U of G Celebrates Homecoming 2008
September 08, 2008 - News Release
The University of Guelph will honour one of its most successful athletic coaches, Tom Mooney, during Homecoming weekend Sept. 19 and 20. Other events include the traditional football game - this year against McMaster University - the Hall of Fame dinner, class reunions and a fun run.
The “Mooney Years” reunion will bring together Guelph football, basketball and wrestling teams from 1956 to 1961, all of whom were coached by Mooney. He led the football team to championships in 1958 and 1959 and the basketball team to a championship in 1959. Under his guidance, the wrestling team finished first in the western intermediate finals in 1958.
Mooney will be honoured at a reception Friday night, which will also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the 1958 football team’s championship, and at a Saturday breakfast.
Homecoming events begin Friday with the 25th annual Gryphon Hall of Fame dinner. The Gryphon Athletics Hall of Fame has 156 members. This year’s inductees are: three-sport athlete Jack Reeves, swimmer Alan Fairweather, the 1997 women’s cross-country team and the 1955 football team.
Reeves played football and hockey in 1948 and 1952 and was a member of the 1951 track-and-field team, earning eight varsity letters. The OAC graduate was the football team captain in 1952, playing both halfback and quarterback. In hockey, he was the top scorer in each of the years he competed. In track and field, he won the 100-, 220- and 440-yard events and was the Hamilton Olympic Club Trophy winner.
Fairweather was a Gryphon swimmer between 1972 and 1975, breaking team records in the 50-, 100-, 200- and 500-metre freestyle events. On the national stage, he swam for Team Canada and was a Swim Canada medallist, setting a Canadian relay record in 1973. He graduated with a human kinetics degree in 1975 and went on to serve as head coach of the Gryphon swimming team for 28 years.
The 1997 women’s cross-country team was the first women’s team to bring home a national title. They also captured the provincial championship by a record 70 points. The 1955 football team captured Ontario, Ontario/Quebec and national titles.
Saturday’s festivities kick off at 9 a.m. with a fun run through the Arboretum. It’s sponsored by the Human Kinetics and Human Biology Alumni Association and benefits the University’s “Adopt a Gryphon” program, which supports U of G’s intercollegiate sports and offerings.
The Glory Bowl pitting alumni Gryphon football players against each other begins at 10 a.m. at the Gryphon Dome.
The Homecoming football game begins at 1 p.m. at Alumni Stadium, with the Ohio Northern University marching band performing at halftime.
Admission to the game is $10 general, $8 for seniors and alumni and $5 for students. A family package of two adult and two student tickets is available for $27. For tickets and more information, visit www.gryphons.ca or call 519-824-7974.
A post-game alumni Homecoming pub begins at 9 p.m. at the Brass Taps.
For the younger set, a Kids’ Zone opens at 11:30 a.m., featuring face painting, tattoos, an inflatable bouncer, slides and more.
Also slated for Saturday is a reunion of alumni from the School of Languages and Literatures from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Macdonald Stewart Art Centre. To attend, RSVP by Sept. 12 to eventrsvp@uoguelph.ca.
For media questions, contact Communications and Public Affairs: Lori Bona Hunt, 519-824-4120, Ext. 53338/l.hunt@exec.uoguelph.ca, or Deirdre Healey, Ext. 56982/d.healey@exec.uoguelph.ca.
