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Ten-year tipoff
The Humber Hawks and Guelph Gryphons men’s basketball teams tip off for their annual exhibition game Thursday at 8pm.
More than your average friendly, there are stakes to be won. The Presidents Cup trophy has been awarded jointly by the heads of Humber College and University of Guelph in all but two of the last 10 years. Scheduling conflicts prevented the cup from being awarded on those two occasions. (The teams play in different associations.) The Hawks and Gryphons have won four apiece, all won on home court.
In a related tradition, University of Guelph-Humber students will take to the stands to support both teams in a nod this university’s two partner institutions.
When University of Guelph-Humber students show their student card at the Humber Gym Thursday evening, they get a free t-shirt. Not just any t-shirt either, according to Alyssa Ferreira, the president of the Student Athletic Association at Humber College.
“[It] has a Humber Hawks logo on one side and the Guelph Gryphon on the other,” she said in an email. “Students can support both varsity teams.”
Traditionally, students have simply flipped their shirt around to represent one or the other team, often playfully showing colours of the team ahead. But buckets aside, other factors play into this courside ritual.
Geography, for example: "Since Guelph-Humber is located on Humber College’s North Campus, it is really awesome to see some Guelph Gryphon spirit from the students at Guelph-Humber,” said Ferreira.
Besides being athletic association president (for two years), Ferreira is in her fourth year of Media Studies with an emphasis on Public Relations. University of Guelph-Humber students are able to hold leadership positions for various student associations and clubs. They’re also able to play for varsity sports teams at either University of Guelph or Humber College. Ferreira is about to start her fourth season playing varsity basketball for the Humber Hawks.
The President Cup game and its fan participation is “a tradition we believe in greatly,” said Doug Fox, Director of Athletics at Humber College.
He also believes in the game’s strategic value. “This game will be the final tune up game for our team,” said Fox.
Humber beat York University’s Lions by 11 points last weekend, making them Dawson Tournament champs. According to Fox, Humber’s got depth, a breakout player in Mark Perrin and a developed team sensibility: “Players are beginning to understand their roles and the systems that the team uses.”
On the run, but taking the request for comment, Tom Kendall, University of Guelph’s Director of Athletics, looked ahead to the 10th-anniversary game.
“The rivalry is still new but it’s becoming more intense each year,” offered Kendall. (According to Fox, Humber, the 2010-11 Ontario Colleges Athletic Association champions, is “trying to expand and play Guelph in every sport.”)
For Kendall, it’ll be exciting for fan and player alike. “I believe this year’s game will prove to be a learning experience for many of our young freshmen.”
President’s Cup, Thursday October 20th, 8pm, Humber Gym, North Campus
Sean Flinn, Web Communications Specialist, 416-798-1331, ext. 6299, sean.flinn@guelphhumber.ca