Gradlife

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First of all, I apologize for the corny title. Second of all, I wouldn’t say I am a “sports person”. Even in my years as a soccer player, I had little interest in watching others play soccer, despite my coach’s insistence that it would improve our games. However, that being said, sports are always more interesting for me when there is a) a personal connection, and b) some sort of rivalry that may entail subsequent bragging rights.

 

Cue this Saturday’s Red and Blue Bowl at Varsity Stadium. The Red and Blue Bowl is an annual match between U of T and York U that symbolizes more than a regular season game – it means owning Toronto. Now in it’s 43^rdyear, the winner of the game takes away the Argo Cup, donated by (you guessed it!) the Toronto Argonauts in ’92. Basically – one game, one cup, Toronto bragging rights – no pressure.

 

So that covers the rivalry thing, but I’d be lying (and terrified) if the personal connection meant I was playing. Luckily for the team I won’t be, but Mario Tedesco, a friend of mine will be. A regular starter in his 5^th season with the Blues, he has a bit of experience keeping the scholastic and athletic balanced, while enduring some of the strife of being a commuter student. When I asked him how he keeps it all together, Mario said:

Managing school and football isn’t always the easiest thing to do especially as a student who commutes from outside the city. I don’t think people realize just how much time goes into being a varsity athlete and the dedication it takes. Between practices, meetings, film study, workouts and games, it’s almost like working a full time job while handling a full course load. However, because our time is so strictly regimented during the season, I often find that I perform better academically because I’m forced to routinely dedicate time specifically to school work.

But we’re not just talking about regular season here this week, we’re talking about the (cue drumroll) RED AND BLUE BOWL! When I asked what the climate is leading into the big game, Mario responds:

Well there’s always pressure because it means bragging rights for an entire season with our cross-town rivals. There’s added pressure this year because this game means a lot for our playoff hopes. We’re in a position right now where we still control our own destiny of earning a playoff spot, which is something this program has not been able to do in more than a decade. As a result, this game against York is without a doubt one of the most important games this program has seen in quite some time.

Again, no pressure. Not jealous of Mario’s position I asked what the game plan was. He responded simply and confidently,

We have to come out and show that we deserve a shot at the post season and we are willing to fight for that.

Interested in watching how this all pans out? Come out and support your Blues this Saturday at 1pm at Varsity Stadium. Entry is free for U of T students and there is a chance to win $5000 (!!!), and other giveaways.

Still not enough football? Tickets are now on sale for the current GradEscape to watch the action between the Argos and the Alouettes this Sunday. $20 seats and I hear rumours that there are free t-shirts involved.