Gryphon Football is celebrating their 30th anniversary this year of their 1984 Vanier Cup title! This was the last team to win a national title....could this be the year to add another.
At the 1984 Vanier Cup, the Guelph Gryphons scored 15 unanswered points in the final seven minutes of the game to beat the Mount Allison Mounties 22-13 at Varsity Stadium in Toronto. It remains the lone appearance in the national championship match for the Gryphons, making them the only program with an unblemished Vanier Cup record (1-0).
A conversation with 3 Gryphons (Parri Ceci, Jeff Volpe and Jed Tommy) from the championship team…..
PARRI CECI
Wide receiver Parri Ceci, who was voted game MVP, had only two catches in the win but made the most of them as they were good for 89- and 38-yard touchdowns.
What is your major memory of the entire Vanier Cup week and the overall experience?
The whole experience was surreal, from the minute we got on the bus until we arrived back in Guelph after the game. There were so many great things happening all week and winning it in the end was the greatest feeling.
Does the win feel even more special today considering no Guelph team has reached the VC since
The WIN alone is special. It is unfortunate that Guelph has not made it back to experience VC week.
What is your one major lasting memory of the actual game?
Standing on the podium with my teammates and RAISING THE VANIER CUP!!
What do you remember as the key play of the game?
Our Defence was the key to us winning that game. The "D" made several key stops and the offence made a couple of huge plays.
What was your personal greatest play/moment?
The 38 yard TD catch that I was fortunate enough to make late in the game.
Did anything unusual / out of the ordinary happen during the game or during Vanier week?
After the game, my sister somehow made it through the crowd to come give me a big congratulatory hug.
Did the coaches do anything different from normal routine in the preparation for the game?
The coaches tried to keep us loose and focused on the game.
How did you/the team react to the stadium and the crowd?
The weather was absolutely perfect for the day and our fans, who followed us throughout the playoff run, were truly amazing.
What are your memories of the post-game celebrations on the field and/or in the dressing room?
Drinking out of the cup!!
What are your memories of the trip back home?
Just the feeling and celebration that we had just won the VC!!
What was the reaction on campus when the team returned?
Tremendous, as I said our fans were absolutely the best!!
At the time, how did winning the Vanier Cup change your day-to-day life?
The team was very recognizable on campus. It was a pretty proud year for all of us around the Guelph campus.
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JEFF VOLPE
What is your major memory of the entire Vanier Cup week and the overall experience? There are so many things that made that experience memorable. The week of preparation was fantastic. Practices had an energy that was contagious and fun. You could see the purpose in every player. The day of the game was unseasonable warm and sunny. I recall walking out onto the field at old Varsity stadium and seeing a huge contingency of red and gold in the stands. It felt like a home game!
Does the win feel even more special today considering no Guelph team has reached the VC since?
The win was and is super special to me and I know to all my teammates. But I also know that we all felt very proud to have brought the Vanier Cup to Guelph. But honestly all of us wanted to see the program win again. It may have been more special if we were the catalyst to many more cup wins. The program has been close a few times and is currently work very hard to build to a Vanier. Hopefully that will happen soon.
What is your one major lasting memory of the actual game?
The game itself seems at times like a blur. I remember most vividly the rush of Guelph fans onto the field after the game. It was mayhem and they seemed super happy...that was awesome. Even with all that commotion getting to celebrate with my wife (girlfriend at the time), both sets of parents and cousins was a perfect ending to the win.
What do you remember as the key play of the game?
Randy Walters throwing the touchdown pass to Parri Ceci. Parri caught the touchdown pass over top of a defender in the endzone....game changer.
What was your personal greatest play/moment?
Knocked down a pass in the endzone. Tense moment!
Did anything unusual / out of the ordinary happen during the game or during Vanier week? During the game our punter lost control of the ball and it appeared as though he passed the ball right into the hands of a defender, who then proceeded to catch it and run it in for a touchdown. Oddest thing I've ever seen. We were in a daze! But we regrouped and use that play as a sort of inspiration to get moving and onto our game plan.
Did the coaches do anything different from normal routine in the preparation for the game?
The coaches did an excellent job of preparing us. Practices were relaxed, some specific plays were designed but mostly they "let us play" and stuck to the routine that got us there in the 1st place.
How did you/the team react to the stadium and the crowd
It was a warm and sunny day....tons of red and gold in the stadium, it felt like a home game and the team really appreciated the turnout and support from all the fans, students, parents and residents alike.
What was the reaction on campus when the team returned?
Lots of congratulations and support. Seemed to really rally and boost school spirit that fall.
How often to you reminisce about your Vanier Cup win?
Often but particularly during milestone times. Our 25th anniversary was held at the school and it was an honor to be recognized at the homecoming game. This year is our 30th anniversary of the game. Many of the team members have been connecting as a result. There is a bond that was cemented that is difficult to explain....many great friendships that I hold in great regard still to this day.
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JED TOMMY
What is your major memory of the entire Vanier Cup week and the overall experience?
The overall experience was life changing in terms of confidence in yourself and the belief in your ability to take on and overcome a major challenge individually and as a team. I remember feeling particularly proud for my family who supported me so much over the years that they could join me and really share in the experience the week provides. The University, city of Guelph, Alumni, family and friends were all behind us and very expressive. Lots of phone calls, letters, faxes were read, speeches made and Gryphon Alumni spoke at our practices leading up to the game. We all felt a heightened sense of purpose to prove our team was the best in Canada. We were closer than any team I have ever played on and that memory is something I cherish. The team Tom Dimitroff built over the years and John Muscleman coached in 1984 was incredible in talent and in character. There was validation that championships are forged in the off-season.
Does the win feel even more special today considering no Guelph team has reached the VC since?
Yes it's a milestone that we are proud to hold but not forever. We have had the distinction long enough now we need the current team and era to take the title. The athletes in the program today are incredible and the average athlete in the Gryphon program is just faster and better trained. I think the exceptional athletes are always going to be exceptional but the information and support are far better now than what we had and it shows. Currently the support the team has and the dedication from coaches to facility are all incredible and as a result Guelph offers a student athlete a unique experience. Success for our Gryphons is really just a matter of time now, all the pieces are in place.
What is your one major lasting memory of the actual game?
I finished my University career scoring the winning touchdown in the Vanier cup. The fans were so excited they tore down the goal posts. That was the last play of my University career. Something also very special was my co-captain Jeff Yanchus and I pinned together in a sea of fans locked in a hug after training so hard for so long we had just won the greatest prize possible, he looked at me and just said " buddy we did it we did it" and I looked at him and it hit me.....and we just stood there crushed together with our fans for a long time. So long in fact we missed the presentation of the Vanier cup trophy as captains we were to accept it but the fans wouldn't let us out of the middle of the crowd on the field..we didn't care.
What do you remember as the key play of the game?
The 38 yard touchdown pass to Perri Ceci was a spectacular catch by any measure to tie the game at 13. Tim Quirk hit a field goal, then I sealed the win with a couple good runs and a TD.
They ripped the goal posts down we couldn't kick the extra point…classic. I ended by career scoring a TD on the last play of the Vanier Cup.
What was your personal greatest play/moment?
I finished my University career scoring the winning touchdown in the Vanier cup. The fans were so excited they tore down the goal posts. That was the last play of my University career.
Did the coaches do anything different from normal routine in the preparation for the game?
John Musselman peaked us perfectly for the game we were fresh. The coach just simplified the play selection and we focused on execution. Ironically it was a sloppy game with lots of turnovers.
How did you/the team react to the stadium and the crowd?
We enjoyed the very loud and energetic crowed which favored Guelph. The crowd tore down the goal posts before the game was over…no extra point after I scored.
What are your memories of the post-game celebrations on the field and/or in the dressing room?
Lots of hugs tears and smiles. Many a moment with nothing being said just smiles and that kept happening for months. There was a great sense of accomplishment and pride in our team, the University of Guelph and the city of Guelph. For our family and alumni, it was a thank you for everything they provided us and they were all so happy in the change room and that stayed for years after it feels like….in fact that feeling is here again right now as I am writing this – thanks.
What are your memories of the trip back home?
I can't remember the trip home it's just one big happy blur. I do remember my first steps back on campus and it being but it brings me to tears to think about that. The whole campus won that day and everyone was celebrating. We were rock stars but better because we represented everyone that day, the University, town, Alumni and family. The Bullring a favorite campus hangout. We just roamed around hugging friends reliving the moments of the game together with friends and family.
At the time, how did winning the Vanier Cup change your day-to-day life?
Positivity, optimism and energy became the daily diet when you have a life changing moment like that you can reflect on it forever as a reminder that anyone can be exceptional if prepared and committed. I was more committed than ever to training and becoming a pro after and that worked out.I always trained hard and didn't miss a day for years. The win also got the team more attention and we had many players get drafted and play in the CFL. The most important gift in winning was just in seeing yourself as a winner.
How often to you reminisce about your Vanier Cup win?
I think about the Vanier cup time in my life quite often, especially now as my son is a great player with Ottawa University and his University goals are similar to mine. I just spoke to the current Gryphon team at practice as part of homecoming 2014 and it really moved me. I encouraged them to plan to win the Vanier cup that if they knew what a life-changing event it was how much more they might commit to the goal. I wear the ring proud and relish the time it represents. I know it has also affected my son Mack Tommy, who knows the value and wants to make his mark and its that goal that sacrifice to attain something special that he respects and wants for his team and school.
