Saturday afternoon Oct. 20, 1951, Varsity Stadium, UBC campus. The stands were packed, dignitaries stood or sat wherever they could, bands play and played on, cheerleaders worked overtime.
It was a spectacle fit for royalty. Sixty years ago on a fall afternoon, the Thunderbirds hosted Eastern Oregon College in what was anything but an ordinary football game.
War Memorial Gym was officially opened the previous night and the old Varsity Stadium, that wood and concrete structure located just a few paces from the current Student Union Building, was alive with anticipation. The crowd waited for two special guests to arrive.
The royal couple, Princess Elizabeth, who in a matter of months would be crowned Queen of England, and her husband Prince Philip, visited UBC for the first time, arriving to witness their first ever Canadian-style football game.
At 2: 35 p.m. amid the excitement, colour and noise, the game was suddenly underway, with the royal party expected to arrive in their plastic-domed car at any moment. As the game progressed however, the T-birds showing well against their U.S. opposition, the university's president and chancellor became increasingly unsettled. Three quarters passed and the tardy Royals had yet to arrive. The final gun ultimately sounded, signaling the end of the game although the featured guests were still nowhere in sight.
UBC won 13-6 and despite the cold and growing darkness, the fans, players, dignitaries and Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»families waiting for a glimpse of the Royals refused to leave and clung to their resolve to witness a rare-and increasingly unlikely-visit. Two hours later and 10 degrees colder, sirens and bright lights heralded the arrival of the royal cavalcade as it approached the stadium.
Now the "spontaneous" reception and sporting event could begin "just as planned." The players returned to the darkened field, this time for a 10-minute extension of the game, a spur of the moment plan designed to accommodate the guests.
At last, the Royal Couple would see their first North American football game. Prince Philip, with a broad grin, settled comfortably in his seat.
Someone told the smiling Princess, "We don't usually play in the dark," and noted the stadium did not have lights. Concern came over the crowd as the 'Birds were pushed toward their own goal line, and even the Prince's smile faded. However, when UBC rebounded with a 50 yard run, the crowd, led by the Prince, let out a mighty cheer.
Slightly abashed by his own enthusiasm, Prince Philip turned to UBC President Norman MacKenzie and in a hushed voice asked, "I guess that was all right?"
The exhibition finished, the Prince on his way out of the stadium was heard saying, "Fascinating. but it's a dashed peculiar game."
The battered athletes lined up beside the royal car, and team captain Dave Macfarlane presented Prince Phillip an autographed football. The Royal cavalcade then departed amongst the singing of "Auld Lang Syne."
Fred Hume is a Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»sports historian and writer.
T-BIRDS FIGHT FOR PLAYOFF HOME ADVANTAGE
One step at a time, Shawn Olson is ensuring football at UBC will again be synonymous with success.
The T-birds have clinched a playoff spot for the first time in five years and the second-year head coach-himself a former quarterback with the 1997 Vanier Cup-winning team-said his objectives are to incrementally and consistently develop systems and increase talent to "get back to being one of the best football programs in Canada."
A 23-16 victory Saturday over the University of Regina Rams gave UBC their fourth win of the season, and Olson said the goal is now to secure home-field advan-tage for Canada West playoffs, which begin Nov. 5.
"It's been a while since we've found ourselves in this position," he said Monday about his team's 4-2 record with two regular season games remaining.
UBC travels to Edmonton (0-7) Oct. 22 and the following week hosts Calgary (6-0) Oct. 29.
The Vanier Cup will be held at B.C. Place Stadium Nov. 25. The event marks the first time the Canadian Interuniversity Sport championship will be held in B.C. Since 1967, the event was consistently held in Toronto; Saskatoon hosted the first Vanier Cup outside Ontario in 2006 and Quebec City hosted in 2009 and last year.
-Megan Stewart
