THE HUDDLE September Issue

20 SEPTEMBER 2015
Issue 7
www.bfan.ca


The Official Newsletter of the Blues Football Alumni Network
September 26 – Hall Of Fame Game
Honouring the 1965 Varsity Blues
2015 VARSITY BLUES
FOOTBALL COACHING STAFF
+ TEAM PERSONNEL
GREG GARY
HEAD COACH & MANAGER OF
FOOTBALL OPERATIONS
(5TH SEASON)
Kevin Eiben
Defensive Coordinator
& Linebackers
Luigi Costanzo
Offensive Coordinator
& Wide Receivers
Game time is 1PM and we are encouraging
everyone to come out because....U of T will be
HONOURING THE 1965 VANIER CUP &
YATES CUP WINNING TEAM at halftime.
It is a GAME AGAINST QUEEN’S and they
always have a boisterous Alumni contingent at
away games, especially when playing the Blues!
Last chance to add your name to the “Varsity”
painting dedication and order your print
… a FUNDRAISER for the Blues Football Program
BY RAY ZAREMBA, VARSITY BLUES ALUMNUS 1974-1977 and ASSISTANT COACH 1982-1986,1988-1996,1998
Jim Moore
Offensive Line Coach &
International Recruiting
Coordinator
For $150.00, you could purchase a print of the
painting (15” x 24”). This is a fond reminder of
the times we shared on the field and in the
dressing room. It is also your commitment to
“stay’ a teammate.
Nate Weiss
Quarterbacks Coach &
Recruiting Coordinator
Ozzie Blackett
Running Backs Coach
Ivan Birungi
Wide Receivers Coach
Peter Woo
Offensive Line Coach
Joe Cappiello
Defensive Line Coach
Clinton Wayne
Defensive Line Coach
John Lam
Linebackers Coach
Gregg Butler
Defensive Backs Coach
Jeff Mandelker
Kicking Coach
Lawrence Hopper
Offensive Line Assistant
Sam Asaro
Assistant Manager
Sport Equipment
THE HUDDLE
20 September 2015
We MUST deafen their cheering and show the
young Blues players that we are behind them
100%. The last time the Blues played Queen’s
at home, the Queen’s Alumni out-numbered the
Blues alumni. That cannot happen again ... so
mark the date on your calendar and make the
trip to Devonshire & Bloor for an afternoon of
great football!
A year ago, I invited a group of players down to
my place on Cayman Brac. It was an attempt to
bring together “brothers” who lost contact with
each other and to brain storm about how we
could help our younger teammates who are still
playing for the Blues.
My small contribution was to paint "VARSITY"
as a means of generating funds for the team. It
was of our old home. It was suggested that the
original painting be placed on permanent
display at the Varsity Centre. This would be a
gift from the football alumni to the current
student-athletes.
For $100.00 your name would be placed on a
brass plaque beneath "VARSITY"... symbolizing
that you have not forgotten about the Varsity
Blues and that you are committed to helping the
team be successful.
I have donated all of this so that 100% of the
profits go to the team.
If you would like your name on the bronze
plaque and/or you would like to purchase the
“VARSITY” print, all you need to do is send your
name to me. No cash is involved until October,
at which time will be in contact with you. All
funds raised with go toward funding academic
scholarship for student-athletes.
To order a “Varsity” print or to have your
name on the bronze plaque, please mail or
email Mike Steele before October 10, 2015.
The BFAN will be presenting the painting to the
team in November so please get your order in
before the deadline, if you have not already
done so.
steeleini53@gmail.com
Email
Cell
905 439 2040
Address Mike Steele
25 Carlan Drive
Port Perry ON L9L 1P2
Page | 1
Erin Brooks
Staff Therapist
Adrian Lightowler
Strength & Conditioning
Head Coach
Angelo Asaro
Equipment Assistant
Lucas Cenedese
Video Coordinator
Eryn Weldon
Administrative Assistant
Jordy Heisz
Student Therapist
Michael Garcia
Student Therapist
Kengo Saeki
Student Therapist
Sydney Hassoun
Student Therapist
Aaron English
Student Therapist
2015 Varsity Blues Scoreboard
Game Date
Sunday August 30
Away Team
McMaster 55
Home Team
Toronto
33
Saturday September 19 @ 1PM
Toronto
Carlton
Monday September 7
September 11-13
Saturday September 26 @ 1PM
Friday October 2 @ 7PM
Thursday October 8 @ 7PM
Saturday October 17 @ 1PM
Saturday October 24 @ 1PM
Windsor
Queens
Toronto
London
Toronto
Toronto
The University of Toronto Varsity Blues football
team dropped a 55-33 decision to the
defending Yates Cup champion McMaster
Marauders to open their 2015 regular season
on Sunday afternoon (Aug. 30) at Varsity.
Nassar had quite a few targets on the day – his
favourite being fifth-year veteran Boris Isakov,
who made six catches for 87 yards. Third-year
receiver Domenic Battistella made six catches
for 69 yards and one touchdown, while Rahul
Madan made three receptions for 64 yards on
the day.
Fourth-year linebacker and Susquehanna
transfer Adrian Bernard led all players with
eight tackles, while adding one sack and one
forced fumble. Brittley Mokube, Jaiden McBride
and Trevor Harvey each had 6.5 tackles in the
loss.
20 September 2015
16
Toronto
BYE WEEK
Toronto
York
8
19
W
L
Toronto
Waterloo
Ottawa
Blues Fall to Defending Champs on Opening Day
Toronto had the OUA football community on
the edge of their seats, leading 26-17 in the first
half. It was the first time Toronto had faced the
heavily favoured Marauders since 2011, when
McMaster came away with a 50-14 victory.
Blues quarterback Simon Nassar went 29-for49 for 361 yards and one touchdown, while
sophomore running back Divante Smith led all
players with 112 rushing yards on 18 carries
and three majors.
THE HUDDLE
7
Win/Loss
L
Second-year Marauders quarterback Asher
Hastings went 26-for-34 and 383 yards and five
touchdowns. CIS all-Canadian receiver Danny
Vandervoort made 10 catches for 168 yards and
four touchdowns, while Dan Petermann
notched nine receptions for 100 yards and one
major in the win. Cole Munden led the
Marauders defence with eight tackles and one
breakup.
With McMaster leading 3-2 in the early goings,
Marauders running back Kasean Davis
extended the lead with a four-yard rushing
touchdown late in the first quarter. On the
ensuing drive, Nassar capped off a 4-play, 67yard series with a one-yard pass to Battistella
and McMaster held a 10-9 lead after the first 15
minutes of action.
U of T kept the momentum going as Smith
scored his first TD of the game, rushing four
yards into the end zone 2:29 into the second
quarter. The Marauders responded in a big
way when Hastings found Vandervoort with an
89-yard touchdown pass to put the visitors
back on top, 17-16.
Not deterred, Toronto charged down the field
on the next drive and Smith notched his second
major of the game, ending off the seven-play,
89-yard drive with a 19-yard rush into the end
zone. After Anthony Iafrate added a 22-yard
field goal for the Blues, Vandervoort narrowed
the gap right before halftime, catching a 13yard pass for his second TD of the day. U of T
was up 26-24 at halftime.
McMaster regained the lead when Vandervoort
received a nine-yard pass in the end zone in the
first minute of the second half. Bobby Frame
added his second field goal of the day, this time
from 18 yards, and Vandervoort added his
fourth TD on a 6-yard pass to give McMaster a
41-26 advantage. Smith closed the gap with a
one-yard rushing touchdown, but it was all
McMaster from there as the defending champs
added two more touchdowns en route to the
Week 1 win.
Page | 2
Blues Edge Lancers In A See-Saw Affair
The University of Toronto Varsity Blues football
defeated the Windsor Lancers 8-7 on Labour
Day Monday (Sept. 7) under the lights at Varsity
Centre. The win marks Toronto's first over
Windsor since a 13-11 victory on Oct. 13, 2001.
It also brings their head-to-head record versus
the Lancers to .500, holding a 21-21-0 standing
since their first meeting in 1973. U of T rookie
kicker Anthony Iafrate went 2-for-2, kicking 18and 29-yard field goals in the victory. Firstyear defensive back Nick Hallet of London, Ont.,
was named the Varsity Blues player of the game
after leading all players with seven tackles.
Veteran Jaiden McBride added 5.5 tackles, while
linebacker Adrian Bernard totalled five tackles
and two sacks in the win.
Fifth-year Blues quarterback Simon Nassar was
22-of-39 for 243 yards on the night. His
favourite target was Rahul Madan, who made
six catches for 65 yards. Sophomore running
back Divante Smith rushed 16 times for 71
yards, while also making three receptions for
48 yards. Windsor's Hugh Paulin went 2-for-3,
kicking 20 and 23-yard field goals on back-toback drives in the second quarter.
Defensive back Devon Woods was named the
Lancers player of the game, leading his team
with 6.5 tackles, one sack and one forced
fumble.
Third-year quarterback Casey Wright was 15for-27 for 126 yards, with Tarrence Crawford
rushing 15 times for 98 yards.
Blues Clipped By Ravens In Ottawa
In search of their first road win of the season,
the Varsity Blues football team fell just shy of
that goal in a 19-16 loss to the Carleton Ravens
on Saturday (Sept. 19) afternoon.
Toronto's record falls to 1-2, while the Ravens
find themselves 3-1 after four weeks of OUA
action.
In what seemed to be a defensive battle tied 0-0
after the first quarter of play, the deadlock was
quickly broken when the Ravens kicker Michael
Domagala nailed a 41-yard field goal two
minutes into the second.
The Blues then got behind the eight ball,
spotting the home team 13 more points before
the end of the first half going into the locker
room trailing 16-0.
Toronto quarterback Simon Nassar (Toronto,
Ont.) would get his team back in the game
following the halftime break. He took the
offence and marched 88 yards, on 13 plays, for
the Blues first major of the game. Veteran Boris
Isakov (Toronto, Ont.), of Toronto, was on the
receiving end of a five-year pass in the end zone
to pull within nine.
On the kickoff, first-year kicker Anthony Iafrate
(Toronto, Ont.) would knock the ball nine yards
deep into the Ravens end zone. Returner Tune
Adeleke elected to take a knee, giving up the
single.
THE HUDDLE
20 September 2015
Toronto's defence stood tall on the next Ravens
drive, forcing a two-and-out and leaving Nassar
with decent field position following the punt. 10
plays later, Marcus Hobbs bull rushed his way
in from one-yard out to pull the Blues to within
two. Toronto was unable to convert the twopoint attempt so it remained a two-point ball
game, 16-14.
On the ensuring Ravens drive, veteran safety
John Connors (Barrie, Ont.) would intercept a
Jesse Mills pass to set up a short field situation
for the Blues. Toronto managed to get the ball
in field goal range, however, Iafrate would push
it wide left, only scoring the rouge.
Carleton would get the insurance needed on
their next possession when Domagala tucked in
his fourth field goal of the game, extending the
lead to 19-16. Nassar was 20-40 on the day for
206 yards, one touchdown and one
interception. Isakov led all receivers with 89
yards, on seven catches.
Two rookie linebackers, Adrian Bernard
(Newark, N.J.) and Matt Renaud (Ottawa, Ont.),
led the Blues much-improved defence with 7.5
tackles each.
The Blues are home to long-time rival Queen's
Gaels next Saturday, September 26. It is the
Hall of Fame game at Varsity Stadium and the
football program will be honouring the 1965
Yates and Vanier Cup winning team. Kickoff is
1pm.
Page | 3
2015 OUA Football Standings
as of 19 September 2015
Western
Guelph
Carleton
McMaster
Ottawa
Queen's
Toronto
Laurier
York
Waterloo
Windsor
GP
4
4
4
3
3
4
3
3
4
4
4
PTS
8
8
6
4
4
4
2
2
2
0
0
W-L
4-0
4-0
3-1
2-1
2-1
2-2
1-2
1-2
1-3
0-4
0-4
PCT
1.000
1.000
0.750
0.667
0.667
0.500
0.333
0.333
0.250
0.000
0.000
PF
257
190
162
135
135
123
56
66
76
45
63
PA
51
71
65
108
98
137
81
110
175
205
382
L10
4-0
4-0
3-1
2-1
2-1
2-2
1-2
1-2
1-3
0-4
0-8
STRK
Won 4
Won 4
Won 3
Lost 1
Won 1
Lost 1
Lost 1
Lost 2
Won 1
Lost 4
Lost 8
Your 2015 Varsity Blues Football Team
First Name
Immanuel
Domenic
Adrian
Malcolm
Kevin
Rowan
John
Philip
Samuel
Last Name
Archer
Battistella
Bernard
Campbell
Collins
Comish
Connors
Dao
Delage
Pos.
RB/R
R
LB
LB
R
R
DB
R
DB
Lamar
Lukas
Jordan
Richard
Carter
Cole
Dylan
Ryan
Marcus
Robert
Nick
Ali
Peter
Trevor
Cole
Rochae
Marcus
Matt
Anthony
Boris
Foyle
Gavac
Gillespie
Gillespie
Gladman
Goodfellow
Gordon
Grandell
Grandison
Green
Hallett
Hamam
Harris
Harvey
Henderson
Henry
Hobbs
Howe
Iafrate
Isakov
LB
RB
DB
DB
DL
RB
LB
K
DB
OL
DB
OL
DB
DB
DL
R
QB
RB
K/P
R
Kristopher
Matthew
Kyle
Mark
Ariel
Aaron
Tylon
Chris
Paul
Dallon
Owynn
THE HUDDLE
20 September 2015
Deutschendorf
Diamanti
Draga
Ehioghae
Fabbro
Jervis
Johnson
Kelly
Kozachuk
Kuprowski
Lahnalampi
LB
OL
DL
DL
DB
DL
OL
OL
LB
QB
LB
Elig
1
3
4
1
1
3
4
1
1
2
1
3
5
1
1
3
2
1
2
1
5
1
2
2
1
1
4
4
1
1
4
1
1
5
4
1
3
2
3
5
Major
Humanities
Commerce
Political Science
Computer Science
Political Science/History
Physics
Kinesiology
Kinesiology
Health & Disease/Genome
Biology
Civil Engineering
Kinesiology
Humanities
Kinesiology
Master of Science Sustainability Mgmt
History
Criminology
Human Biology
Humanities
Kinesiology
Math/Psychology
Concurrent Education
Arts & Science
Social Science
Criminology
Anthropology/Biology
Arts & Science
Human Geography
Cognitive Science
Social Science
Visual Studies
Human Geography
Kinesiology
Political Science
Masters of Applied Science Civil Engineering
Computer Science
Paramedicine
Human Geography
KPE Concurrent Education
Arts & Science
History
Yr.
2
3
2
1
3
4
5
1
3
Hometown
Etobicoke, ON
Maple, ON
Newark, NJ
Mississauga, ON
Whitby, ON
Toronto, ON
Barrie, ON
Toronto, ON
Oakville, ON
3
4
2
1
2
1
5
1
1
3
3
3
4
5
1
2
4
1
2
3
Toronto, ON
Mississauga, ON
Whitby, ON
Whitby, ON
Oakville, ON
Belleville, ON
Cambridge, ON
Thunder Bay, ON
Toronto, ON
Mississauga, ON
London, ON
Scarborough, ON
London, ON
Scarborough, ON
Burlington, ON
Mississauga, ON
Mississauga, ON
Barrie, ON
Toronto, ON
Toronto, ON
4
1
4
5
1
4
1
4
3
1
5
Dundas, ON
Toronto, ON
Brampton, ON
Toronto, ON
Nanaimo, BC
Oakville, ON
Ajax, ON
Angus, ON
London, ON
Saskatoon, SK
Onaping, ON
Page | 4
First Name
Last Name
Pos.
Jaiden
Kahma
Brittley
TJ
Anthony
Eddie
Simon
Michael
Andy
Patrick
Will
Keith
Matthew
Duncan
Damoy
Julian
Matthew
Austin
DJ
Carmen
Wacey
Ryan
Ethan
Jordan
Divante
Danny
Nick
McBride
Missinga
Mokube
Morton
Naccarato
Nam
Nassar
Ochowiak
Osmond
Pankow
Priestner
Purchase
Renaud
Robertson
Robinson
Romano
Rosati
Rosbrook
Sackey
Scala
Schell
Searle
Shafer
Sidsworth
Smith
Sprukulis
Stadnyk
DB
RB
LB
P
R
OL
QB
FB
OL
DB
LB
DB
LB
OL
LB
DL
DL
DB
OL
R
R
OL
K/P
DL
RB
OL
R
Jeffrey
JJ
Justin
Kaj
Michael
Vince
Brett
Sam
Rahul
Alex
Grant
Zach
Calvin
Thomas
Corey
Kevin
Wade
Lam
Lam
Larocque
Larsen
Leslie
Luccisano
MacDonald
MacMillan
Madan
Malone
McAdam
Van Kerrebroeck
Vaughan
Veneruz
Williams
Williams
Zanchetta
DB
DB
LB
DB
LB
QB
LB
OL
R
RB
DL
OL
QB
DB
LB
OL
LB
Elig. Major
1
4
1
1
2
1
1
2
4
2
2
4
1
3
3
3
1
5
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
1
3
1
1
2
1
1
2
3
1
3
1
1
3
4
1
KPE Concurrent Education
KPE Concurrent Education
Math/Physical Science
Health Studies
Chemistry
Commerce
Kinesiology
Peace/Conflict/Justice Studies
Kinesiology
Kinesiology
Economics/International
Relations
Political Science
Sociology
Math/Physical Sciences
Communications
Architecture
Humanities
English
Kinesiology
Humanities
Kinesiology
Mineral Engineering
Economics
Life Science
Humanities
Criminology
Employment Relations
Kinesiology
Economics
Sociology
Kinesiology
Math/Economics
Criminology
Economics
Political Science/Sociology
Humanities
Mechanical Engineering
Mathematical & Physical
Sciences
English
Civil Engineering
Kinesiology
Sociology
Criminology
English/History
Yr.
3
5
1
1
3
1
3
2
2
4
2
5
1
3
1
4
1
5
3
1
1
2
2
1
1
3
1
1
2
4
2
3
2
1
2
2
3
1
4
2
1
3
4
1
Hometown
Aurora, ON
Aurora, ON
Calgary, AB
London, ON
Calgary, AB
Kleinburg, ON
Chelmsford, ON
Toronto, ON
Scarborough, ON
Toronto, ON
Toronto, ON
Whitby, ON
Toronto, ON
Brampton, ON
Elkton, MD
Vaughn, ON
London, ON
Toronto, ON
Toronto, ON
Barrie, ON
Perth, ON
Burlington, ON
Ottawa, ON
Ottawa, ON
Fall River, NS
Brampton, ON
Vaughan, ON
Toronto, ON
Toronto, ON
Mississauga, ON
Pickering, ON
Waterford, ON
Toronto, ON
Orlando, FL
Burlington, ON
Mississauga, ON
Oakville, ON
Wasaga Beach, ON
Cambridge, ON
Reston, VA
Thunder Bay, ON
Mississauga, ON
Mississauga, ON
Brockville, ON
Official Varsity Blues Football Ring
… a FUNDRAISER for the Blues Football Program
BFAN has partnered with Josten’s on the
creation of the Official Blues Football
Alumni Ring! It is a unique ring that will
allow Alumni to express themselves, celebrate
experiences
and
traditions,
recognize
achievements and share their stories. A
portion of the proceeds from the sale of each
ring will be donated to the Varsity Blues
football program.
If you are interested in purchasing a ring,
visit: www.jostenschamp.com/varsityblues or
contact Paul Robinson @ 647-409-7285
THE HUDDLE
20 September 2015
Page | 5
THE “BLUE & WHITE” SONG
Sam Difalco, “MEAN SEASON” Book Release
Verse 1:
Old Toronto, mother ever dear
All thy sons thy very name
revere
Yes, we’ll hail thee,
Ne’er will fail thee
But will seek thy glory with our
might,
(Yes we are)
Ever loyal, faithful, frank and
strong,
We will sound thy praises in our
song,
Aye, and cheer both loud and
long,
The Royal Blue and White
A must read… a FUNDRAISER for the Blues Football Program
Chorus:
Toronto is our University
Shout, oh shout, men of ev’ry
faculty Velut arbor aevo,
May she ever thrive
O God forever bless our alma
mater
Verse 2:
Soon our college days will all be
past,
Duty bids us part from friends at
last
But we’ll sever,
Trusting ever Love for Varsity may us unite –
(unite us) Then we’ll serve the mother of
us all,
And the merry days of youth
recall,
While whatever may befall, We’ll flaunt the Blue and White
Chorus:
Toronto is our University
Shout, oh shout, men of ev’ry
faculty Velut arbor aevo,
May she ever thrive
O God forever bless our alma
mater
THE U OF T CHEER
Toronto, Toronto
Toronto Varsity
Shout and Fight
For The Blue and White
In Honour of U of T
Ripperty, Rapperty
Ripperty, Rapperty, Ree
Toronto, Toronto
Toronto Varsity
GO TORONTO!
THE HUDDLE
20 September 2015
SALVATORE “SAM” DIFALCO
VARSITY BLUES ALUMNUS 1977-1981
VARSITY BLUES CAPTAIN 1981
We are pleased to announce that alumnus Sam
Difalco’s novel, Mean Season, is due for release
this October. “It’s set in Hamilton,” Difalco says,
“circa 1980, one of the more violent in the city’s
history. And I pulled no punches.” Mean Season
tells the story of a U of T football player who
returns to hometown Hamilton for that violent
summer, and gets caught up in the mayhem. “I
think my old teammates will appreciate it,”
states Difalco. “It's very true to the era, very
real. And it was written by one of us.”
Difalco has generously offered to donate a
portion of his sales proceeds to the Varsity
Leadership Foundation, in support of the Blues
Football Program.
Get your copy at
at
either
Chapters/Indigo
or
on-line
www.mansfieldpress.net or amazon.com.
RELEASE DATE
PUBLISHER
FORMAT
October 15, 2015
Mansfield Press
Paperback, 280 pages
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Salvatore Difalco was
born and raised in
Hamilton ON where he
attended
Cathedral
High. Graduated with
MA in English from U
of T after winning a
Social Sciences and
Humanities Research
Council of Canada
Fellowship.
In addition to writing
freelance, has worked many jobs including
Counsellor at the maximum security Peninsula
Youth Centre. He served as Senior Writer at Toro
Magazine, and has written for the Globe & Mail
and Toronto Life.
He is the author of two collections of short
fiction, and one book of poetry. Mean Season is
his first novel. He currently resides in Toronto
and is at work on his next novel.
Zarko Budisavljevic, Mortgage Referral Program
… a FUNDRAISER for the Blues Football Program
ZARKO BUDISAVLJEVIC
VARSITY BLUES ALUMNUS 1977-1981
VARSITY BLUES CAPTAIN 1979
Zarko is a fully licensed Ontario Mortgage
Agent, with the Mortgage Architects Brokerage
firm. He has developed a simple plan which has
the potential to generate scholarship funding
for the Blues Football program. All that is
required are your referrals.
HERE’S HOW IT WORKS …
• You provide a referral which results in
mortgage funding, the Varsity Leadership
Foundation receive a donation to support
student-athlete scholarships;
• If your referral provides a referral, it results
in another donation to Varsity Leadership
Foundation;
• And so on and so on. The donations become
exponential
For every referral provided by a member of the
Blues Football Alumni Network that results in
mortgage fulfillment, a minimum $200
donation will be made to the Varsity
Leadership Foundation.
The larger the
mortgage fulfilled, the larger the donation, to a
maximum of $1,500.
The truly exciting news is that Zarko has agreed
that these donations will be provided in
perpetuity for referrals that result from other
referrals.
Let's help the Blues in funding scholarships for
worthy student-athletes! If you have any
questions, please contact Zarko. Thanks so
much.
ZARKO BUDISAVLJEVIC
416.460.7000 zarko@mtgarc.ca
www.yourbestmortgageoptions.ca
Page | 6
published on Sun Sep 06 2015
Ditching the desk opens doors
to new teaching methods
It’s part of a sweeping rethink of the classroom that untethers teachers from
the front and sends them through the class, interacting with students.
Varsity Pavilion
The Blues Football Alumni
Network (formerly Friends of
Football) is a connection with
the rich and storied tradition of
the University of Toronto
Football Program. Members of
the “Network” represent the
business community, former
players, coaches, trainers and
parents, community supporters
and the Faculty of Kinesiology &
Physical Education.
PRESIDENT
Dan Feraday
mdferaday@gmail.com
EXECUTIVE
Beth Ali
Greg Gary
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Mike Steele
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Wendy Kane
wendy@wendykane.com
ADDRESS
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THE HUDDLE
20 September 2015
“Traditional teachers might look at me sideways, but I don’t want it to be this sign of authority,”
says Matthew Morris, a Grade 4/5 teacher at Maryvale Public School in Scarborough on making the
decision to ditch his desk.
[MATTHEW MORRIS, VARSITY BLUES ALUMNUS 2008-2009]
Two years ago he stopped using it. Last year he
let students try it.
This year, Scarborough teacher Matthew Morris
has finally removed from his Grade 4/5
classroom something he has long seen as a
dusty symbol of teacher power and — for a guy
who believes the classroom should be a
democracy, not a dictatorship — a barrier
between him and his students.
His teacher’s desk is gone. He and a colleague
hauled it out this summer.
Instead, Morris’ students at Maryvale Public
School will find him roaming among them more
often this fall in the walkabout teaching style
promoted by experts who say learning is a team
sport done best when students and teachers
look for answers together.
It’s part of a sweeping rethink of the modern
classroom that untethers teachers from the
front and sends them through the class, often
iPad in hand, interacting with groups at kidsized tables or chatting one-on-one on couches
and Muskoka chairs.
“Getting rid of my desk embodies the idea that
I’m not here to spout facts to mindless robots; I
learn from my students too,” said the 29-yearold, who said he sees himself as the “lead
learner” of the group, not the pundit.
“Traditional teachers might look at me
sideways, but I don’t want it to be this sign of
authority,” said Morris, who has brought in a
small filing cabinet for his files.
“The idea of a teacher as ‘lead learner’ is
important, and a teacher’s desk represents the
holy grail of authority. If we’re supposed to be a
democracy but I have a ‘throne,’ how can I say
equity in my classroom is real?” he asked. “Not
having a desk will make me more open and
humble as an educator.”
It also takes the fun out of kids nabbing seats at
the back, notes Michigan high school teacher
Nicholas Provenzano, who has written about
ditching his teacher desk last year. “They’re not
as likely to pull out their phones if I’m walking
through the room, and I haven’t had a kid fall
asleep since I got rid of my desk,” said the
Grade 9 English teacher at Grosse Pointe South
High School.
Page | 7
He often teaches on the go from a podium on
wheels, and said it has encouraged kids to
participate and ask questions.
“If you’re at your desk with your head down,
your body language says Do Not Disturb. The
teacher desk is a No-Go Zone. But without it,
they’re more apt to ask me questions — I was
shocked, but it definitely made a difference.
“Other teachers thought I was crazy, but getting
rid of my desk cold turkey was an adventure.”
In today’s “inquiry-based learning” approach, a
teacher might start a lesson by asking, “What
do we wonder about this topic? What do we
need to know?” and then work with students to
figure out how to find the answer together, said
Education professor Nancy Steele, of the
University of Toronto’s Ontario Institute for
Studies in Education.
And that sort of collaboration is gradually
making the teacher desk obsolete, suggests
Grade 1 teacher Asa Schoonderbeek, who got
rid of his desk three years ago at Whitby’s
Williamsburg Public School.
“I realized it was mainly a place I used to pile
clutter, and it was a space that was closed to my
students,” said Schoonderbeek, winner of a
Prime Minister’s Award for Teaching Excellence
in 2014. “I don’t think you’ll find many teachers
using their desks anymore, even if they do have
them in the room. Any space is used for
learning now, and the more the better, because
so much learning today is group work.”
In the old days, a teacher would assign work
and then sit at his or her desk to mark papers,
said the 37-year-old, who has been teaching for
14 years.
“Today, teaching is 100 per cent about
engaging with kids. That’s the power of
getting away from the desk; you’re in there
interacting and making more observations
than ever before and providing constant
feedback. And the only way to do that is to
move around and talk to them.”
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THE HUDDLE
20 September 2015
Varsity Centre & Goldring Centre for High Performance Sport
Page | 8
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