Waterloo Warriors football

The Waterloo Warriors football team represents the University of Waterloo in the sport of Canadian football in U Sports. The Warriors U Sports football program has been in operation since 1957, winning two Yates Cup conference championships in 1997 and 1999. Currently, they are one of six teams to have never appeared in a Vanier Cup game and the longest tenured program in the OUA to have never qualified for the national championship game.

Waterloo Warriors
Waterloo Warriors logo
First season1957
Athletic directorRoly Webster
Head coachChris Bertoia
5th year, 12–28  (.300)
Other StaffDarell Adams (DC)
Home StadiumWarrior Field
Year built2009
Stadium capacity1100 (Bleacher Seating)
4000 (Sloped Lawn Seating)
Stadium surfaceFieldTurf Duraspine PRO
LocationWaterloo, Ontario
LeagueU Sports
ConferenceOUA (1980-present)
Past associationsOIFC (1957-1966)
CCIFC (1967)
CIRFU (1968-1970)
OUAA (1971-1973)
OQIFC (1974-1979)
All-time record– 
Postseason record– 
Tournaments
Vanier Cups0
Yates Cups2
1997, 1999
Hec Crighton winners0
Current uniform
ColoursBlack, Gold, and White
              
OutfitterNike
RivalsWilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
Guelph Gryphons
Websitegowarriorsgo.ca

Recent history

In the 21st century, the program struggled to compete in the OUA, having not qualified for the playoffs from 2004 to 2017 and not having a winning record since 2001. The program then made national headlines in 2010 after it was discovered that a student athlete was in possession of steroids and human growth hormone in March 2010.[1] The school then conducted a steroid investigation that had led to all 65 members of its team tested for steroids on March 31, with three positive results. Consequently, on June 14, 2010, the school announced that the program would be suspended for the 2010 season.[2] While the football team returned for the 2011 season, it proved difficult as many players transferred to other schools after they learned they would not be able to play at Waterloo that year.[3] Consequently, the Warriors finished winless in eight games in their return to the OUA. The team was coached by Dennis McPhee, who was the former head coach of the St. Francis Xavier X-Men football team where he won Atlantic University Sport coach of the year in 2002.[4] In 2011, they experienced the growing pains associated with a year off of football, and losing most starters and veterans to transfers. At the end of the season, McPhee resigned as head coach on November 22, 2011.[5]

The team was then led by Joe Paopao for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.[6][7] In 2012, most expected the Warriors to be at the cold cellar of CIS, however, they surprised the football community with convincing wins against the York Lions and a huge upset victory over the Windsor Lancers. They won one game in 2013 against the expansion Carleton Ravens. Paopao resigned following the 2013 season and Marshall Bingeman's appointment as interim head coach for 2014.[8] The team won one game in 2014 against the Lions, which was an away game.

Chris Bertoia was hired as Head Coach and Manager of Football Operations for the 2015 season.[9] After finishing their 2015 and 2016 seasons winless, the Warriors won their first four games of the 2017 season, before losing their remaining four to finish in seventh place and just outside of the playoffs. It was the teams' best finish (seventh place) since 2007 and their best record (4-4) since 2001. In the 2018 season, the Warriors continued their strong play with another 4-4 record, but qualified for the playoffs based on their victory over the 4-4 Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks earlier in the season. In their first playoff appearance since 2003, the Warriors lost to the Guelph Gryphons by a score of 45-34. In 2019, the Warriors finished again with a 4-4 record, but this time earned their first post-season victory in 20 years with a resounding 44-21 win over the Ottawa Gee-Gees. The team lost a close OUA semi-final game to the Western Mustangs, ranked #1 in the country, by a score of 30-24.[10]

Season-by-season record

The following is the record of the Waterloo Warriors football team since 1995:

SeasonGamesWonLostTiesPCTPFPAStandingPlayoffs
199584310.5631991663rd in OUAALost to Western Ontario Mustangs in semi-final 23–22
199687100.875157801st in OUAADefeated Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks in semi-final 26–23
Lost to Guelph Gryphons in Yates Cup final 23–13
199786200.750231912nd in OUADefeated York Yeomen in semi-final 17–0
Defeated Western Ontario Mustangs in Yates Cup final 30–10
Lost to Ottawa Gee-Gees in Churchill Bowl 44–37
199887100.8752971502nd in OUADefeated Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks in semi-final 32–10
Lost to Western Ontario Mustangs in Yates Cup final 21–14
199984400.5002321494th in OUADefeated Western Ontario Mustangs in semi-final 35–21
Defeated Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks in Yates Cup final 32–20
Lost to Saint Mary's Huskies in Atlantic Bowl 21–14
200084400.5002081764th in OUALost to McMaster Marauders in semi-final 44–20
200184310.5631941085th in OUALost to Western Ontario Mustangs in quarter-final 19–11
200283500.3751111787th in OUALost to Queen's Golden Gaels in quarter-final 51–14
200382600.2501423288th in OUALost to McMaster Marauders in quarter-final 70–7
200482600.2501492968th in OUADid not qualify
200582600.2501393029th in OUADid not qualify
2006835–0.3751172647th in OUADid not qualify
2007835–0.3751232527th in OUADid not qualify
2008826–0.2501472859th in OUADid not qualify
2009835–0.3752262137th in OUADid not qualify
2010team suspended
2011808–0.0009542110th in OUADid not qualify
2012826–0.25014533310th in OUADid not qualify
2013817–0.12516140610th in OUADid not qualify
2014817–0.1257641810th in OUADid not qualify
2015808–0.0006638011th in OUADid not qualify
2016808–0.0007743511th in OUADid not qualify
2017844–0.5002993397th in OUADid not qualify
2018844–0.5002632726th in OUALost to Guelph Gryphons in quarter-final 45–34
2019844–0.5002882835th in OUADefeated Ottawa Gee-Gees in quarter-final 44–21
Lost to Western Mustangs in semi-final 30–24

[11][12]

National award winners

Waterloo Warriors in the CFL

As of the end of the 2019 CFL season, former Warriors players on CFL rosters include:

[13]

References
  1. "Waterloo rocked by college football doping scandal". The Star. April 1, 2010.
  2. "Warrior Football suspended as doping test results revealed". Waterloo Warriors. June 14, 2010.
  3. "Waterloo Warriors player banned 3 years for HGH use". The Star. September 8, 2010.
  4. "Dennis McPhee named Warrior football head coach". Ontario University Athletics. January 5, 2007.
  5. "Football coach Dennis McPhee leaving after five-season run". Waterloo Warriors. November 22, 2011.
  6. "Joe Paopao lands full-time coaching job at the University of Waterloo". The Globe and Mail. February 20, 2013.
  7. "Waterloo announces Joe Paopao as interim head coach of Warrior football". Waterloo Warriors. December 8, 2011.
  8. "Joe Paopao leaves Waterloo for CFL". Waterloo Warriors. February 6, 2014.
  9. "Chris Bertoia named Waterloo Warriors Head Coach and Manager of Football Operations". Ontario University Athletics. December 18, 2014.
  10. "Warriors see season end in narrow semifinal loss". athletics.uwaterloo.ca. November 2, 2019.
  11. "Bob Adams CIS Sportspage". Chebucto Community Net. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  12. "U Sports football standings". U Sports. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
  13. "CFL players". Canadian Football League. Retrieved June 6, 2020.
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