Yates Cup | |
---|---|
Awarded for | OUA champion in U Sports football |
First awarded | 1898 |
Presented by | Ontario University Athletics |
Current champions | Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks |
Most titles | Western Mustangs (35)[1] |
The Yates Cup (French: La Coupe Yates) is a Canadian sports trophy, presented annually to the winner of the Ontario University Athletics football conference of U Sports. It is the oldest still-existing football trophy in North America, dating back to 1898 and surpassing both the Grey Cup and the Little Brown Jug in longevity.[citation needed]
The Yates Cup was donated by Dr. Henry Brydges Yates of McGill University.[2]
Until 1971 it was awarded to the winner of the Senior Intercollegiate Football League regular season, with playoffs occurring only if there was a tie for first place, or the second-place team had defeated the first-place team in league play.[citation needed] Since 1971, it is awarded to the OUA football champion.[3]
The winner of the Yates Cup goes on to play in either the Uteck Bowl or the Mitchell Bowl, depending on annual rotations.
Asteroid (12447) YatesCup is named after the Yates Cup.[4]