On Saturday (May 2) at the Delta Hotel and Conference Centre in Guelph, the Gryphons football team hosted the 5th edition of the Gryphon Football Gala. The money raised on the evening goes toward supporting the Gryphon football team and athletic scholarships. The Gryphons honoured the 1984 Vanier Cup team and several key individuals from that team took to the podium to not only reflect on the school’s success in the 1980’s, but to also share their thoughts on the current state of the Gryphons program.
Parri Ceci, a star receiver on the 1984 Vanier Cup team, was the recipient of an ‘Honour Jersey’ which acknowledges an individual who excelled at the highest level while at U of G; Parri’s framed jersey will now be on display in the High Performance Centre in Alumni Stadium.
One of the highlights on the evening was the announcement of the Rick Kohler 1984 Vanier Cup Scholarship. In January 2015 at the age of 52 Rick Kohler, a member of the Vanier Cup team, lost his battle with cancer. Jumpstarted by the Kohler family and supported by Rick’s 1984 Vanier Cup teammates and friends, the initiative has raised over $50,000. The fund will be matched by the Triple Victory Project and will support one full scholarship for a student-athlete on the Gryphon football team.
The goal of the Triple Victory Project is to raise $1 million by May 2016. To date, the Project has raised over $600,000. For more information please visit gryphons.ca/football.
Former Gryphon quarterback Justin Dunk (2005-2009) served as the master of ceremonies for the event in which Gryphons friends, family and supporters from across the Guelph community were on hand to celebrate the past as well as embrace what is a promising future for the Gryphon football program.
The Gryphons will open their 2015 season on the road at Waterloo on Sunday, August 30th at 7pm, with the home opener falling on Labour Day Monday (Sept. 7) as the Gryphons welcome the Laurier Golden Hawks to Alumni Stadium. Season tickets are on sale now online at gryphons.ca/tickets.