RECAP : Touchdown Dinner brings football alumni together again
Saturday, April 23 marked the return of the Touchdown Dinner after a two-year hiatus. The event brought together Gee-Gees football alumni and supporters representing eight different decades of the program's 141 years of history.
The highlights of the evening were the speeches from the Hall of Fame Inductees. Originally voted into the Hall of Fame in 2020, it had been a long-awaited night for the championship-winning teams from 1960, 1970, and 1980 and individual inductees Steven Glenn and Sébastien Tétreault.
The inductee speeches are available on the Gee-Gees YouTube channel.
Dr. Brien Benoit, now 85 years old, spoke on behalf of the 1960 team which had ten members in attendance as well as the family of head coach Matt Anthony. Benoit famously played nine seasons of Gee-Gees football, and shared memories of the early years of the Panda Game when there were only north side stands at Lansdowne Park, and a memorable half-time speech delivered by "the Sue Hylland of the day," athletic director Reverand Marcoux.
Jim Cain, an assistant coach with the 1970 team, provided his remarks on a team that pulled together and leaned on 32 players to reach the College Bowl. His memories of play-by-play comebacks and the impact that each player made vividly brought back the championship run. "1970 to us was the most fun year we had in football. It was an amazing group of guys and the spirit we had was amazing," said Cain, referring to a recent conversation with Bob O'Billovich.
Rick Zmich and Rob Tallyhoe represented the 1980 team, with head Coach Cam Innes providing comments remotely which highlighted the closeness of the team. "Genuine caring for each other and the trust in team mates which was built over the season were the two qualities which were the reason for our success in 1980. I am delighted that this caring and trust are still evident today," noted Innes.
Steven Glenn, who wore the Garnet and Grey from 1990-1994 and then had a ten-year CFL career, noted his family tradition in football including his Grey Cup-winning grandfather, Tom, and his journey through football in Ottawa. "Things in your life are all connected, whether or not you understand it at the time," said Glenn.
Sébastien Tétreault ended his induction speech by referring to his first year camp t-shirt, which he had with him on stage. The slogan "forever a Gee-Gee and proud of it" was selected for the shirt. "I had no clue what that meant, or the story behind the logo," said Tétreault of his first-year self back in 2006. "Now, I understand what it means to be a Gee-Gee forever, and I am damn proud of it."
Alumnus Youcef Lekadir was on hand to announce the commitment of Lekadir LLP as a season sponsor for 2022 as part of a five-year agreement.
Hall of Fame member and 2000 Vanier Cup Champion Steve Alexandre hosted the evening, which also featured speeches from uOttawa President and Vice-Chancellor, Jacques Frémont, Director of Varsity Athletics, Sue Hylland, and messages from head coach Marcel Bellefeuille and chairman of the 1881 Gee-Gees Football Alumni Association, Tom Casagrande.
