The Gold Standard!

Some of what you're about to read will be things regular readers already know, but the rest are new thoughts born out of something pretty damned terrific that happened on a recent visit to JC Massie Field, the home of the Georgian Men's Rugby program, with the culmination of the 2023 OCAA Men's Rugby Championships.

Photo Credit: Georgian College

Ladies and Gentlemen, may I present the 2023 Champion Georgian Grizzlies and their head coach, Mr John Daggett, the pitbull-looking fine gentleman with the proud chest, chiselled good looks, and mirrored sunglasses on the extreme left. 

To say that I'm thrilled for John (and his management team of Josh Morgan, Mike Alcombrack, and Mike Sabourin) is the most grossest of understatements possible. My GC blue heart was bursting with pride as the final minutes played out, the joy of a long awaited championship evident on John's grey whiskered visage shining with a twinkle in his eyes as bright as the sun (see below).

Photo Credit: Georgian College

While I claim zero responsibility for this year's successes, I feel a kindred spirit with those who have either been long time friends (the management team and some of the players), players that I coached (at Barrie North or GC State), or players I have recently spent some time with (SH Matty B). Having shared the heartache of multiple final's losses with a sizeable number of this year's squad, a stupid grin of the victory lasted the entire trip home to the Beach.

The beginning of this story starts on the sidewalks of Dunlop Street in 1998.

When I made the jump from elementary to secondary, getting hired by Mary Ellen Smith at my alma mater Barrie Central, one of the first friends I made while walking the picket lines ... it was September 1998 after all ... would turn out to be one of my more cherished friendships, a relationship forged in the heat of numerous battles in the classrooms of the school, the storied gymnasium, and the infamous Red Storey Field. Ron Andrews and I hit it off right away, and at the conclusion of our coaching careers, an action-packed 21 years later, we shared a hug, a beverage, and an incredulous shake of the head at Ron's assertion that during that time, we never had a disagreement, let alone an argument.

During our shared successes throughout those years, Georgian College was going through its own growing pains, both in its classrooms and gymnasiums. As Central's rugby program grew in notoriety, so did the general public's curiousity over the lack of connection with the struggling rugby program at Georgian. While we never dissuaded our players from choosing GC State as a post-secondary option, we admittedly never trumpeted it either. A few of our star players landed there in the early 2000's, bringing their Central toolbox of skills and knowledge, but the program leadership at that time felt strongly that they had things under control. 

Things changed in 2011.

GC State was growing by leaps and bounds, building on a solid foundation of successes in the classrooms, quickly becoming the jewell of cooperative education, and the resulting swell in student numbers created a desire to enhance the extra-curricular successes. As a direct response to that mindset, those in charge made the decision to hire coop coordinator John Daggett as head coach, a Toronto born, Thunder Bay schooled, Orillia seasoned local rugby fanatic who would shake the foundations of the program with his boundless commitment, energy, and enthusiasm. Oh, and he was a pretty solid coach, to boot.

Looking back through the time portal, Georgian surely feels pretty gosh darned good about its decision!

How does this all connect? John reached out to both Ron and I inquire if we would be willing to share some of our secrets for success with the Georgian program. At the time, Ron's many commitments prompted a polite decline. I agreed to a trial period because although my plate was pretty full too, John's brilliance drew me in like a moth to the flame. An endearing friendship was born, the successes making the sacrifices well worth the investment. Once I retired and moved away from Barrie, John insisted that I remain 'on the docket' as it were in a consultant role, and I have not regretted the arrangement for one second.

Fast forward to November 2023, and a BUNCH of things have transpired thanks to John's influence:

1. John invited me along for the ride from 2013 to 2019, an honour that I am forever indebted. 
2. John's leadership as resulted in GC medalling in the OCAA championships multiple times amassing 2 Gold, 5 Silver, and Bronze in a streak that legends are made of, of course taking into account the 'Stupid Years' of Covid.
3. John has been recognized as OCAA west division Coach of the Year 4 times, Winning the OCAA Coach of the Year in 2016.
4. John has forged an unbreakable alliance with the Barrie Rugby Club, one of the cornerstones of the granite foundation for the college's incredible program.
5. John's allure as a leader has produced dozens of OCAA All Stars, Players of the Year, and Rookies of the Year, but the feather in the cap has to be the number of players who choose to exhaust their OCAA eligibility with the program, often starting a 2nd program to use up all of their eligibility.
6. John has been recognized for his tireless impacts in the rugby community with his Rugby Canada Coach of the Year award in 2016.
7. John is the pinnacle of all a leader should be, and I am deeply honoured to call him my friend.

Photo credit: Dave McCulla

It behooves me to complete this brag session with a shout out to the other members of the management team. As with any company of troops, the successes of the general are often directly linked to those under his command. As long time assistants, JMo, Alky, and Sabs are salt-of-earth humans whose vested interest is to give back to the game they hold so dear. Each brings a subtle flair of his own, a boatload of experience, boundless enthusiasm, and sterling proficiency.

They are all also friends that I cherish, and I offer my congratulations to them as well.

To the players I have had the privilege of establishing friendships, you all have done yourselves proud. There are some who I have shared a longer time with, and at the risk of missing someone, I'll simply nod my head in approval of them all! 

There'll be a wee cheeky wink to Donny, Dunc, Twiggy, Rahal and Ryan though.

What a great day it was indeed! A Gold Standard of a day!