The Annual Bubba Bowl and the team behind the teams
The Bubba Bowl has come and gone for another year. This year saw split results for the Golden Eagles faithful fans, and there were lots of fans at the game on a beautiful, cool, Thursday night (October 9) just before the Thanksgiving weekend.
The Junior team won a nail biter of a game, 14-12, over Lasalle in the early game, but the Black Knights from Lasalle HS came back in the Senior Game in a big way, winning 38-7, and handing the Golden Eagles their second loss in a row, after they were beaten 38-5 by Holy Cross on October 1. They won their first two games back in September, both shutouts (39-0 over Holy Cross and 42-0 over Ernestown, and have a 2-2 record heading into their away game on Thursday, at Regiopolis. Regi is also 2-2 thus far in the season.
The Junior Golden Eagles are on the opposite trajectory to the Senior team. They started their season by losing their first two games in shutouts, 27-0 and 28-0 in games against Holy Cross and Bayridge, respectively.
They then beat Regi 19-0 on October 1, followed by the Bubba Bowl, also giving them a 2-2 record going into this Thursday’s game at Kingston SS.
The Point started filling up an hour before the 6:30 kickoff to the Junior Game, and within a few minutes of the kickoff, the sideline was completely full, Pizza from Mike’s and hot chocolate and cider from the concessions were flying off the shelves, and the crowd was fully engaged in the game.
The half time show, which featured an alumni cheerleading squad, kept the crowd focused on the field throughout.
In addition to the teams on the field, the Sydenham Golden Eagles have a large contingent of coaches and a support team. Among them is a three-person crew who work with Assistant coach Rob McDougall during all practices, and home and away games. The team, SHS alumnus Tyler MacComish and current students Lucas Hammer and Thomas Hasselaar, start off each practice at the makeshift shed at the base of the lower parking lot at the school, sorting and handing out equipment for games or practices. On game days, they head to the field.
“At the field, we put up the pads over the goal posts, do the scoreboard, whatever is needed that time,” said Tyler MacComish.
“Down on the field, if the coaches need anything, we help out. Today, I’m handing out the water,” said Thomas Hasselaar.
Just then, the third member of the team Lucas Hammer, darted over from the school.
“When are we headed to Loughborough to warm up, the team wants to know, they are getting a little antsy, lots of energy,” he said.
“Ok, let’s go,” said Rob McDougall.
And with that the crew headed down the road to the field, with the team behind them, ready for another Bubba Bowl.
The Bubba Bowl has been a signature event in the fall schedule since 2005, with a few missing years for field repairs and Covid. It was started as a tribute to a Sydenham student, Alex “Bubba” Turcotte, a popular football player for the Golden Eagles and a member of the North Frontenac Flyers hockey team, who died in his sleep of a cardiac defect.
Over the years, it has raised thousands for improvements to The Point Park, including the permanent lighting fixtures that now light up the field at the Bubba Bowl each year. Before the game, members of the Turcotte family were on hand again this year, for the ceremonial coin toss.
