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The Manitoba Bisons logo.1920-2000
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The University of Manitoba resides in Winnipeg and started to play collegiate football in the 1920's when they were charter members of the Western Canada Intercollegiate Athletic Association (WCIAA). The other two charter members were the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Alberta.The first three significant dates in Manitoba football history was in 1923, 1924 and 1927 in which they won their first championships. The championships that Manitoba won were called the Hardy Cup, and they were awarded for being the best collegiate team in Western Canada. The next significant date in University of Manitoba Football history was in 1948 when they decided to shut down the football program. The Manitoba football program ceased to exist until the 1962 season when the school trustees decided to return and be members of the Western Intercollegiate Football League (WIFL) thus beginning the modern day Manitoba Bisons.
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As stated earlier, the University of Manitoba returned to collegiate football in 1962. Manitoba won their first championship since returning in 1968 when they won their fourth Hardy Cup. With Manitoba winning the Hardy Cup, Manitoba went on to play in their first ever Churchill Bowl against the Queen's Golden Gaels which Manitoba ultimately lost the game 29-6.4
Roster from the 1968 Western Bowl.Circa 1968
University Stadium, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
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The following season in 1969, Manitoba won their second straight Hardy Cup and returned to the Churchill Bowl to play the Windsor Lancers. Not like last season which ended in defeat, Manitoba went on to win their first Churchill Bowl by the score of 41-7. With that victory in the Churchill Bowl, Manitoba went on to their first Canadian College Bowl (it has been called the Vanier Cup since 1982) and played against McGill University. When the game ended, Manitoba captured their first Canadian College Bowl by defeating McGill 24-17. Manitoba was the second team from Western Canada to win the Vanier Cup.In the 1970s, Manitoba once again was the best team in Western Canada when they captured their third straight Hardy Cup. Also during the 1970 season, Manitoba went to their third straight Western Bowl in which they once again played the Queen's Golden Gaels in which Manitoba won 24-20 in a thrilling overtime game.
With the victory over Queen's University, Manitoba returned to the Canadian College Bowl in which they played the Ottawa Gee Gee's. Once the game ended, Manitoba captured their second straight Vanier Cup 38-11. Manitoba was the first team in Canadian collegiate football history to win two straight Vanier Cups.
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Lineup for the 1969 Canadian College Bowl.21 November 1969
Varsity Stadium, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Game action from the 1970 Western Bowl.Circa 1970
University Stadium, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Credits:Manitoba Bisons 1994 football media guide
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The 1970 Manitoba Bisons.Circa 1970
University Stadium, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Credits:Canadian College Bowl 1970 media guide
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The next time Manitoba won a championship was in 1973, when they won their seventh Hardy Cup in school history. When Manitoba returned to their third straight Western Bowl, they once again played McGill and ultimately lost 16-0. The Hardy Cup that was won earlier was the last championship that the University of Manitoba will win in the 20th century. Through the rest of the 20th century, Manitoba compiled a 64-142-2 record, with their best season being in 1991 when Manitoba went 6-2. |
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