Another successful Gala

The 3rd annual Gryphon Football Gala is in the books and the recruiting & scholarship  bugdet is $33,000 richer for the effort. The Gala which is the primary fundraising event of the Friends of Gryphon Football is a young event which continues to grow. This year’s Gala saw the event move to a larger venue, draw it’s largest crowd to date, attract many local and football “notables” and realize an increased level of corporate sponsorship. Those are all very good trends.

Photo: Kyle Rodriguez/artifactsforlife.ca

One of the things I love about the Gala is the opportunity to meet and renew acquaintances with former Gryphon players, coaches and supporters. There were former players from the OAC-OVC era right through to 2013 grads. Nearly a dozen former Aggies/Redmen players from the Mooney era were present. Unfortunately Coach Tom Mooney wasn’t able to make it – the first Gala he has missed. But it was nice to see that former HC Kyle Walters, in Ontario for the East-West Game, was able to make it out to his first Gala. I had a chance to meet several former players for the first time – Seig Will [1985-89] and Sam Benincasa [1979-83]. Benincasa had his jersey number “honoured” in a tradition that began last year.

Mike O’Shea [2012 recipient] presents Honoured Jersey to Sam Benincasa
Photo: Kyle Rodriguez

In my opinion the Friends of Gryphon Football organization is on the right track with this event. Revenues may not have grown substantially yet but the ground work is being laid. These events take a tremendous amount of time and effort to organize. There is also a learning curve with something new like this. Queen’s, Laurier and McMaster may have raised more money to date hosting similiar events but they have been doing it for a decade or more. I think it is a reasonable goal to hope to see the Gryphon Football Gala net $50,000 or more in another year or two.

HC Stuart Lang speaks at Gala

As Coach Stuart Lang said during his address the importance of the financial support to the program has never been more important. Guelph has had success and recruited well in spite of not having as much scholarship money as many of our competitors. Western, McMaster, Queen’s, UofT & Ottawa can each offer more scholarship money than the Gryphons. The return of the Carleton Ravens, with a budget that dwarfs most other OUA teams, to football play will provide a new challenge. Gryphon supporters and the Athletic administration need to step up and support the program if it is going to achieve sustainable success.

Guelph Mercury covers the Gala

I’ll finally get my own report on the Gala posted Sunday (tomorrow). From earlier in the week …

Tony Saxon, Mercury Sports Editor

GUELPH — The city of Guelph “punches above its weight” in the way it has embraced and accommodated the Hamilton Tiger-Cats this year.

That was the word from the top dog Saturday night, as Canadian Football League Commissioner Mark Cohon spoke at the third annual Gryphon Football fundraising gala at the Delta Hotel.

Stealing a line uttered earlier in the evening by Guelph Mayor Karen Farbridge, Cohon was full of praise for what Guelph has accomplished in hosting the Tiger-Cats for a season at Alumni Stadium while their new stadium is being built.

Cohon said he plans on being in the stands for Hamilton’s home opener on July 7.

“It’s a big opportunity for our league and the Tiger-Cats. It’s important for me to be here,” said Cohon, who engaged in a question-and-answer session with host Dino Roumel before taking questions from the floor.

He said the year in Guelph will help grow the popularity of the league and the TiCats.

“There will be 15,000 fans at games in Guelph that we want to see down in Hamilton next year,” Cohon said.

Moved from Cutten Fields to the Delta Hotel ballroom this year because of swelling numbers, the gala attracted roughly 300 supporters, players, former players and coaches and local dignitaries.

A $200 a plate dinner, silent auction and raffle raises thousands of dollars for the school’s blossoming football program.

Cohon talked of the CFL’s growing popularity: selling out the Grey Cup months in advance, television ratings that surpass Blue Jays and Raptors games and of upcoming expansion back to Ottawa and perhaps, some day, a team on the East Coast.

“I’m just working on our five-year plan, and part of that five-year plan includes can we really make that dream of what people have talked about for decades a reality?” he said of the possibility of an East Coast, where he believes a community-owned team that attracts fans from all over the Maritimes could work.

Tiger-Cats president Scott Mitchell also spoke at the event, praising the local efforts to make his team feel at home.

“As everybody here knows, having a positive mental attitude is half the battle and I can tell you that our experience up here in Guelph has just been absolutely phenomenal,” Mitchell said, lauding Guelph’s “can-do attitude.”

“But tonight is about the Guelph football program, it’s not about the Tiger-Cats,” Mitchell said, “and we’re just happy to play here and help focus on this great success that Stu (Lang, the Gryphons coach) and his team has built.”

Mayor Farbridge said, “This year not only offers a unique opportunity for local football fans, but it’s a great opportunity to showcase football talent in our community, from the Bears (Guelph’s minor football program) to the Gryphons.”

The Gryphons football season starts early this year, Aug. 25 at home to the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks.

The Tiger-Cats play an exhibition game at Alumni Stadium on June 20 in advance of the July 7 season opener.

http://www.guelphmercury.com/sports/article/933090–cfl-chief-lauds-guelph-for-embracing-ticats

East West Bowl goes this afternoon

The eleventh edition of the East West Bowl kicks off at 1pm today. For the first time in several years I’m not going to make it to London for the game. Too much to do with the Gryphon Football Gala taking place this evening. Three Gryphon players – Jeff Finley, Rob Farquharson and John Rush – will play in the game. OC Todd Galloway is coaching with the west squad.

Gryphons at 2013 East West Bowl week
Jeff Finley, Todd Galloway, Rob Farquharson & John Rush (l-r)

There will be local TV coverage in London on Cable 13 and Rogers TV. And for the first time the game can be viewed online at www.CIS-SIC.tv. Check out the youtube preview:

Two Gryphons picked in CFL draft

Two Gryphon linemen - Jake Piotrowski and Cam Thorn – were selected in today’s CFL draft. This is great news for the pair. While I’ve spoken of them as players with CFL potential their being drafted was never considered a sure thing by draft experts. Both had several obstacles to overcome and did it with talent and hard work.

Cam Thorn #97 & Jake Piotrowski #58

Gryphons add a local OL

Two week’s ago at the Recruit Family Luncheon there was one new recruit introduced who hadn’t been a part of the original public announcements. That new face belonged to Caleb Monk, a 6’4″ 320lb offensive lineman from Guelph’s Centennial Collegiate.

2013 OL recruit Caleb Monk
Photo: Kyle Rodriguez

Monk is a relative neophyte in football terms. His 2012 high school season with Guelph’s Centennial Spartans was his first on the gridiron. Monk has a longer history of playing rugby – so you know that this big man can move. Gryphon coaches see great potential in Monk. The old expression “you can’t teach size” applies but what Guelph’s coaches think makes him a true prospect is his athleticism. He moves so well that he is considered a better prospect than many more-experienced high school OLs. His performance at a recent testing session also made a believer out of Guelph’s new Strength & Conditioning Coach – AJ Nagy.

One thing Monk does have a lot of experience at is producing top notch marks in the classroom. [He will study Accounting at Guelph.] If Monk can combine his ability to learn, his size and his athleticism with a lot of hard work he could, over time, develop into a gem for the Gryphons. I expect to see him used at the guard position. Monk is currently playing with the Guelph Bears varsity team as they are about to embark on their first season in the OFC after many years in the OVFL.

In a Mercury story – Centennial lineman commits to Gryphs – it was pointed out that none of Guelph’s initial recruits were from District 10 schools. But …

That changed late last week when offensive lineman Caleb Monk of the Centennial Spartans committed to the program. And with marks in the 90s, he had no problem being accepted into the school.

Monk, 17, was one of 26 recruits from Ontario who attended Saturday’s Meet the Team luncheon at Cutten Fields.

Also,

“He’s kind of a diamond in the rough kid,” Gryphon offensive co-ordinator Todd Galloway said. “He’s only played football for one year, but we’ll take 6-3 and over 300 pounds. It’s a nice project for us to work with.”

“Other than the obvious – he’s a big kid – he’s actually got great hips and great feet,” Galloway said. “He moves well for a big kid which is something that’s a must for us. We’re not just looking for big bodies, we’re looking for big, athletic bodies and we think he’s going to develop into one of those.”

Guelph Gryphons helmet history

From Jim Mullin’s The Edmonton Eskimos Ruined My Childhood blog:

This history will have to be updated again soon as the Gryphons will unveil another new helmet design. They hope to have delivery of some of the new helmets in time for the Gryphon Football Gala. The new helmet will definitely be a one-of-a-kind look in the CIS.

Mullin is adding to the helmet history of CIS teams almost daily. You can view the helmet histories of McMaster, Queen’s, WLU , plus other OUA/CIS.

Stadium expansion underway

New stands for Alumni Stadium – April 25/13

As I wrote last Sunday, work did indeed begin this week on adding temporary seating for the upcoming CFL season. Tower Scaffolding has begun by constructing temporary seats in the north-west corner of the stadium [sections 107 & 108 in the Ticats seating chart at bottom of post]. Preparations are being made for construction of the largest section of  new seats on the east side of the field – i.e. the Hill.

The Guelph Mercury carried a brief story on the project this week – Transformation of Alumni Stadium begins to prepare for Ticats. Meanwhile, the Spectator’s Drew Edwards has some excellent photos on his Scratching Post blog.

Football Gala fast approaching

Update: This event would have already been over-sold if it were still held at the Cutten Club but the larger space of the Delta Hotel’s Main Ballroom means there are still tickets available for the May 11 event. Rooms at the Delta are also still available I am told. [I'm not worried because I bought my tickets and booked my room 3 months ago.]

This is an important event for the football program. The biggest fund raising event of FoGF. The selection of silent auction items is amazing and the money raised here makes a difference. The program’s recruiting success the past 3 years is proof of this.  Former Gryphon coaches Tom Mooney, John Musselman, Kyle Walters and possibly Bill Graham will be present.

Video highlights and intro for 2013 recruiting class

Last Sunday I didn’t arrive at the Cutten Fields Golf Club [for the Recruit Family Luncheon] in time to catch the video presentation – an introduction of the new recruits that included a healthy dose of their high school, OVFL, Canada Cup, etc. highlights. Videographer Craig Rutledge told me afterwards that he would post it to youtube after a few tweaks. True to his word, he uploaded it 3 or 4 days later. This is another good example of Rutledge’s fine work and how Gryphon Football leads almost all of its competitors in social media communications. Enjoy!

Random Sunday thoughts – April 21/13

When I was at the University yesterday I took a walk into the stadium to look for signs of construction activity. While it was obvious that no new seating was in place, thought I might find some concrete footings or other early preparations for the temporary seating for the upcoming CFL season. But it didn’t look like a blade of grass or a shovelful of earth had been moved.

Not to worry! A Guelph Mercury story – Canadian company hired to bring Alumni Stadium up to Tiger-Cats standards, which Coach Lang made me aware of, reports that the construction of approximately 10,000 new seats begins tomorrow April 22. The Tiger-Cats have hired Tower Scaffolding of Toronto to build the temporary grandstands. While Tower is perhaps best know for building the grandstands at the Molson Indy and Canadian Open events I know I have personally worked off their scaffolding platforms hundreds of feet above the ground in oil refineries and hydro-electric plants. The completion date of May 31st doesn’t seem unrealistic given what I have seen in industrial settings. The first scheduled event in Alumni Stadium for the Ticats is an exhibition game on June 20.

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New Team Ontario logo

Today Alumni Stadium will host the Red & Black Scrimmage, a Football Ontario event. Could there be a more appropriate venue for a Red & Black scrimmage than Guelph with it’s magnificent new field?