FROM THE ARCHIVES: OCAA FOOTBALL 1972
OCAA Football League Formed
January 28, 1972
By David Grossman
Humber College will no longer be the only community college in Ontario without a varsity sports schedule.
In September Humber will join Oakville’s Sheridan College, Seneca College of Toronto and Algonquin College of Ottawa in the newly formed Ontario Colleges Athletic Association football league.
“There is little doubt around the college that inter-collegiate football is wanted,” said Bill Pitt, production technology staff member at Humber. “This school has that talent and players and now they’ll be able to show it.”
Pitt, along with several members of a make-shift football team that defeated Sheridan 21-2 in an exhibition game earlier this year, saw Humber’s President, Gordon Wragg, about financial assistance.
“We entered his office,” said Pitt, “and the next thing we knew he had offered us $5,000 out of the college’s capital budget for football.”
Pitt has kept in contact with Joey Richmond Sports Equipment of Montreal, Que., suppliers of football equipment to the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League, on the cost of fitting a team.
“They can fit us with pants; sweaters; kidney, thigh, knee and shoulder pads and helmets for 40 players,” he said, “And that’s top-rate equipment too, for $4,600.”
Pitt, along with John McColl, business administration staff member and assistant coach, has already started a high school recruiting job.
“We’ve talked to a few players and so far our recruiting is going just the way we wanted it to,” Pitt added.
Among those to attend training camp for Humber include Craig Smith (6’2, 225 lbs) and Stan Brozek (6’, 190 lbs), both from Monarch Park Secondary School. Smith has just returned from Trinidad where he competed as a member of the Ontario rugby team in international competition.
“One of our greatest additions has to be Adrian Taylor (6’1, 180 lbs) who played linebacker-kicker for the Burlington Braves, finalists in the Canadian Junior Rugby Football Championships in the last two seasons,” Pitt said.
Humber’s current 32-man make-shift team has begun a fundraising campaign for the team which hopes to play its games at Etobicoke’s Centennial Stadium.
In the past two months, they have sold 1,000 Ontario Sports Lottery tickets ($1.00 each) collecting 50 cents on each ticket. In addition, 70 Christmas trees were sold at $3.00 each.
“We hope to collect the game receipts (50 cents), and use for additional equipment and supplies,” Pitt added.
Humber will start a training camp this week and every Wednesday at 7 p.m. in the Bubble for those interested in trying out for the team.
Now is your chance to be part of the team, Humber’s first official football team.
Additional Notes: Football was Humber’s first team to participate in the Ontario College Athletic Association (OCAA) competition. The team played their first ever varsity game at Centennial Stadium on September 7, 1972 against the Sheridan Bruins. After a slow start to the season, the Hawks claimed their first victory against the then Seneca Braves on October 12, 1972 with a score of 12-9.
After a short two years of competition, the football team folds in 1974 due to lack of commitment from athletes. Students tried to bring back the team in 1981 without much success, as there just seemed to be little interest by athletes.
