Resulting in a perfect season
The university football season is officially over, and the steamroller has done its job. The Université Laval Rouge et Or have had a perfect season. No defeats, no serious injuries, no scandals. Just good football, all the way to another Canadian championship.
The Vanier Cup match played out this afternoon up in Hamilton, and about 1500 fans made the trip down to Steeltown, dressed in their finest facepaint with the best quality noisemakers they could find. The day started out with true Canadian fall chill and finished with a slippery white field. Odd how the game looks very different on TV, when there are no yardlines or hashmarks to give perspective to things. The match was not “too onesided”; a final score of 44-21 over the University of Western Ontario Mustangs.
This is a 27 team championship, although most teams will never have the occasion to play against each other. The size of the country makes it impossible for inter-division schedules, so Laval had to make do with the level of competition provided here in the province. Obviously, not all teams are equal. There has been some idle chatter about a “super league” where the bigger schools could have a Tier 1 schedule; so far, just chatter.
I noticed that the idea of a return to football at UPEI has been broached, in view of the new stadium under construction for the Canada Games. Even though I wouldn’t have a chance to watch games, I’m in favour. Schools do get a boost from varsity sports; there is a place for pride in one’s school. I still remember my years as a photographer at games, and the images from my contact sheets might seem a little antique in this digital era, but it was fun to watch the action through a viewfinder.
