Wikipedia

User:Wikidoubter/Sydney Uni Lions

Sydney University
American Football Club
Full nameSydney University American Football Club[1]
NicknameLions
(Junior Team: Cubs)
SportGridiron (American football)
Founded1984
First season1984
LeagueGridiron NSW
Home groundSt John's Oval
Parramatta Road, Sydney University
ColoursBlue and Gold
PresidentJames Gifford
Head coachAndrew Ogborne
WebsiteSydney University
http://www.sydneyunigridiron.com

The Sydney University Lions is the team fielded by the Sydney University American Football Club in Division I of Gridiron NSW, the top level of competitive American football in New South Wales, Australia.[2] The Sydney University American Football Club is a constituent member of the oldest and largest sporting organization in Australia, Sydney Uni Sport and Fitness, and was honoured as the University's Sporting Club of the Year in 1985, 1991, 2006 and 2012.[3] The Sydney University Lions was one of the foundation teams of Gridiron NSW, playing its first game on 29 April 1984.[4] The team was founded as the "Stormtroopers" before changing to the "Lions" in 1985, becoming the first University of Sydney club to adopt the "Lions" mascot.[5] The Sydney University Lions is the only club to have competed in every season of Gridiron NSW.

While the Sydney Uni Lions drew interest as pioneers of American football in Australia[6] and for their run of NSW championships,[7] it was their lifetime win/loss record which brought them to the attention of the American football world with the publication of College Football Scorebook and the Small College and Rugby Football Scorebook in 1995.[8] The Sydney Uni Lions was one of only three college (university) teams from outside of the United States to be included in these digests of all-time college American football scores, results and statistics. Even more notably, the (then) win-loss-draw percentage of the Sydney Uni Lions of 98 wins, 27 losses and 3 draws (77.7%) was the best all-time winning percentage of any college American football team.[9] This achievement was confirmed with the publication of the third edition of Football Scores & Schedules - the Book in 2004,[10] which brought the earlier digests and the Pro Football Scorebook up-to-date. As at 2004, the all-time winning percentage of the Sydney Uni Lions of 177 wins, 51 losses and 5 draws (77.0%) was the best all-time winning percentage of any college American football team.[11] While the fourth edition of "Football Scores & Schedule - the Book" is still pending, the Sydney Uni Lions have won 180 out of the 185 games the team has played since the publication of the third edition in 2004.[12] This has improved the all-time wining percentage of the Sydney Uni Lions as at the end of the 2018 season to 358 wins, 56 losses and 5 draws (86.0%). By comparison with other levels of competition in American football, this places the Sydney Uni Lions' all-time winning percentage (85.9%) above:

  • the best all-time record in the NFL - Dallas Cowboys (57.2%)[13]
  • the best all-time record in NCAA Division I-A college football - Michigan (73.4%)[14]
  • the winningest high school football program in the United States - Valdosta High School, GA (78.6%)

In addition to its outstanding all-time record, the Sydney Uni Lions also compiled a remarkable winning streak of 99 games.[15] This winning streak started on 7 October 2006 (defeated UTS Gators, 20-17) and was ended at 99 games on 30 August 2014 when the Lions were defeated by the West Sydney Pirates 20-17 - the same score as the game which started the streak! In American football, the Sydney Uni Lions winning streak of 99 games is longer than:

  • the most consecutive games won in the NFL - 21 games, New England Patriots
  • the most consecutive games won in College football, NCAA Div I - 47 games, Oklahoma Sooners
  • the longest unbeaten streak in College football, NCAA Div I - 63 games, Washington Huskies
  • the most consecutive games won in College football, NCAA Div II - 40 games, Grand Valley State Lakers
  • the most consecutive games won in College football, NCAA Div III - 55 games, Mount Union Purple Raiders

In Australian sport, the 11 consecutive premierships won by the St George Dragons in rugby league between 1956 and 1966 was considered to be a world record for consecutive championships by a sporting team. The Sydney Uni Lions have won through to 28 Gridiron NSW championship games in 34 years of competition and won 19 NSW state titles - the most by any team - and are currently on an unbroken run of 15 consecutive Gridiron NSW premierships from 2003 to 2017.Cite error: A <ref> tag is missing the closing </ref> (see the help page).[16][17]

On 11 August 2013, the Sydney Uni Lions won the first National Club Championship in American Football in Australia by defeating the Gold Coast Stingrays 45-13.[18]. In 2014, the Sydney Uni Lions were ranked #1 in the final 2014 National Club Championship rankings.

The Sydney Uni Lions also secured Gold Medals in 1999 and 2000 for the University at the Eastern Australian University Games, the only years American football has been contested.

Lions Record By Year edit

Year Record Season Result
2018 10-2 State Champions (Defeated UNSW 33-16)
2017 11-1 State Champions (Defeated West Sydney 17-0)
2016 11-0 State Champions (Defeated West Sydney 20-19)
2015 11-0 State Champions (Defeated West Sydney 36-18)
2014 13-1 State Champions (Defeated West Sydney 43-14)
2013 15-0 National Club Champions (Defeated Gold Coast 45-13)

State Champions (Defeated Northwestern 83-18)

2012 14-0 Champions (Defeated UTS 38-0)
2011 12-0 Champions (Defeated West Sydney 47-8)
2010 12-0 Champions (Defeated UTS 37-0)
2009 12-0 Champions (Defeated UTS 34-26)
2008 12-0 Champions (Defeated West Sydney 38-34)
2007 12-0 Champions (Defeated UTS 34-28)
2006 11-1 Champions (Defeated UTS 34-26)
2005 12-0 Champions (Defeated Bondi 23-0)
2004 13-0 Champions (Defeated West Sydney 32-7)
2003 12-1 Champions (Defeated UWS 38-21)
2002 10-4 Runners-Up (Lost to UWS 18-33)
2001 8-3 Runners-Up (Lost to Sutherland 21-28)
2000 8-3 Runners-Up (Lost to Sutherland 6-12)
1999 6-5 Plate Winners (Defeated Manly 8-0)
1998 8-1-1 Semi-Finalist (Lost to Bondi 0-6)
1997 7-4 Semi-Finalist (Lost to ACT 19-27)
1996 8-3-1 Runners-Up (Lost to ACT 0-14)
1995 12-0 Champions (Defeated ACT 13-3)
1994 8-3 Semi-Finalist (Lost to Canberra 19-27)
1993 9-1-1 Runners-Up (Lost to Manly 13-14)
1992 9-2 Champions (Defeated Bondi 14-6)
1991 10-1 Runners-Up (Lost to Bondi 12-14)
1990 11-1 Runners-Up (Lost to Bondi 13-16)
1989 9-5 Runners-Up (Lost to Bondi 13-14)
1988 4-6 Missed Playoffs
1987 7-4 Semi-Finalist (Lost to Bondi 2-32)
1986 12-0 Champions (Defeated Fairfield 24-0)
1985 11-0 Champions (Defeated Bondi 15-9)
1984 8-4-2 Runners-Up (Lost to Canterbury 7-19)

Cubs Record By Year edit

Year Record Season Result
2015 6-2 Semi-Finalist (Lost to Northwestern 6-9)
2014 8-3 Semi-Finalist (Lost to West Sydney 37-14)
2013 6-5 Runners Up (Lost to Sutherland 18-6)
2012 3-6-1 Semi-Finalists (Lost to Central Coast 50-14)
2011 6-3-2 Semi-Finalists (Lost to Central Coast 32-26)
2010 9-2 Runners Up (Lost to Sutherland 34-32)
2009 10-2 Champions (Defeated Bondi 48-44)
2008 3-5-1 Missed Playoffs
2007 9-3 Semi-Finalists (Lost to Bondi 14-46)
2006 8-4 Semi-Finalists (Lost to UTS)
2005 6-5 Semi-Finalists (Lost to Sutherland 14-20)
2004 1-8-1 Missed Playoffs
2003 5-3-1 Missed Playoffs
2002 10-0 Champions (Defeated Bondi 8-0)
2001 8-1 Champions (Defeated West Sydney 8-0)
2000 5-4-2 Semi-Finalists (Lost to West Sydney 6-10)
1999 9-1 Runners-Up (Lost to Manly 0-6)
1998 4-6-1 Semi-Finalist (Lost to Lansvale 0-13)
1997 9-2-0 Semi-Finalist (Lost to UWS Macarthur 0-14)
1996 6-2-2 Champions (Defeated Lansvale 36-12)
1995 10-0 Champions (Defeated UWS Macarthur 36-8)
1994 6-0 Champions (Defeated Manly 20-0)

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ http://www.susf.com.au/page/american_football.html
  2. ^ http://www.gridironaustralia.org.au/customdata/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_main&ItemID=567&OrgID=885
  3. ^ http://www.susf.com.au/files/club_of_the_year.pdf; Croker, Graham (2007-04-10). "Water and wickets dominate sports awards". Sydney Uni Sport. Retrieved 2007-06-12.
  4. ^ http://www.sydneyunigridiron.com/lions-faq
  5. ^ "Hut, Hut, Hut", Sydney Alumni Magazine, 2009, https://secureau.imodules.com/s/965/images/editor_documents/alumni-magazine/09-winter/sam-winter09-sport.pdf
  6. ^ "Local Gridiron: no helmets and League-style passes", Peter White, Sydney Morning Herald, 22 October 1984; "All the US traditions - without the padding", Peter Muszkat, Daily Telegraph, 22 October 1984; Big Gridiron Hunt is On, The Northern Territory News, Darwin, 19 October 1984
  7. ^ "Final Dreams Quashed", Adrian Warren, Sydney Morning Herald, 16 October 1989; "Lions make it three in real heart-stopper", Adrian Warren, Sydney Morning Herald, 23 October 1989; "Lions defeat Raiders and the Past", The Australian Gridiron News, Superfan Books and Publishing, ACN 003 542 143, Rydalmere, NSW, December 1992, pp 18-20; "The cheapest guy in pro gridiron drives a porsche", Lisa Olson, Sydney Morning Herald, 20 July 1993
  8. ^ Rain Belt Publications, 18806-40th Ave. West, Lynnwood, Washington, August 1995, ISBN 0-938428-14-4
  9. ^ College Football Scorebook, op cit, pp 643-644
  10. ^ Football Scores, Inc., 18806-40th Ave West, Lynnwood, WA, 3rd edition, September 2004, ISBN 0-938428-21-7
  11. ^ Football Scores & Schedules - the Book, op cit, p 302
  12. ^ http://gridironnsw.org.au
  13. ^ http://www.profootballhof.com/history/stats/win-loss_records.aspx
  14. ^ http://www.collegefootballresearch.com/winpercent/
  15. ^ http://www.susf.com.au/files/ROAR_21.pdf, p 29
  16. ^ "Victory Worth Wait", Inner West Courier, 15 August 2013, p. 28; https://www.susf.com.au/files/american_football_article.pdf; http://gridironnsw.org.au/league-2/waratah-bowl-history/
  17. ^ http://www.susf.com.au/app/articles/articles/view/american-football---grand-final-update-16-12-14another-waratah-bowl-for-lions
  18. ^ "Victory Worth Wait", Inner West Courier, 15 August 2013, p 28; https://www.susf.com.au/files/american_football_article.pdf; http://www.susf.com.au/files/ROAR_21.pdf, http://www.gridironaustralia.org.au/news/index.cfm?fuseaction=display_main&NewsID=37920&OrgID=885#.UsfZjhZ32-8

External links edit

Category:Sport at the University of Sydney Category:American football teams in New South Wales Category:Sports clubs and teams established in 1984

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