[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/awfy-wick.jpg” caption=”The 2009 Awfy-Wick intramural football squad. The team made the playoffs for the 25th consecutive time this year.”]Most professional football teams would give anything for the consistency that Awfy-Wick has on the gridiron.

Last Friday marked the 25th consecutive time the team, which derives its name from the Scottish slang for “awfully wicked”, has played in the McMaster intramural football league's playoffs, a streak unmatched in the University's history. Without a losing season on record and having won the coveted championship t-shirts once in the mid-nineties, founding member Todd Ford says the team's members have thoroughly enjoyed playing through three different decades at McMaster.

“McMaster has always made us feel at home,” said Ford, a graduate of the University's commerce program. “The camaraderie that we've shared with each other over all these years is why we've kept coming back. Many of the guys on the team only see each other during the brief fall season that we play together, so we get to reminisce about our days at McMaster, have a few laughs at the expense of ourselves, enjoy the competition and hope to be able to walk the next day.”

Though many of Awfy-Wick's competitors were not born when the team was first assembled, they have managed to improve their demographics in recent years, adding current students and even a father-son combination in Chris and Lucas Arnold to their roster.
Ford says the team, which has also played basketball, indoor and outdoor soccer, softball, volleyball and inner tube water polo, has remained consistently competitive during its time at McMaster and has never had to forfeit a game in any sport.

“We'll keep playing so long as we aren't embarrassing ourselves,” said Ford, who lists among his favourite Awfy-Wick football moments finishing out a season at Ivor Wynne Stadium, home of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

The team and its members have also demonstrated their support for McMaster off the field, donating $1000 to support the construction of the David Braley Athletic Centre and Ron Joyce Stadium.

“We have always loved the way we have been treated by everyone at McMaster. We will truly miss it when we finally decide to pack it in.”

For now, however, there is football to be won.