Toronto Varsity Blues The Toronto Varsity Blues is the name for the intercollegiate sports program at the University of Toronto . Its 43 athletic teams regularly participate in competitions held by Ontario University Athletics and Canadian Interuniversity Sport . The Varsity Blues traces its founding to 1877 , with the formation of the men ' s football team . Since 1908 , Varsity Blues athletes have won numerous medals in Olympic Games and Paralympic Games , and have also long competed in International University Sports Federation championships , Commonwealth Games and Pan American Games . The Varsity Blues program has teams in badminton , baseball , basketball , cross country running , curling , fastpitch softball , fencing , field hockey , figure skating , football , golf , ice hockey , lacrosse , mountain biking , nordic skiing , rowing , rugby , soccer , squash , swimming , tennis , track and field , volleyball , water polo and wrestling . Men ' s ice hockey . The men ' s ice hockey team plays in the Ontario University Athletics conference , and are coached by Darren Lowe . The team is based at Varsity Arena . The current Varsity Blues have won ten CIAU Championships . The men ' s ice hockey team was founded in 1891 . The Varsity Blues senior team won the Allan Cup in 1921 and 1927 , and won the gold medal at the 1928 Winter Olympics . Conn Smythe ( U of T 1920 ) , the principal owner of the N . H . L Toronto Maple Leafs ( 1927 – 61 ) and builder of Maple Leaf Gardens ( 1931 ) , chose Royal Blue and White as his team ' s colors to honor his Alma Mater . The Maple Leafs are popularly known as " The Blue & White " by many of their older fans . Football . The Toronto Varsity Blues football team won the first Grey Cup game ever held in 1909 , and went on to win the cup again in 1910 , 1911 , and 1920 . After intercollegiate teams no longer competed for the Grey Cup , the team won the first Vanier Cup ever held in 1965 , and then again in 1993 as Canadian national football champions . The team has 25 Yates Cup championship wins as champions of the Ontario University Athletics conference of the CIS , a total second only to the 29 won by the Western Ontario Mustangs . However , hard times have fallen on the University of Toronto football team in recent years . The football program had not won a game since the 2001 season ( a win that itself ended an 18 - game losing streak ) . On October 13 , 2007 , they set the record for the longest losing streak in Canadian university history , at 49 losses in a row . This losing streak was snapped on September 1 , 2008 when they defeated the Waterloo Warriors 18 - 17 for their first win in almost seven years . The team last posted a winning record in 1995 . The team is seeing a minor turnaround as the Blues have won three games in two consecutive seasons . The team was led by head coach Greg DeLaval who won his first game with the Blues when the team ended their record - setting losing streak in 2008 . In 2010 , the Blues posted a remarkable 40 - 35 win over the second - ranked Ottawa Gee - Gees , which was their first win over a nationally ranked opponent since 1997 against the Waterloo Warriors . The Blues finished with a 3 - 5 record in 2010 , which was their best since the 1996 season when they posted the same mark . The Blues posted a 3 - 5 record again in 2011 , while once again finishing just out of the playoffs in seventh place . The team took a step back with a 2 - 6 record in 2012 , including home losses to fellow 2 - 6 teams York and Ottawa . Season - by - season record . The following is the record of the Toronto Varsity Blues football team in the last ten seasons of play : Varsity Blues in the CFL . As of the start of the 2012 CFL season , two former Blues players are on CFL teams ' rosters : Nordic skiing . The Nordic skiing team competes against Ontario universities each year at the OUA Championships in February after qualifying races earlier in the season . The team has steadily grown in size and experience since Hans Fischer stepped up to the position of coach in the 2005 - 06 season . Rowing . The University of Toronto Rowing Club represents the Varsity Blues at local and international regattas . The UTRC was founded on February 10 , 1897 , and throughout the years has had many successes including Royal Canadian Henley Regatta victories , OUA titles , and a silver medal at the 1924 Summer Olympics in Paris .