Honorary Captains

Gryphon Football will be introducing an Honorary Captain for each of our home games.

This Honorary Captain is picked from our collection of distinguished Gryphon alumni and is someone who represents all that Gryphon Football is.

The Honorary Captain becomes our VIP for the game and will join our captains on the field with the referee to do the coin toss.

2024 Honorary Captains

Mark Walton & Julie Byczynski

At the home opener game, we were honored to introduce our special guests from Guelph General Hospital, who represented the healthcare team that tirelessly serves our community.

As we prepared for the coin toss, we welcomed Mark Walton, CEO of Guelph General Hospital, who has been instrumental in building strong community partnerships and advancing equitable care. Joining him was Julie Byczynski, CEO of The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital and a proud UofG alumna, who has dedicated her career to inspiring community support for healthcare.

Mark and Julie served as honorary captains for the Guelph Gryphons, standing with our healthcare team in the Friends of Gryphon Football north endzone. Together, they share a vision of a healthier future for all who live, work, or study here.

John Rush

On September 14, 2024, Gryphon Football proudly welcomed John Rush as the honorary captain for the day’s game. John, a distinguished Gryphon alumnus, has an impressive athletic legacy. He served as a two-time team captain and was recognized as a two-time OUA All-Star. In 2015, John earned 1st Team All-Canadian honors and played a pivotal role in helping the Gryphons secure the Yates Cup, where he was named game MVP. His accolades also include the provincial and national Presidents' Trophy for Defensive MVP, and he was celebrated as the University of Guelph's Male Athlete of the Year.

After his time at the university, John went on to compete in the CFL with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. On this special day, he had the honor of performing the coin toss. Gryphon Football was thrilled to have him back on the field.

John Musselman and Parri Ceci

On September 28, 2024, Gryphon Football proudly celebrated the 40th anniversary of the 1984 Vanier Cup Championship team by welcoming two legendary Gryphons as honorary captains for the day. Head Coach John Musselman, who guided the Gryphons to their first-ever National Championship, and Vanier Cup MVP Parri Ceci, an All-Canadian, UofG Athlete of the Year, and former CFL player with the Calgary Stampeders, were given this special honor.

Both Coach Musselman and Parri Ceci performed the ceremonial coin toss, joined by their 1984 teammates who were lined up on the 20-yard line in a heartfelt tribute to their enduring legacy. It was a memorable moment, commemorating the Gryphons' historic championship and celebrating the continued impact of these Gryphon greats.

Robbie Keith

On October 5, 2024, Gryphon Football was proud to welcome Dr. Robbie Keith as the honorary captain for the day. A 1960 O.A.C. graduate and Hall of Fame inductee, Dr. Keith has been an integral part of Gryphon sports for over six decades. A talented two-sport athlete, he captained both the O.A.C. hockey and football teams and was a two-time football champion.

In 1959, he was awarded the prestigious Wildman Trophy, and for many years, he served on the Wildman Selection Committee. More recently, Dr. Keith was recognized as a Gamechanger on the Gryphon Football Honour Wall for his unwavering dedication to preserving the program’s history and mentoring future athletes.

We were especially excited to celebrate his 87th birthday on this special day.

2023 Honorary Captains

DR. SCOTT HOBSOn

Dr. Scott Hobson: Dr. Hobson, is a former Defensive Back for the Guelph Gryphons and local alumni of GCVI. Dr. Hobson is a four-year Varsity Letterman. He secured his place with two OUAA all-star titles in 1980 and 1982, setting records like 5 interceptions in a single-season and a tied record for interceptions against Toronto. Leading by example, he captained the team in 1982 and earned the esteemed Wildman Trophy. He was recently named to the 1980s All-Decade Team, and Dr. Hobson's legacy extends even further from his 38-year veterinary career in Oakville.

MARK BROWN, HERON TAIT AND DR. DUDLEY BROWN

Mark Brown, Heron Tait, and Dr. Dudley Brown: Mark Brown, a Hall of Fame Running back, a 2-time OUAA All-star, Athletics-male athlete of the year, WF Mitchell Sportsman of the year, and Wildman trophy recipient. He was also drafted 5th overall to the Toronto Argonauts in 1978. Heron Tait, a Yates Cup champion in 1992, achieved remarkable success with three school records for punt return accomplishments, including three punt return touchdowns in a single season. In 1995, he was drafted 27th overall to the Ottawa Rough Riders. Dr. Dudley Brown, a three-time Yates Cup champion, achieved one title as a player in 1984 and two as a coach during his impressive 9-year tenure coaching the Defensive Backs for the Gryphons. He was also part of the National Championship team in 1984.

Andrew, boasts an impressive list of achievements, including accolades like the Donald Forster-MVP, Don Cameron Award, and Football-Wildman Trophy. He's a 2nd Team OUA All-star and represented us in the CIS-East West Bowl. Andrew's academic excellence earned him the Canadian Millennium Scholarship, and he's a Distinguished Alumni recipient and a member of the 2010 Team of the Decade. Currently, he holds the role of VP of Marketing at Labatt Breweries of Canada. Dan Noble was a four-year starter and recipient of the Thomas Dimitroff Defensive Player of the Year award. His football journey included winning two championships in Italy and contributed as a Gryphon assistant DL coach for three years. Today, he's the proud owner of Noble Sports Performance, where he trains NHL stars like Mitch Marner and Anthony Cirelli, along with Team Canada’s Sarah Nurse.

2022 Honorary Captains

Dr. Alrick Daugherty and Brett McCallum

Brett McCallum and Dr. Alrick Daugherty are two former captains representing the 1992 Yates Cup Championship team.

After graduation, Brett and Alrick both continued their football careers. Brett as an assitant coach for the Gryphons, and Alrick as a player, winning back to back Euro Super Bowls for Sweden.

For the past 19 years, Brett has been a firefighter in Hamilton while Dr. Daugherty is a chiropractor and howns his own clinic in Brantford.

george bortolato

George was a Defensive Back who played for the Gryphons from 1988 to 1991. George graduated with a Bachelor's of Applied Science degree. He currently works in the Beverage Alcohol industry and is living in Burlington with his wife Cheri and his two children Grady and Holden. George is an active participant on the Friends of Gryphon Football committee and successfully runs an annual FOGF golf tourney that helps raise money to support budget requests and scholarships for players.

guelph gryphons vs queens gales

september 24, 2022

Dr. Steve Stewart graduated from OAC in 1970 and OVC in 1974, and was also a 1969 Wildman Trophy recipient. Dr Stewart was actually the person who cut the ribbon to open Alumni Stadium in 1970. He is a 2-time captain and 2-time all star at half back and currently a proud Friends of Gryphon Football Gold member.

Dr. Stewart is the 1969 All Canadian, Gerry Organ. Gerry played 13 seasons for the Ottawa Rough Riders and won 2 Grey Cups in 1973 and 1976. He is the only kicker to have won the CFL's Most Outstanding Canadian Award. He was inducted into the University of Guelph Hall of Fame in 1984 and his number is proudly hung on the south endzone as a Gryphon Honour Jersey inductee.

kip wigmore

kip graduated from the university of guelph in 1996. He was a 5-year letterman at wide receiver, winning 2 yates cups. kip won the prestigious wildman trophy in 1995 and was a 5th round cfl draft pick by the hamilton tiger cats. kip was named to the 1990’s team of the decade.

2021 honorary captains

Brian Cluff (DL,OL) 5-year Varsity Letterman, Vanier Cup Champion (‘84), holds School Record: Most Games started in a career-50, 5th Rd pick CFL-Toronto (‘86).
Has been the longest-standing assistant coach for the University of Guelph. In 2011 Coach Cluff was the recipient of the OUA and the CIS "Assistant Coach of the Year Award". In addition, Coach Cluff was also recognized for his commitment and excellence to Athletics and Coaching by the University of Guelph and was awarded the Dr. John T. Powell Award. Coach Cluff has the distinction of having been a part of all four of the Gryphon Football Yates Cup Championship team (1984 as a player, 1992, 1996, and 2015 as a coach).

Gerrit Stam

Gerrit Stam (RB) 5-year Varsity Letterman, 1st Team OUAA All-star (‘98), CIS 2nd Team All-Canadian (‘98), Football-Donald Forster-MVP (‘98), Athletics-W.F Mitchell Sportsman Award (’98), Team Captain (‘98), set 6-School Records, 2-OUA Records: Including Most rushing attempts in a game-37 vs. Toronto (’99) and Most rushing attempts in a season -188 (’98), Named to the 1990’s All-Decade-Team.

1984 vanier cup team captains

We honoured our 1984 Vanier Cup winning team during our 2019 homecoming game. The team was invited to watch the game on our pavilion roof top, where they were reunited with their previous teammates.

the captains of this team were b laine schmidt, jeff yanchus, randy dimitroff, randy walters and jed tommy.

randy walters flipped the coin toss and won for the gryphons!

Jeremy oxley

Jeremy Oxley was our honorary captain during our game against the Western Mustangs. Oxley played for the Gryphons from 1996 through to 2000. During his time as a Gryphon, he was named 1st Team All-Star (’97-’00), 1st Team All-Canadian (’99-’00), won the Wildman, the WF Mitchell Award, Rookie of the Year Award, 2-time Lineman of the Year award and Team MVP. Congratulations on all of your success Jeremy and congrats on being our Honorary Gryphon!

nick fitzgibbon

Nick Fitzgibbon was our honorary captain during our O-Week game against the York Lions this September. Fitzgibbon played for the gryphons from 2006 to 2011, where he made the quite the impact. Fitzgibbon led the team in rushing every year from 2006-2010, was 1st Team OUA All-Star  (‘08-10), 2nd Team CIS All-Canadian (’09-10) and won the Donald Forster MVP trophy (’07-’09).

In addition to this, Nick set 8 school records during his time as Gryphon, including Most Rushing Yards in a Career (3,600 yards) and Most Touchdowns in a Career (40). Congratulations on being our Honourary Captain, Nick! Much deserved.

DARRELL SKUSE

Darrell Skuse was our Honorary Captain to start our 2019 season at Alumni Stadium. Skuse played Running Back for the Gryphons where he broke some records, including Longest Punt vs. Toronto in 1985 (94 yards) and Most Rushing Yards in a Season in 1986 (832 yards).

Some of his accomplishments include being a 4-year Varsity Letterman, Football-Rookie of the Year recipient (‘84), Vanier Cup champion (’84), Football-Donald Forster-MVP recipient (‘86), Team Captain (’85’86), and 1st Team OUAA All-Star (’86). Darrell Skuse went 53rd overall in the CFL Draft to the Edmonton Eskimos in 1986. Thank you, Darrell.

For our last game of the regular season, and the day after his induction into the Order of the Gryphon for his generous donations to our team, it was our pleasure to welcome Don Taylor back to the Alumni Stadium turf to be our Honorary Captain for a crucial game against Waterloo. Don wore the Redmen jersey from 1959-1964.

Mike Shoemaker

Just before kick-off of the highly anticipated annual Think Pink game, we were delighted to welcome former quarterback, Mike Shoemaker, to centre field as our Honorary Captain. Mike is a member of the University of Guelph Class of 1989 as well as the Guelph Gryphon Athletics Hall of Fame Induction Class of 2003. He has a collection of prestigious football titles including, 2-time OUA First Teams All-Star, 2-time CIAU All-Canadian, and OUA conference MVP in 1988 and 1989. He also won the university’s Don Cameron award in 1987 and Male Athlete of the Year in 1988. Thank you for joining us for the coin toss, Mike! It was great to have you back on Gryphon turf for such a great game.

Guelph Gryphons vs. Queen’s Gaels - September 22nd, 2018

Having just been inducted to the Guelph Gryphon Athletics Hall of Fame the night before, it only seemed fitting to have Dave as our Honorary Captain for the Homecoming game. Dave wore the Gryphon jersey as a wide receiver from 1990-1993. He earned the titles of OUAA All-Star ‘91, ‘92, and ‘93, CIAU All-Canadian in ‘92 and ‘93, a Yates Cup winner in ‘92, UofG Male Athlete of the Year ‘93, as well as a member of the 1990’s Team of the Decade. His achievements with the Gryphons led him to be a Toronto Argonauts (CFL) draft pick in 1994. It truly was an honour to have him back on the field.

Rob Wesseling

Rob was an offensive lineman for 5 years with Gryphon Football before graduating in 1995 and being drafted to the Edmonton Eskimos (CFL) in the 1st round. In his time at Guelph, he was named Rookie of the Year in 1990, UofG Lineman of the Year in ‘92 and ‘93, Wildman Trophy winner in ‘93, and President’s Trophy winner in ‘94 and ‘95. He also collected multiple National and Conference honours, including becoming a Yates Cup champion in 1992. In 2012, he was inducted into the University of Guelph Hall of Fame, and we are thrilled that this year he was able to come back to the Alumni Stadium field and be our Honorary Captain for a game.