St. Francis Xavier X-Men football

Last updated
St. Francis Xavier X-Men
St. FX X-Men Football Logo.png
St. Francis Xavier X-Men logo
First season1954
Athletic directorLeo MacPherson
Head coach Gary Waterman
14th year, 69490  (.585)
Home stadium Oland Stadium
Stadium capacity4000
Stadium surfaceFieldTurf
Location Antigonish, Nova Scotia
League U Sports
Conference AUS (1999 – present)
Past associations AUAA (1974–1998)
All-time record 
Postseason record 
Titles
Vanier Cups1
1966
Atlantic Bowls5
1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1996
Jewett Trophies16
1960, 1961, 1962, 1963,
1966, 1967, 1978, 1982,
1983, 1996, 2015, 2016,
2018, 2021, 2022, 2023
Hec Crighton winners0
ColoursBlue and White
   
Outfitter Adidas
Website goxgo.ca

The St. Francis Xavier X-Men football team represents the St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia in the sport of Canadian football in U Sports. The X-Men program has been competing at the varsity level since 1954 and won the second ever Vanier Cup national championship in 1966. The team has played in two National Championship games overall when they were runners-up in 1996 and have won 16 conference championships in total.

Contents

Championships

National championships

Vanier Cup

  • Champions: 1966
  • Runner-Up: 1996

Semi-final championships

Atlantic Bowl

  • Champions: 1959, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1996
  • Runner-Up: 1958, 1962, 1967, 1978, 1982, 1983
  • In 1983 the AUAA was in a dispute with the CIS (formerly CIAU) over the Atlantic Bowl being played at Saint Mary's, in Halifax, on annual basis. Calgary received a bye to the CIAU Championship game. [1]

Uteck Bowl

  • Runner-Up: 2015, 2018, 2022

Mitchell Bowl

  • Runner-Up: 2016, 2021, 2023

Conference championships

Jewett Trophy (Loney Bowl)

  • Champions: 1960, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1966, 1967, 1978, 1982, 1983, 1996, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2021, 2022, 2023

The X-Men have won the Atlantic Conference Championship 16 times and have been runners-up an additional 12 times. [2]

Recent results

SeasonGamesWonLostOTLPCTPFPAStandingPlayoffs
199686200.7502271471st in AUSDefeated Mount Allison Mounties in Loney Bowl 30–22
Defeated Ottawa Gee-Gees in Atlantic Bowl 13–5
Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in 32nd Vanier Cup 31–12
199787100.8751901201st in AUSLost to Mount Allison Mounties in Loney Bowl 20–17
1998 81700.1251122194th in AUSOut of playoffs
1999 81700.1251322704th in AUSOut of playoffs
2000 83500.375652283rd in AUSOut of playoffs
2001 83500.3751062023rd in AUSOut of playoffs
2002 86200.7502151342nd in AUSDefeated Acadia Axemen in semi-final 25–11
Lost to Saint Mary's Huskies in Loney Bowl 63–14
2003 84400.5001391433rd in AUSDefeated Acadia Axemen in semi-final 30–28
Lost to Saint Mary's Huskies in Loney Bowl 36–12
2004 83500.3751552453rd in AUSLost to Acadia Axemen in semi-final 15–8
2005 85300.6252191892nd in AUSDefeated Saint Mary's Huskies in semi-final 47–29
Lost to Acadia Axemen in Loney Bowl 69–6
2006 7250.286801763rd in AUSLost to Saint Mary's Huskies in semi-final 24–6
2007 8350.3751582842nd in AUSDefeated Acadia Axemen in semi-final 38–17
Lost to Saint Mary's Huskies in Loney Bowl 25–24
2008 8440.5001862052nd in AUSDefeated Mount Allison Mounties in semi-final 52–12
Lost to Saint Mary's Huskies in Loney Bowl 29–27
2009 8620.7502011662nd in AUSDefeated Acadia Axemen in semi-final 33–30
Lost to Saint Mary's Huskies in Loney Bowl 31–22
2010 8170.125982474th in AUSOut of playoffs
2011 8260.2501483003rd in AUSLost to Saint Mary's Huskies in semi-final 25–2
2012 8260.2501372394th in AUSOut of playoffs
2013 8350.3751501834th in AUSOut of playoffs
2014 8440.5001811802nd in AUSDefeated Acadia Axemen in semi-final 18–17
Lost to Mount Allison Mounties in Loney Bowl 29–7
2015 8530.6251721792nd in AUSDefeated Acadia Axemen in semi-final 26–4
Defeated Mount Allison Mounties in Loney Bowl 14–12
Lost to UBC Thunderbirds in Uteck Bowl 36–9
2016 8710.8752991291st in AUSDefeated Mount Allison Mounties in Loney Bowl 29–8
Lost to Calgary Dinos in Mitchell Bowl 50–24
2017 8440.5001791683rd in AUSLost to Saint Mary's Huskies in semi-final 16–15
2018 8620.7502241562nd in AUSDefeated Acadia Axemen in semi-final 33–10
Defeated Saint Mary's Huskies in Loney Bowl 33–9
Lost to Laval Rouge et Or in Uteck Bowl 63–0
2019 8260.2501282145th in AUSOut of playoffs
2020 Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 6601.000193991st in AUSDefeated Acadia Axemen in semi-final 27–22
Defeated Bishop's Gaiters in Loney Bowl 25–17
Lost to Western Mustangs in Mitchell Bowl 61–6
2022 8801.000261831st in AUSDefeated Mount Allison Mounties in Loney Bowl 21–14
Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in Uteck Bowl 36–19
2023 8801.000267901st in AUSDefeated St. Mary's Huskies in semi-final 36–20
Defeated Bishop's Gaiters in Loney Bowl 34–23
Lost to UBC Thunderbirds in Mitchell Bowl 47–17
2024 8530.6252401552nd in AUSLost to Saint Mary's Huskies in semi-final 21–17

[3] [4]

Head coaches

NameYearsNotes
Frank Germann1954–1956
Don Loney 1957–1973
Cam Innes1974–1977
John Musselman1978–1983
Lance Bullock1984–1988
Mark Heidebrecht1989–1992
John Stevens1993–2001
Dennis McPhee2002–2003
John Bloomfield2004–2008
Gary Waterman 2009–present

National award winners

X-Men in the CFL

In the 2011 CFL Draft, Hénoc Muamba became the first X-Men player to be selected first overall in the Canadian College Draft, having been drafted by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. [5]

As of the end of the 2024 CFL season, three former X-Men players are on CFL teams' rosters:

[6]

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References

  1. "Uteck Bowl History". U Sports. 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  2. "Atlantic University Sport Men's Football Past Champions". Atlantic University Sport. 2020. Retrieved April 16, 2020.
  3. "Bob Adams CIS Sportspage". Chebucto Community Net. Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  4. "U Sports football standings". U Sports . Retrieved July 18, 2020.
  5. "Muamba selected 1st overall in CFL draft". St. Francis Xavier X-Men. May 8, 2011.
  6. "CFL players". Canadian Football League . Retrieved November 4, 2024.