is not receiving THE HUDDLE Newsletter, please have them contact: rayreynolds@rogers.com
The Blues Football Alumni Network is a connection with the rich and storied tradition of the University of Toronto Football Program. Members of the “Network” represent the business community, former players, coaches, trainers and parents, supporters and the Faculty of Kinesiology & Physical Education. PRESIDENT
EXECUTIVE
Dan Feraday
Beth Ali Adam Crawford Greg Gary Rick Jeysman Rick Makos George Polyzois Ray Reynolds
WEBSITE
www.bfan.ca
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The Foundation is committed to funding scholarships for student-athletes consistent with the University’s, CIS and OUA scholarship funding rules. The Varsity Leadership Foundation is an incorporated not-for-profit company in Ontario and is a CRA registered charity. CHAIR
DIRECTORS
Rick Makos
Dan Feraday Andy Filipiuk John Sotirakos Alex Squires
SECRETARY
David Scandiffio TREASURER
George Polyzois
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