Continuing to add game results, I decided today to spend a bit of time on the Gee-Gees.
Unfortunately, I'd reached a difficult point in the team's history. I knew that their 1983 and 1984 seasons were rather...underwhelming, but didn't fully grasp the speed at which they collapsed.
They were coming off a 7-0 regular season (but first-round playoff exit) in 1982. That team's coach, Joe Moss, was hired by the Argos in February of 1983 and replaced by Jim Clark early the following month.
Let's cut to a quote from the new head coach from just prior to the start of the season.
That pass-heavy system was the run and shoot, the so-called "offense of the future" that you no longer read about now that we're in the future. My recollection of it at the time, in the NFL at least, is that teams always struggled with it early. Let's bear that in mind as we embark this downward spiral.
The Gee-Gees travelled to Concordia in week one and were upended by the Stingers. They threw at least three interceptions in a 33-10 loss.
But Carleton would be next, so no doubt the guys would get up for that one. And perhaps a QB change will help. Let's hear from coach Clark again.
The team then set a dubious mark by finding a way to have negative points in the standings.
The Gee-Gees travelled to Concordia in week one and were upended by the Stingers. They threw at least three interceptions in a 33-10 loss.
That would be the rule, not the exception. They lost their home opener to Bishop's the following week by a score of 43-21, a game after which Clark called out his defensive veterans publicly, then threw a staggering seven interceptions at McGill a week after that.
But Carleton would be next, so no doubt the guys would get up for that one. And perhaps a QB change will help. Let's hear from coach Clark again.
Sure, it can't be the system, it must be everyone playing it incorrectly. Another thing about the run and shoot is that those who believed in it rode it to death. Well, maybe Sommerville will have better success with it.
The Gee-Gees lost to their crosstown rivals 28-23.
The team then set a dubious mark by finding a way to have negative points in the standings.
Imagine if they didn't win a game the rest of the year and ended with -2 points in the standings? It would be pretty damn hard to ever lose THAT spot in history. Who the hell would ever have -3? How would you even go about achieving that penalty? Would you have to murder someone at midfield?
But the Gee-Gees found an innovative way to avoid having that black spot on their record forevermore.
First, they hosted Queen's and after four straight losses, managed a tie in that match-up. Things were looking up!
No. The Gee-Gees would go 0-7 in 1984 so those two ties in 1983 would seem like high points by comparison.
But 1983 wasn't all bad. Some guys earned individual recognition.
But the Gee-Gees found an innovative way to avoid having that black spot on their record forevermore.
First, they hosted Queen's and after four straight losses, managed a tie in that match-up. Things were looking up!
Then the following week, they travelled to play Queen's again and...tied that game too!
Well, at least things could only get better after such a miserable season, right? 
And just like that, they were back to zero points in the standings. And it was actually an improvement!
Naturally, such a miserable season could only end with a loss in the Panda Game. But to make it a touch more painful, let's blow a three-TD lead in doing so.
Naturally, such a miserable season could only end with a loss in the Panda Game. But to make it a touch more painful, let's blow a three-TD lead in doing so.
No. The Gee-Gees would go 0-7 in 1984 so those two ties in 1983 would seem like high points by comparison.
But 1983 wasn't all bad. Some guys earned individual recognition.
U. of O. wouldn't crack a .500 record again until 1988 with Jim Daley at the helm. I might just rush my way through this soft spot in their history.
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