McGill Redbirds football

University Canadian football team

McGill Redbirds

McGill Redbirds logo

First season| 1874
Athletic director| Drew Love
Head coach| Alex Surprenant
1st year, 3-5  (.375)
Home stadium| Percival Molson Memorial Stadium
Year built| 1914
Stadium capacity| 20,025
Stadium surface| FieldTurf
Location| Montreal, Quebec
League| U Sports
Conference| RSEQ (2010 – present)
Past associations| CRFU (1898–1914, 1919–1939, 1946–1970)
QUAA (1971–1973)
OQIFC (1974–2000)
QSSF (2001–2009)
All-time record| -
Postseason record| -
Titles
Vanier Cups| 1
1987
Mitchell Bowls| 3
1958, 1960, 1973
Atlantic Bowls| 2
1969, 1987
Yates Cups| 10
1902, 1906, 1912, 1913,
1919, 1928, 1938, 1960,
1962, 1969
Dunsmore Cups| 3
1987, 2001, 2002
Hec Crighton winners| 1
Dave Fleiszer
Current uniform
Colours| Red, White, and Black

Outfitter| Adidas
Rivals| Montreal Carabins
Concordia Stingers
Website| McGill Football

The McGill Redbirds football team represents McGill University in Canadian football in U Sports and is based in Montreal, Quebec. The program is one of the oldest in all of Canada, having begun organized competition in 1874. The team won its first collegiate championship in 1902 and also won in 1912, 1913, 1919, 1928, 1938 and 1960 prior to the inauguration of the Vanier Cup in 1965. McGill appeared in the Vanier Cup final in 1969, 1973 and 1987, with the Redmen finally winning the title in the 1987 game. McGill plays out of Percival Molson Memorial Stadium, where the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes also play.

The program had long used the Redmen moniker until the name was dropped in May 2019 after nearly 80% of students voted to change the name in a 2018 referendum held by McGill's student union.[1] The team adopted the Redbirds name on November 17, 2020.[2]

## History

[edit]

The McGill v. Harvard game played in 1874

In 1874, McGill and Harvard met in the first North American style football game.[3]

Old "Football Fightum" had been resurrected at Harvard in 1872, when Harvard resumed playing football. Harvard, however, had adopted a version of football which allowed carrying, albeit only when the player carrying the ball was being pursued. As a result of this, Harvard refused to attend the rules conference organized by the other schools and continued to play under its own code. While Harvard's voluntary absence from the meeting made it hard for them to schedule games against other American universities, it agreed to a challenge to play McGill University in a two-game series. Inasmuch as rugby football had been transplanted to Canada from England, the McGill team played under a set of rules which allowed a player to pick up the ball and run with it whenever he wished. Another rule, unique to McGill, was to count tries (the act of grounding the football past the opposing team's goal line; it is important to note that there was no end zone during this time), as well as goals, in the scoring. In the Rugby rules of the time, a touchdown only provided the chance to kick a free goal from the field. If the kick was missed, the touchdown did not count.

The McGill team travelled to Cambridge to meet Harvard. On May 14, 1874, the first game, played under Harvard's rules, was won by Harvard with a score of 3–0.[4] The next day, the two teams played under "McGill" rugby rules to a scoreless tie.[5] The games featured a round ball instead of a rugby-style oblong ball.[4] This series of games represents an important milestone in the development of the modern game of American football.[6][7] In October 1874, the Harvard team once again travelled to Montreal to play McGill in rugby, where they won by three tries.

From 1898, McGill played in the Canadian Intercollegiate Rugby Football Union, and won their first championship, the Yates Cup in 1902. In 1912, Frank Shaughnessy was recruited as the first professional head coach. His teams won the Yates Cup during his first two seasons. In 1919, the team went undefeated and did not concede a touchdown,[8] and in 1928. The 1919 team was inducted into McGill's Hall of Fame in 2010.

McGill team of 1946

McGill next won a championship in 1938. The team tied for the regular season 8–1 with Western after losing their final regular-season game to Western. The teams played off for the championship, won 9–0 by McGill, with all the scoring from kicker Herb Westman, who kicked a school record nine punt singles.[9] The team would not win another title until 1960, when they won the Yates Cup, against Queen's University of Kingston, then defeated the Canada West champion Alberta Golden Bears in a challenge match for an unofficial national championship (Churchill Bowl).

In 1971, McGill joined a newly formed Quebec-only conference known as the Quebec University Athletic Association. In 1974, the three remaining Quebec teams merged with three Ontario teams in the Ontario-Quebec Intercollegiate Football Conference.

McGill won the ODIFC's Dunsmore Cup again for the first time 1987, along with the Montreal Shrine Bowl, Shaughnessy Cup, Robert Stanfield trophy (Atlantic Bowl champions) and the Vanier Cup (CIAU national champions). The 1987 team featured Michael Soles at running back, who went on to a lengthy playing career in the Canadian Football League. That team was coached by Charlie Baillie who took over in 1972 and served as head coach until 2000. Baillie surpassed the legendary Frank Shaughnessy's school record for wins and went on to become McGill's winningest coach. His overall record was 119–111–2.

Since the retirement of long-time head coach Charlie Baillie in 2000, the team has only won two league championships (2001, 2002). In October 2005, the McGill administration cancelled the last three games of football team's season after confirmed reports of hazing involving sexual abuse.[10] After their 2005 suspension, the team struggled with three losing seasons, including two winless seasons in 2007 and 2008. The program showed signs of hope as the team won three games in 2009, but soon sank back down to futility with consecutive winless campaigns in 2010 and 2011. In 2012, the team qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2006, but lost to perennial powerhouse Laval. The team returned to the playoffs in 2016, 2018 and 2019, but were defeated each time in blowout losses to the conference's other powerhouse, the Montreal Carabins. After three straight seasons of 1–7 records and fifth place finishes, Hillaire was relieved of head coaching duties on December 1, 2023.[11] On February 9, 2024, Alex Surprenant was named the 22nd head coach in program history.[12]

McGill team of 1912

## Recent results

[edit]

Season | Games | Won | Lost | OTL | PCT | PF | PA | Standing | Playoffs

|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|

2001 | 8 | 5 | 3 | - | 0.625 | 161 | 166 | 2nd in QUFL | Defeated Concordia Stingers in semi-final 11–8
Lost to Laval Rouge et Or in Dunsmore Cup 42–14[A]
2002 | 8 | 7 | 1 | - | 0.875 | 299 | 93 | 1st in QUFL | Defeated Bishop's Gaiters in semi-final 44–0
Defeated Concordia Stingers in Dunsmore Cup 10–6
Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in Mitchell Bowl 22–0
2003 | 8 | 3 | 5 | - | 0.375 | 171 | 205 | 4th in QUFL | Lost to Laval Rouge et Or in semi-final 47–7
2004 | 8 | 4 | 4 | - | 0.500 | 162 | 158 | 4th in QUFL | Lost to Montreal Carabins in semi-final 38–18
2005 | 8 | 1 | 7 | - | 0.125 | 120 | 233 | 6th in QUFL | Out of playoffs
2006 | 8 | 4 | 4 | - | 0.500 | 157 | 168 | 4th in QUFL | Lost to Laval Rouge et Or in semi-final 52–0
2007 | 8 | 0 | 8 | - | 0.000 | 144 | 289 | 6th in QUFL | Out of playoffs
2008 | 8 | 0 | 8 | - | 0.000 | 130 | 413 | 6th in QUFL | Out of playoffs
2009 | 8 | 3 | 5 | - | 0.375 | 181 | 267 | 5th in QUFL | Out of playoffs
2010 | 9 | 0 | 9 | - | 0.000 | 102 | 330 | 6th in QUFL | Out of playoffs
2011 | 9 | 0 | 9 | - | 0.000 | 139 | 287 | 6th in RSEQ | Out of playoffs
2012 | 9 | 3 | 6 | - | 0.333 | 157 | 294 | 4th in RSEQ | Lost to Laval Rouge et Or in semi-final 46–9
2013 | 8 | 3 | 5 | - | 0.375 | 220 | 263 | 5th in RSEQ | Out of playoffs
2014 | 8 | 0 | 8 | - | 0.000 | 103 | 342 | 6th in RSEQ | Out of playoffs
2015 | 8 | 3 | 5 | - | 0.375 | 192 | 249 | 5th in RSEQ | Out of playoffs
2016 | 8 | 4 | 4 | - | 0.500 | 156 | 173 | 4th in RSEQ | Lost to Montreal Carabins in semi-final 42–0
2017 | 8 | 1 | 7 | - | 0.125 | 105 | 282 | 5th in RSEQ | Out of playoffs
2018 | 8 | 2 | 6 | - | 0.250 | 109 | 233 | 3rd in RSEQ | Lost to Montreal Carabins in semi-final 48–2
2019 | 8 | 3 | 5 | - | 0.375 | 124 | 191 | 3rd in RSEQ | Lost to Montreal Carabins in semi-final 31–0
2020 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 | 8 | 1 | 7 | - | 0.125 | 99 | 223 | 5th in RSEQ | Out of playoffs
2022 | 8 | 1 | 7 | - | 0.125 | 167 | 262 | 5th in RSEQ | Out of playoffs
2023 | 8 | 1 | 7 | - | 0.125 | 147 | 310 | 5th in RSEQ | Out of playoffs
2024 | 8 | 3 | 5 | - | 0.375 | 168 | 252 | 3rd in RSEQ | Lost to Montreal Carabins in semi-final 42–3

[13]

^ A. McGill was later awarded the Cup by forfeit after it was discovered that Laval had used ineligible players

## National Postseason Results

[edit]

Vanier Cup Era (1965-current) Year  | Game  | Opponent  | Result

|
|
|

1969  | Atlantic Bowl

Vanier Cup

| UNB

Manitoba

| W 20-6

L 15-24

1973  | Churchill Bowl

Vanier Cup

| Manitoba

Saint Mary's

| W 16-0

L 6-14

1987  | Atlantic Bowl

Vanier Cup

| Saint Mary's

UBC

| W 30-29

W 47-11

2002 | Mitchell Bowl | Saskatchewan | L 0-22

McGill is 3-1 in national semi-final games and 1-2 in the Vanier Cup.

## Head coaches

[edit]

Name | Years | Notes

|
|

A.M. Hamilton | 1908 |
Bill Steedman | 1911 |
Frank Shaughnessy | 1912–27 & 1932–34 | First professional coach in Canadian college history;
Yates Cup in 1912, 1913 and 1919.
Lorne Montgomery | 1928–29 | Yates Cup in 1928
Flin Flanagan | 1928 |
T.H. Hall | 1928–29 |
A.A. Burridge | 1928–29 |
D. Stuart Forbes | 1930–31 |
Joe O'Brien | 1935 |
Doug Kerr | 1936–46 | Yates Cup in 1938
Vic Obeck | 1947–53 |
Larry Sullivan | 1954–57 |
Bruce Coulter | 1958–61 | Yates Cup, national championship in 1960
Bill Bewley | 1962–64 | Yates Cup in 1962
Tom Mooney | 1965–70 | Yates Cup in 1969
John Roberts | 1971 |
Charlie Baillie | 1972–2000 | National championship (Vanier Cup in 1987)
Chuck McMann | 2001–2006 |
Sonny Wolfe | 2007–11 |
Clint Uttley | 2011–2014 | Took over as interim for final three games of 2011 season; named head coach after season but resigned on September 30, 2014.
Ronald Hilaire | 2015–2023 | Appointed head coach Feb 17, 2015. Finished 2014 season as interim co-head coach.
Alex Surprenant | 2024–present |

Source: McGill.[14]

## National award winners

[edit]

* Hec Crighton Trophy: Dave Fleiszer (1969)
* J. P. Metras Trophy: Randy Chevrier (2000), Laurent Duvernay-Tardif (2013), Andrew Seinet-Spaulding (2019)
* Peter Gorman Trophy: Michael Soles (1986), Shaquille Johnson (2012), Eloa Latendresse-Regimbald (2022)
* Russ Jackson Award: J.P. Veri (1990, 1991), Steve Papp (1994), Jean-Philippe Darche (1998)
* Frank Tindall Trophy: Chuck McMann (2002)

## Notable former players

[edit]

### CFL

[edit]

* Joshua Archibald – BC Lions
* Ben Labrosse – Calgary Stampeders
* Maxime Rouyer – BC Lions, Panthers Wrocław, Edmonton Elks

### ELF

[edit]

* Valentin Gnahoua – Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Saskatchewan Roughriders, Paris Musketeers

### Former professional players

[edit]

* Jesse Briggs – Winnipeg Blue Bombers
* Jean-Nicolas Carrière – Toronto Argonauts
* Randy Chevrier – Edmonton Eskimos, Calgary Stampeders
* Samir Chahine - Edmonton Eskimos, Toronto Argonauts, Hamilton Tiger Cats, Calgary Stampeders, Ottawa Renegades
* Ryan Coughlin – Montreal Alouettes
* J. P. Darche – Toronto Argonauts, Seattle Seahawks, Kansas City Chiefs
* Laurent Duvernay-Tardif – Kansas City Chiefs, New York Jets
* Mike Edem – Saskatchewan Roughriders, BC Lions, Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Montreal Alouettes
* Erik Galas – Montreal Alouettes
* Greg Hetherington – Calgary Stampeders, BC Lions
* Shaq Johnson – Ottawa Redblacks, BC Lions
* John Macdonald – Hamilton Tiger-Cats
* Christian Masotti – Edmonton Eskimos
* Jim Miller – Montreal Alouettes
* Joe Poirier – Ottawa Rough Riders
* Hector Pothier – Edmonton Eskimos
* Silver Quilty – Ottawa Rough Riders
* Val St. Germain – Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Edmonton Eskimos, Ottawa Renegades, Winnipeg Blue Bombers, Saskatchewan Roughriders
* Andrew Seinet-Spaulding – Calgary Stampeders
* Michael Soles – Edmonton Eskimos, Montreal Alouettes
* George Springate – Montreal Alouettes
* Gene Robillard – BC Lions

## See also

[edit]

* U Sports

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Stevenson, Verity (November 13, 2018). "McGill students vote to change Redmen sports teams' name". CBC News.
2. ^ "The McGill Redbirds: new name for a new era to wear, and cheer for with pride". McGill Athletics. November 17, 2020.
3. ^ "Spotlight Athletics". Mcgill.ca. 2012-05-14. Archived from the original on 2012-10-18. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
4. ^ a b Parke H. Davis. Football, the American intercollegiate game. p. 64.
5. ^ "No Christian End!" (PDF). The Journey to Camp: The Origins of American Football to 1889. Professional Football Researchers Association. Retrieved January 26, 2010.
6. ^ "Spotlight Athletics". Mcgill.ca. May 14, 2012. Archived from the original on October 18, 2012. Retrieved October 22, 2012.
7. ^ "Parke H. Davis '93 On Harvard Football". Princeton Alumni Weekly. 16: 583. March 29, 1916 - via Google books.
8. ^ "1919 McGill Football Team". McGill University. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
9. ^ "1938 McGill Football team". McGill University. Retrieved February 21, 2012.
10. ^ "Hazing probe prompts McGill to cancel football". CTV News. October 19, 2005. Retrieved February 21, 2012.[dead link‍]
11. ^ "McGill University Redbirds part ways with football head coach Ronald Hilaire". 3DownNation. December 1, 2023.
12. ^ "McGill announces appointment of Alex Surprenant as 22nd head football coach". McGill Redbirds and Martlets. February 9, 2024.
13. ^ "Site officiel des calendriers, classements et statistiques du RSEQ".
14. ^ "Coach profiles". McGill University. Retrieved February 21, 2012.

## External links

[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to McGill men's football.

* Official website

* v
* t
* e

McGill Redbirds football

Venues|

Percival Molson Memorial Stadium (1915–present)

Key Personnel|

* Head coach: Alex Surprenant

Vanier Cups|

* 1987

Culture & lore|

* 1874 Harvard game

Notable seasons|

* 1873
* 1874

Current League
Affiliations|

* League: U Sports
* Conference: Réseau du sport étudiant du Québec

* v
* t
* e

McGill Redbirds head football coaches

* A.M. Hamilton (1908)
* No team (1909–1911)
* Bill Steedman (1911)
* Frank Shaughnessy (1912–1927)
* Lorne Montgomery (1928–1929)
* Flin Flanagan (1928)
* T.H. Hall (1928–1929)
* A.A. Burridge (1928–1929)
* D. Stuart Forbes (1930–1931)
* Frank Shaughnessy (1932–1934)
* Joe O'Brien (1935)
* Doug Kerr (1936–1946)
* Vic Obeck (1947–1953)
* Larry Sullivan (1954–1957)
* Bruce Coulter (1958–1961)
* Bill Bewley (1962–1964)
* Tom Mooney (1965–1970)
* John Roberts (1971)
* Charlie Baillie (1972–2000)
* Chuck McMann (2001–2006)
* Sonny Wolfe (2007–2011)
* Clint Uttley (2011–2014)
* Ronald Hilaire (2015–2023)
* Alex Surprenant (2024– )

* v
* t
* e

McGill University

Academics|

* Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
* Faculty of Arts (Institute of Islamic Studies
* School of Information Studies
* School of Religious Studies)
* Faculty of Dentistry
* Faculty of Education
* Faculty of Engineering (School of Architecture)
* Faculty of Law
* Desautels Faculty of Management (Executive Institute)
* Faculty of Medicine
* Schulich School of Music
* Faculty of Science (Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences
* Department of Mathematics and Statistics
* School of Computer Science)

Research|

* Archives
* Libraries
* McGill–Queen's University Press
* Beatty Lectures
* Bellairs Research Institute
* J. S. Marshall Radar Observatory
* McGill Arctic Research Station
* McGill University Health Centre
* Office for Science and Society

Campus|

* Burnside Hall
* Diocesan Theological College
* Elizabeth Wirth Music Building
* Islamic Studies Library
* Lady Meredith House
* Leacock Building
* Macdonald-Harrington Building
* Martlet House
* Maude Abbott Medical Museum
* McCall MacBain Arts Building
* McGill Life Sciences Complex
* McIntyre Medical Sciences Building
* McLennan Library
* McTavish Street
* Osler Library
* Presbyterian College
* Redpath Hall
* Redpath Library
* Redpath Museum
* Roddick Gates
* Royal Victoria Hospital

Athletics|

* McGill Redbirds and Martlets (Football
* Ice hockey
* Lacrosse
* Rowing club
* Soccer)
* Molson Stadium
* McConnell Arena

Student media|

* CKUT-FM
* The McGill Daily
* The McGill Tribune
* Le Délit français
* The Bull & Bear
* McGill International Review
* McGill Law Journal

Affiliated hospitals|

* McGill University Health Centre (Allan Memorial Institute
* Lachine Hospital
* Montreal Chest Institute
* Montreal General Hospital
* Montreal Neurological Institute and Hospital
* Royal Victoria Hospital)
* Douglas Mental Health University Institute
* Jewish General Hospital
* Lakeshore General Hospital
* St. Mary's Hospital
* Shriners Hospital for Children

Miscellaneous|

* Academic dress
* Cundill History Prize
* Deep Saini
* Heraldry
* Macdonald Campus
* Students' Society of McGill University
* 2024 pro-Palestinian encampment

* Category
* Commons

* v
* t
* e

U Sports football

AUS|

* Acadia Axemen
* Bishop's Gaiters
* Mount Allison Mounties
* Saint Mary's Huskies
* St. Francis Xavier X-Men

Canada West|

* Alberta Golden Bears
* Calgary Dinos
* Manitoba Bisons
* Regina Rams
* Saskatchewan Huskies
* UBC Thunderbirds

OUA|

* Carleton Ravens
* Guelph Gryphons
* McMaster Marauders
* Ottawa Gee-Gees
* Queen's Gaels
* Toronto Varsity Blues
* Waterloo Warriors
* Western Mustangs
* Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks
* Windsor Lancers
* York Lions

RSEQ|

* Concordia Stingers
* Laval Rouge et Or
* McGill Redbirds
* Montreal Carabins
* Sherbrooke Vert et Or

Championships|

| National|

* Vanier Cup
* Mitchell Bowl
* Uteck Bowl
* Atlantic Bowl (historical)
* Churchill Bowl (historical)

|

Conference|

* Hardy Trophy
* Yates Cup
* Dunsmore Cup
* Jewett Trophy

Awards|

* Hec Crighton Trophy
* J. P. Metras Trophy
* Presidents' Trophy
* Peter Gorman Trophy
* Russ Jackson Award
* Frank Tindall Trophy
* Lois and Doug Mitchell Awards

All-Canadian teams|

* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* 2020
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Seasons|

* 1998
* 1999
* 2000
* 2001
* 2002
* 2003
* 2004
* 2005
* 2006
* 2007
* 2008
* 2009
* 2010
* 2011
* 2012
* 2013
* 2014
* 2015
* 2016
* 2017
* 2018
* 2019
* ~~2020~~
* 2021
* 2022
* 2023
* 2024

Other|

* East–West Bowl
* Panda Game
* Shrum Bowl
* Northern 8
* CFL Combine

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