Bio

The 1980 Gee-Gees won the inaugural edition of the Dunsmore Cup as the championship game for the OQIFC; the Garnet and Grey edged Queen's 13-12 at Lansdowne Park. From there, the Gee-Gees triumphed 28-8 over Acadia in the Atlantic Bowl. The team was 6-1 in the regular season under head coach Cam Innes with the league's best defence, allowing just 11.6 points per game.

The team reached the no. 3 national ranking early in the season (Sept. 26) but also came to be labelled as a poor-weather football team, playing through rain almost each of the regular season games, a frozen icy field for the league final, and an exceptional amount of mud in the national semifinal. However, the talent shone through and 10 players were named to the league all-star teams including MVP Rick Zmich at quarterback and J.P. Metras Award winner Boyd Young on the defensive line.

Joel Baldwin led the league in recieving with 30 catches while Mike Giftopoulos led the league with 98 rushes, totalling 472 yards (second in the league). Zmich totalled a league-best 89 completions on 146 attempts (60.9 %), with five passing touchdowns.

"We do a lot of talking about concentration and self-discipline," noted head coach Cam Innes mid-way through the season to explain his team's success. "We have a consistent, explosive offence, a tough defence and strong kicking game," explained Innes prior to the Vanier Cup.

The offensive line recieved due credit for the Atlantic Bowl victory as the Gee-Gees gained nearly 250 yards on the muddy ground. "Tackle to tackle, they just blew us out," said Acadia's head coach of Dave Upton (T), Warner Miles (T), Giulio Petrilli (G), Brent Walker (G), and Mike Reid (C).

Andy Katz was the team's kicker and scored two field goals in the Atlantic Bowl, as well as hitting the game-winners against McGill, Queen's, and Concordia (a rouge). Katz scored 38 points in the regular season (second in the conference) on kicks with six field goals, 13 converts, and seven singles. 

Photo Gallery

1980 Game Results:

W 21-11 at Queen's, Sept. 13 - TDs by Rick Zmich, Brock Bundy

W 14-7 at Carleton, Sept. 20 - TDs by Joel Baldwin (10-yard pass from Zmich), Tom McMullen (pass from Zmich)

W 24-7 at Bishop's, Sept. 27 - TDs by Mike Giftopoulos (2), Bundy

W 16-8 vs McGill at Carleton, Oct. 4 - TD by Giftopoulos

W 10-9 vs Queen's at Carleton, Oct. 13 - TD by Zmich

L 21-30 vs Carleton at Lansdowne (Panda), Oct. 20 - TDs by Robin Stafford (blocked punt and recovery), Kevin McAllister, Burns (pass from Zmich)

W 10-9 at Concordia Oct. 27 - TD by Burns (18-yard pass)

Postseason:

W 22-10 vs Bishop's at Lansdowne, Nov. 1 - TDs by Giftopoulos (2)

W 13-12 vs Queen's at Lansdowne (Dunsmore Cup), Nov. 9 - TDs by Burns (47-yard pass from Zmich)

W 28-8 vs Acadia at Halifax (Atlantic Bowl), Nov. 22 - TDs by Giftopoulos, Bundy, Burns (17-yard pass from Granger)

L 21-40 vs Alberta at Varsity Stadium, Toronto (Vanier Cup) - TDs by Burns (34-yard pass from Granger), Granger, Paul McLaughlin (18-yards from Granger) 

1980 OQIFC All-Stars: 10

Joel Baldwin (slotback, unanimous selection, led league in receptions with 30), Rich Zmich (2nd in passing, 89/146 completions, 1029 yards, 5 TDs, 1 INT), Mike Reid (centre), Giulio Petrilli (guard), Mike Giftopoulos (running back), Don Burns (wide receiver), Andy Katz (place kicker), Boyd Young (defensive lineman), Kevin Loucks (linebacker), Mike Gallagher (defensive back), Peter Huber (defensive back)

Team Roster:

#11 Yvan Granger (QB), #12 Brian Towers (DB), #13 Rick Zmich (QB), #15 Winston Beausoleil (DB), #16 Dan Wolfenden (DB), #17 Peter Pleckaitis (DB), #18 Don Burns (REC), #20 Mike Gallagher (DB), #21 Peter Huber (DB), #22 Mike Giftopoulos (HB), #23 Joel Baldwin (SB), #24 Rob Tallyhoe (DB), #25 Paul McLaughlin (SE), #30 Jim Iafelice (LB), #31 Chris Spratt (FL), #32 Kevin McAllister (HB), #35 Brock Bundy (FB), #40 Robin Stafford (LB), #41 Paul Timler (LB), #44 Mike Reid (C), #45 Bernie Jolette (LB), #50 Brent Walker (OT), #51 Kevin Loucks (LB), #52 Giulio Petrilli (OG), #55 Brian Mullally (LB), #59 Nick Georgitsos (DT), #60 Dave Upton (OT), #61 Boyd Young (DT), #62 Guy Labine (OT), #65 Warner Miles (OT), #66 John Hennessy (OT), #70 Doug Brown (SB), #71 Andy Katz (KP), #72 Jim Redfearn (DE), # 73 Andre Laroque (DE), #75 Craig Walker (TE), #77 Dave Pagnutti (DE)

Coaches and staff:

Cam Innes (head coach), Jim Clark (defensive coordinator), Jim Colton (offensive coordinator), Julian Hanlon, Hugh Gallagher, Conrad Kozak, Jamie Barresi

1980 OQIFC regular season statistics | Ottawa only statistics