The Sputnik // Wednesday September 28

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Sputnik Top Five: Laurier Golden Hawk football seasons

Kyle Denton Sports Editor The 2011 Laurier Mens football team clearly isnt living up to their expectations. Not only are they not even ranked, but they have also started their season with a dismal 1-3 record. With the Laurier Waterloo homecoming fast approaching, we at The Sputnik have decided to countdown the best five seasons in Laurier Golden Hawk football history. This is in hopes of forgetting the poor start to this season, that could only get worse when the Ottawa Gee Gees come to town on Saturday.

#5 1972

--Regular season 4-2. Postseason 3-1.

#3 2004

--Regular season 8-0. Postseason 2-1.

#1 2005

--Regular season 8-0. Postseason 4-0.

In 1972, the Golden Hawks won the OUA final by defeating Western 38-27. From here, they went on to play Saint Marys in the Canadian Interunviersity Athletics Union (CIAU), now known as the CIS, semi-final defeating them 50-17. However, in the Vanier cup game, Alberta beat the Golden Hawks 20-7 to capture the trophy and title as Canadas best university football team. The 1970s were a competitive decade for the Golden Hawks, with them always being in the running. After winning the OUA in 1973, they lost in the OUA finals the next four years until winning again in 1978. However they wouldnt claim a Vanier cup until 1991. #4 1987 --Regular season 6-1. Postseason 2-1. Losing their first game of the season on the road against Western, 23-9, the 1987 regular season certainly looked to be beginning on a low note. But that would be the only regular season game the Golden Hawks would lose, winning the next six and advancing to the OUA championship where they would defeat Windsor in the semi-finals and Guelph in the finals. From here, they went directly on to the CIAU finals where they were defeated in a close game by the University of British Columbia, 33-31.

The Golden Hawks started the 2004 season with a romping of the Varsity Blues 67-0 and would win their next seven games in convincing fashion, going a perfect 8-0 in the regular season. The Golden Hawks then easily beat the McMaster Mauraders 31-19 to win the Yates cup in the OUA final. But Laval defeated the Golden Hawks 30-11 in the CIS semi-final, snapping Lauriers undefeated streak for the season and causing them to come up short one game before the CIS final. Two offensive players on Lauriers squad, quarterback Ryan Pyear and offensive tackle Ryan Jeffrey, were named All-Canadians that year.

#2 1991 --Regular season 5-2. Postseason 4-0.

Losing two of their final three regular season games, Laurier limped into the playoffs during the 1991 season. Facing Waterloo in the OUA semi-finals, a team that had beaten them a week earlier 34-7, the Golden Hawks were able to turn the tables on the Warriors soundly defeating them 35-3. The next three games would all prove to be victorious for Laurier as they narrowly edged out Western 1312 in the OUA final, beat Queens in the CIAU semi-final and defeated Mount Allison 25-18 at the SkyDome to capture Lauriers first Vanier Cup.

The 2005 season was the perfect season, and one that still is fresh for Laurier fans young and old. The 2005 season included a perfect 12-0 record, an OUA coach of the year award for coach Gary Jeffries and 6 Golden Hawks being named All-Canadian. Fresh off the heels of their semi-final loss in 2004, the Golden Hawks came back with a vengeance, embarrassing most opponents during the regular season including a 45-0 opening day thrashing of the Queens Golden Gaels. Laurier didnt stop in the playoffs, moving past McMaster in the OUA semis and defeating Western 29-11 in the OUA finals. They then went on to beat Acadia 31-10 in the semi-final Uteck Bowl and met up with Saskatchewan in what was almost a home game at Ivor Wynne Stadium for the CIS final. Shown live on national TV and with over 16,000 fans in attendance, the Golden Hawks beat the Huskies 24-23 thanks to a field goal late in the fourth quarter by Brian Devlin. That day marked the Laurier Golden Hawks second Vanier Cup and capped off the perfect season. It also marked the last time Laurier has advanced to the CIS championship.

New day, same result for Laurier

Golden Hawks will look to bounce back next week at homecoming.
Kyle Lowry Staff The Laurier Golden Hawks mens football team was hoping that their game against rival Western Mustangs this Saturday was going to be a fresh start. After starting 1-2, including embarrassing losses to Queens and Windsor, the previously ranked Golden Hawks were looking to bounce back on track. Instead, their season continued to spiral in the wrong direction. Laurier lost to the second-ranked Mustangs 34-28 in front of a packed crowd at home on a gorgeous day for football. Mustangs running back Tyler Varga paced Western with 3 touchdowns, raising his CIS leading total to twelve touchdowns on the year. Laurier was in the game early, with the score tied at 21 at halftime. Golden Hawks wide receiver Dillon Heap had a huge game in the loss, racking up 176 receiving yards, the third highest single-game total ever for a Laurier receiver. For good measure, Heap also scored the games opening touchdown off of a 63-yard punt return. But all of the nice weather and purpleand-gold clad students could not come together to propel the Golden Hawks to victory, as the Mustangs took control of the game early in the second half en route to thirteen unanswered points, and helping the Mustangs finish the game with a 6 point win. The Golden Hawks will now look ahead to next weeks homecoming matchup against the Ottawa Gee Gees. The game will prove to be another tough matchup for the Golden Hawks, as Ottawa comes in sporting a 3-1 record, coming off of a 41-0 rout of Toronto in their own homecoming game. Before the season, Laurier was a team that could picture themselves with a 3-1 record, ranked as high as 8th in the country. Its been a season of disappointment though, and the underachieving Hawks know they can be better. The season started off on the right foot with a fairly easy test against York, a game they won 46-7. Week 2 held in store a surprise that shocked many around the CIS football world, as the lowly Windsor Lancers came from behind to defeat the Hawks 41-40. That game should have served as a wake-up call for Laurier, but instead they followed it up with another lackluster performance at Queens, where the Gaels trounced the Hawks 58-35. The eight touchdowns given up by the Hawks was the most in school history, and was certainly a low point for a team that entered the season with high expectations but is sudLaurier will look to get their season back on track against Ottawa this weekend. (Photo by Elli Garlin/The Cord) denly facing the possibility of Guelph Gryphons and the climb is certain- to win 4 games no matter, do it one at a being on the outside looking in when the ly uphill for the Hawks from this point on. time if you like) next weeks homecoming playoffs come around. The common sport clich is to take it matchup with Ottawa will carry even more Then came the matchup with Western one game at a time. By that overused and tension and excitement than the average and now, with a 1-3 record, Laurier will vir- asinine statement, (seriously, you still have homecoming. tually have to run the table if they hope to see the postseason. Unfortunately for Laurier, in their four remaining games they have to face both Ottawa and McMaster, two OUA powers. Sprinkle in a matchup with the also underachieving but still dangerous