This fall, the University of Windsor is celebrating its 50th anniversary, culminating with a celebration weekend from September 19 to 22.  Over the course of this summer, the Windsor Lancers are proud to highlight the most memorable intercollegiate teams in school history leading up to the university's 50th birthday.  Many of these Blue and Gold squads have been honoured by the Alumni Sports Hall of Fame with the Team Achievement Award, while a number of their athletes and coaches are Hall of Fame Inductees.

In just their second season of existence, the Windsor Lancers men's football program strung together a strong regular season, posting a record of 5-1 and earning themselves  a spot in the Central Canada Intercollegiate Football Conference (CCIFC) championship game. The Lancers travelled to Quebec where they challenged the established Bishop's Gaiters for the conference title. 

Under the guidance of Hall of Fame coach Gino Fracas, the Lancers jumped out to a 22-9 lead at halftime against the Gaiters and their all-star running back Larry Smith, who was touted by many as the best player in Canadian college football at the time.

The Gaiters put together a comeback bid in the second half, and were able to even the game heading into the final quarter. However, after a Bishop's fumble late in the contest, punter Terry Moore sent the ball into the end zone, where the Gaiters return man was tackled for a Rouge, giving the Lancers a 1-point victory and their first-ever CCIFC championship.

Former Windsor Star sports editor and 2002 Hall of Fame Inductee Ken Fathers summed up the 1969 Lancers football season with these words:

"…the Lancers have done themselves proud in their second season of CCIFC play.  Parichi's strong passing and Tony D'Aloisio's dynamic running highlighted the U of W's Western Division title drive. And, how you can overlook the Lancers superb defensive play (they yielded an average of nine points per outing) when you try to pinpoint the main reason for their success?"

For additional information on this team or other Lancer greats, visit the Alumni Sports Hall of Fame Website, and to find out more about the University's Celebration Weekend, please visit the 50 Year Anniversary Website.