2005 OUA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE RELEASED

HAMILTON - Ontario University Athletics (OUA) is pleased to announce the 2005 football schedule for this upcoming fall. With the excitement of last year's season that included the shattering of several records, teams fighting for playoff contention and the crowning of a new Yates Cup champion, the 2005 edition should provide the same enthusiasm.

Labour Day, Monday, September 5, will see the University of Windsor Lancers christen their new multi-use stadium as they host the perennial powerhouse McMaster University Marauders. The stadium, being built in preparation for the 2005 Pan American Junior Athletics Championships, will become the new home for several Lancer teams. Also, on Labour Day, the University of Guelph Gryphons will travel to the nation's capital to take on the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees, the team that put a stop to their upbeat 3-0 start to last year's season.

September 17th marks the "Red and Blue Bowl" between the University of Toronto Varsity Blues and York University Lions. The 35th edition of the game will be held at Varsity Stadium, where the Lions will look to extend their winning streak to ten games against the Blues and once again claim the Argo Cup. The Blues saw a 34-10 third quarter lead disappear in last year's contest as they were poised for their first victory in 21 games.

Week four of the schedule pits a rematch of last year's Yates Cup as the McMaster University Marauders travel to Waterloo to take on the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks. Last season, the Marauders fell twice to the Hawks at University Stadium, including seeing their four-year reign as Yates Cup champions end with a 31-19 loss.

Another intra-city battle will take place October 1 as cross-town rivals, the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks and University of Waterloo Warriors, will also face off. Expect University Stadium to be full of school supporters as city bragging rights will be on the line.

October 6, week six of the season, will showcase two outstanding running backs when Andre Durie and the York Lions host Darryl Stephenson and the Windsor Lancers. Durie, a two-time CIS All-Canadian, ran for 1367 yards, placing him second in the nation behind Hec Crighton winner Jesse Lumsden. Stephenson, the OUA Rookie of the Year last season, was a step behind with 1192 yards, locking up 1-2-3 from OUA athletes in national rushing statistics.

The age-old rivalry between the Queen's University Golden Gaels and the University of Western Ontario Mustangs will continue on the last week of the regular season. October 22nd marks the day when Western will host their long time rivals from Kingston.

The television schedule will be released in the summer as the OUA will continue their partnership with The Score Television network into its fourth successful season of the University Rush.

2005 OUA FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

BY DATE

September 5
Western @ Toronto
Waterloo @ York
Guelph @ Ottawa
McMaster @ Windsor
Laurier @ Queen's

September 10
Toronto @ Waterloo
York @ Queen's
Guelph @ Western
Windsor @ Laurier
Ottawa @ McMaster

September 17
York @ Toronto
Waterloo @ Guelph
Western @ McMaster
Queen's @ Windsor
Laurier @ Ottawa

September 24
Toronto @ Windsor
Guelph @ York
Western @ Waterloo
Ottawa @ Queen's
McMaster @ Laurier

October 1
Toronto @ Guelph
York @ Western
Waterloo @ Laurier
Windsor @ Ottawa
Queen's @ McMaster

October 8
Ottawa @ Toronto
Windsor @ York
Queen's @ Waterloo
Laurier @ Western
McMaster @ Guelph

October 15
Toronto @ Queen's
York @ Laurier
Waterloo @ McMaster
Western @ Ottawa
Guelph @ Windsor

October 22
Windsor @ Waterloo
Queen's @ Western
Laurier @ Guelph
McMaster @ Toronto
Ottawa @ York