Waterloo Warriors
Encyclopedia
The Waterloo Warriors are the athletic teams that represent the University of Waterloo
in Waterloo, Ontario
, Canada
. The Warriors have found success over certain spans in football
, hockey
, rugby
, golf
and basketball
among others, and the Warriors have won national championships in hockey (1974), basketball (1975), and women's swimming (1975). For many years from the 1960s through the 1990s, Warrior basketball games attracted the largest and rowdiest basketball crowds in the country. The Warriors Football teams have won two Yates Cup
Championships, in 1997 and in 1999. The team's 2010 season was cancelled after a steroid scandal, the biggest ever in CIS Football history.
Waterloo's teams were originally known as the "Mules" after the school's founding in 1957, and for a while the women's teams were the "Mulettes", a name that was almost universally despised and ultimately replaced by "Athenas". Today the women's teams also use the nickname Warriors. University Stadium
was originally built for the Warriors Football program, but was sold to the City of Waterloo in 1974 when UW could not afford to repair the stadium. The stadium was later sold by the City of Waterloo to Wilfrid Laurier University
in 1992, where it is now the home of the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
. The Warriors now play at Warrior Field, which was renovated to be ready for the 2011 football season.
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. The team was coached by Dennis McPhee, who is 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. McPhee resigned as head coached on November 22, 2011.
In recent years, the program has struggled to compete in the OUA, having not qualified for the playoffs since 2002 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 steroid
s and human growth hormone in March 2010. 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
. 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. Consequently, the Warriors finished winless in eight games in their return to the OUA.
, two former Warriors players are on CFL teams' rosters:
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
in Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. The Warriors have found success over certain spans in football
Canadian football
Canadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
, hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
, rugby
Rugby football
Rugby football is a style of football named after Rugby School in the United Kingdom. It is seen most prominently in two current sports, rugby league and rugby union.-History:...
, golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
and basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
among others, and the Warriors have won national championships in hockey (1974), basketball (1975), and women's swimming (1975). For many years from the 1960s through the 1990s, Warrior basketball games attracted the largest and rowdiest basketball crowds in the country. The Warriors Football teams have won two Yates Cup
Yates Cup
The Yates Cup is a Canadian sports trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Ontario University Athletics football conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport federation. It is the oldest still-existing football trophy in North America, dating back to 1898 and surpassing both the Grey...
Championships, in 1997 and in 1999. The team's 2010 season was cancelled after a steroid scandal, the biggest ever in CIS Football history.
Waterloo's teams were originally known as the "Mules" after the school's founding in 1957, and for a while the women's teams were the "Mulettes", a name that was almost universally despised and ultimately replaced by "Athenas". Today the women's teams also use the nickname Warriors. University Stadium
University Stadium (Waterloo)
University Stadium, also known as Knight-Newbrough Field and formerly known as Seagram Stadium, is a football stadium in Waterloo, Ontario with a capacity of 6,000. It is home to the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks football, rugby, and lacrosse teams. The track is closed to the public...
was originally built for the Warriors Football program, but was sold to the City of Waterloo in 1974 when UW could not afford to repair the stadium. The stadium was later sold by the City of Waterloo to Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University
Wilfrid Laurier University is a university located in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. It also has campuses in Brantford, Ontario, Kitchener, Ontario and Toronto, Ontario and a future proposed campus in Milton, Ontario. It is named in honour of Sir Wilfrid Laurier, the seventh Prime Minister of Canada....
in 1992, where it is now the home of the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
The Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks is the name used by the varsity sports teams of Wilfrid Laurier University in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport and, where applicable, in the west...
. The Warriors now play at Warrior Field, which was renovated to be ready for the 2011 football season.
Varsity teams
Waterloo Warriors teams compete in:- BadmintonBadmintonBadminton is a racquet sport played by either two opposing players or two opposing pairs , who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their...
(m/w) - BaseballBaseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
(m) - BasketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
(m/w) - Cross Country RunningCross country runningCross country running is a sport in which people run a race on open-air courses over natural terrain. The course, typically long, may include surfaces of grass and earth, pass through woodlands and open country, and include hills, flat ground and sometimes gravel road...
(m/w) - CurlingCurlingCurling is a sport in which players slide stones across a sheet of ice towards a target area. It is related to bowls, boule and shuffleboard. Two teams, each of four players, take turns sliding heavy, polished granite stones, also called "rocks", across the ice curling sheet towards the house, a...
(m/w) - Field hockeyField hockeyField Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
(m/w) - Figure SkatingFigure skatingFigure skating is an Olympic sport in which individuals, pairs, or groups perform spins, jumps, footwork and other intricate and challenging moves on ice skates. Figure skaters compete at various levels from beginner up to the Olympic level , and at local, national, and international competitions...
(w) - Ice hockeyIce hockeyIce hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
(m/w) - FootballCanadian footballCanadian football is a form of gridiron football played exclusively in Canada in which two teams of 12 players each compete for territorial control of a field of play long and wide attempting to advance a pointed prolate spheroid ball into the opposing team's scoring area...
(m) - GolfGolfGolf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
(m/w) - RugbyRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
(m/w) - Soccer (m/w)
- SwimmingSwimming (sport)Swimming is a sport governed by the Fédération Internationale de Natation .-History: Competitive swimming in Europe began around 1800 BCE, mostly in the form of the freestyle. In 1873 Steve Bowyer introduced the trudgen to Western swimming competitions, after copying the front crawl used by Native...
(m/w) - SquashSquash (sport)Squash is a high-speed racquet sport played by two players in a four-walled court with a small, hollow rubber ball...
(m/w) - TennisTennisTennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
(m/w) - Track & Field (m/w)
- VolleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
(m/w)
Waterloo Warriors football
The Waterloo Warriors football team has been in operation since 1957, winning two Yates CupYates Cup
The Yates Cup is a Canadian sports trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Ontario University Athletics football conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport federation. It is the oldest still-existing football trophy in North America, dating back to 1898 and surpassing both the Grey...
conference championships in 1997 and 1999. Currently, they are one of six teams to have never appeared in a Vanier Cup
Vanier Cup
The Vanier Cup is the name of the championship of Canadian Interuniversity Sport football and the name of the trophy awarded to the victorious team. It is currently played between the winners of the Uteck Bowl and the Mitchell Bowl...
game and the longest tenured program in the OUA
Ontario University Athletics
Ontario University Athletics is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases about those programs and events to the public...
to have never qualified for the national championship game. The team was coached by Dennis McPhee, who is the former head coach of the St. Francis Xavier X-Men
St. Francis Xavier X-Men
The St. Francis Xavier X-Men and X-Women are the men's and women's athletic teams that represent St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada. Their primary home turf is Oland Stadium located at the University's campus.-History:...
football team where he won Atlantic University Sport
Atlantic University Sport
Atlantic University Sport is a regional membership association for Canadian universities which assists in co-ordinating competition between their university level athletic programs and providing contact information, schedules, results, and releases about those programs and events to the public and...
coach of the year in 2002. McPhee resigned as head coached on November 22, 2011.
In recent years, the program has struggled to compete in the OUA, having not qualified for the playoffs since 2002 and not having a winning record since 2001. The program then made national headlines in 2010
2010 CIS football season
The 2010 CIS football season began on August 31, 2010 with the Windsor Lancers hosting the Ottawa Gee-Gees and the defending Vanier Cup champion Queen's Golden Gaels visiting the McMaster Marauders. The season concluded on November 27 at the PEPS stadium in Quebec City, Quebec with the Laval Rouge...
after it was discovered that a student athlete was in possession of steroid
Steroid
A steroid is a type of organic compound that contains a characteristic arrangement of four cycloalkane rings that are joined to each other. Examples of steroids include the dietary fat cholesterol, the sex hormones estradiol and testosterone, and the anti-inflammatory drug dexamethasone.The core...
s and human growth hormone in March 2010. 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
2010 CIS football season
The 2010 CIS football season began on August 31, 2010 with the Windsor Lancers hosting the Ottawa Gee-Gees and the defending Vanier Cup champion Queen's Golden Gaels visiting the McMaster Marauders. The season concluded on November 27 at the PEPS stadium in Quebec City, Quebec with the Laval Rouge...
. While the football team returned for the 2011 season
2011 CIS football season
The 2011 CIS football season began on September 1, 2011 with the Montreal Carabins hosting the McGill Redmen at CEPSUM Stadium. The season concluded on November 25 at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia with the 47th Vanier Cup championship...
, it proved difficult as many players transferred to other schools after they learned they would not be able to play at Waterloo that year. Consequently, the Warriors finished winless in eight games in their return to the OUA.
Recent regular season results
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | Tie | Pct % | PF | PA | Standing |
| 2001 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0.563 | 194 | 108 | 5th in OUA |
| 2002 | 8 | 3 | 5 | |||||
| 0.375 | 111 | 178 | 7th in OUA | |||||
| 2003 | 8 | 2 | 6 | |||||
| 0.250 | 142 | 328 | 9th in OUA | |||||
| 2004 | 8 | 2 | 6 | |||||
| 0.250 | 149 | 296 | 8th in OUA | |||||
| 2005 | 8 | 2 | 6 | |||||
| 0.250 | 139 | 302 | 9th in OUA | |||||
| 2006 | 8 | 3 | 5 | |||||
| 0.375 | 117 | 264 | 7th in OUA | |||||
| 2007 | 8 | 3 | 5 | |||||
| 0.375 | 123 | 252 | 7th in OUA | |||||
| 2008 | 8 | 2 | 6 | |||||
| 0.250 | 147 | 285 | 9th in OUA | |||||
| 2009 | 8 | 3 | 5 | |||||
| 0.375 | 226 | 213 | 7th in OUA | |||||
| 2010 | season cancelled | |||||||
| 2011 | 8 | 0 | 8 | |||||
| 0.000 | 95 | 421 | 10th in OUA | |||||
Recent playoff results
- 2001 Lost to Western Ontario MustangsWestern Ontario MustangsThe Western Ontario Mustangs are the athletic teams that represent the University of Western Ontario in London, Ontario, Canada...
in quarter-final 19-11 - 2002 Lost to Queen's Golden GaelsQueen's Golden GaelsThe Queen's Gaels are the athletic teams that represent Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. Team colours are blue, red, and gold. Its main home is Richardson Memorial Stadium on West Campus....
in quarter-final 51-14 - 2003 Missed Playoffs
- 2004 Missed Playoffs
- 2005 Missed Playoffs
- 2006 Missed Playoffs
- 2007 Missed Playoffs
- 2008 Missed Playoffs
- 2009 Missed Playoffs
- 2010 Program Suspended
- 2011 Missed Playoffs
Waterloo Warriors in the CFL
As of the end of the 2011 CFL season2011 CFL season
The 2011 CFL season was the 58th season of modern Canadian professional football. Officially, it was the 54th season of the league. The complete schedule was released on February 18 and featured the defending Grey Cup champion Montreal Alouettes opening the season against the visiting BC Lions on...
, two former Warriors players are on CFL teams' rosters:
- Chris BestChris BestChris Best is a Canadian football guard for the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League. He played CIS Football at Waterloo, as well as playing four seasons in the United States at Duke University...
, Saskatchewan RoughridersSaskatchewan RoughridersThe Saskatchewan Roughriders are a Canadian Football League team based in Regina, Saskatchewan. They were founded in 1910. They play their home games at 2940 10th Avenue in Regina, which has been the team's home base for its entire history, even prior to the construction of Mosaic Stadium at Taylor... - Hugo LopezHugo LopezHugo Lopez is a Canadian football defensive back for the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League. He was drafted 14th overall in the 2011 CFL Draft by the Eskimos and signed with the team on May 25, 2011. He played CIS football with the Waterloo Warriors from 2007 to 2009 and with the...
, Edmonton EskimosEdmonton EskimosThe Edmonton Eskimos are a Canadian football team based in Edmonton, Alberta. They currently play in the West Division of the Canadian Football League . Edmonton is currently the third-youngest franchise in the CFL, although there were clubs with the name Edmonton Eskimos as early as 1895...