LONDON, Ont. - The Wall of Champions unveiled plaques for six new player/builder inductees and one team at a media luncheon at Labatt Lounge in the J.W. Little Building at TD Waterhouse Stadium on April 16.

"The dinner is sold out tonight so we could not be happier," said Jeff Fischer, chair of the Champions Club. "It's a very important day in our football calendar, the most important outside of our season. It's a day to honour our past greats and look ahead to the future with many of our top recruits at the dinner this evening."

Six new inductees and one team will join the Wall of Champions, as announced in March. The Wall of Champions is a  “who’s who” of Canadian football and Canadian sport in general. This year's group includes builder and former player Jack Cowin, former players Paul Hauch, Jude St. John, Claude Riopelle and Jamie Tarris, builder and former equipment manager Clay Warner, and the 1971 Western Mustangs Vanier Cup team.

Past inductees include current head coach Greg Marshall, who guided the Mustangs to the Yates Cup final in his first three seasons as bench-boss, former Buffalo Bills special teams star Tim Tindale, and CIS winningest coach Larry Haylor.

The Wall of Champions Induction Dinner will take place Friday April 16, 2010, at the Great Hall at The University of Western Ontario. The Wall of Champions Awards Dinner was founded in 2004 to recognize individuals who have made significant contribution to Mustangs Football. To date, 47 Mustangs football alumni have been inducted to the Wall of Champions, along with three teams. After the 2010 induction, 53 Mustangs players/builders and four teams will be in the Wall of Champions. 

Former captain George Hill will represent the 1971 team with remarks, while Dorothy Cowin, the mother of Jack Cowin, will receive the award on her son's behalf. Jodie Hauch, the grand-daughter of the late Paul Hauch, will accept for her grandfather. St. John, Taras, Riopelle and Warner will receive their recognition in person.

Here is a look at the plaques and some brief biographical notes on each 2010 induction player/builder and the team. The plaques were designed by Steve Samways and Paul Gleason provided the historical research and archival work on behalf of the Mustangs football Champions Club group.

PLAYERS
PRE 1970/BUILDER
Jack Cowin (1961-1963)

- Team MVP 1963
- 1963 Canadian Press All-Star at Defensive Tackle
- Team Ontario heavyweight champion in wrestling in 1963
- Donated the Jack Cowin Bleachers at TD Waterhouse Stadium
- Established Australian internship program for current Western player each year
- 1st-round draft choice Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1964

PRE 1970
Paul Hauch (1926-1931)

- Team Captain of Western's first Senior Intercollegiate team in 1929, playing wingback
- Member of the 1926 Intermediate Ontario Intercollegiate Champions
- Member of the 1927 Intermediate Canadian Intercollegiate Champions
- Member of the 1931 Yates Cup team, Western's first Yates Cup win
- Won the prestigious Howard Ferguson Award in 1932

POST 1970
Jude St. John (1991-1994)

- Team Captain of Western's 1994 Vanier Cup championship team
- 1994 OUA All-Star
- 2nd-round draft pick of the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in 1995
- Grey Cup Champion with the Toronto Argonauts in 2004
- CFL Eastern Division All-Star in 2005 and 2006
- Enjoyed a 14-year CFL career

Claude Riopelle (1973-1977)

- Member three Vanier Cup teams in 1974, 1976 and 1977
- Two-time All-Canadian in 1976 and 1977 at Defensive End
- 7th-round draft pick of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in 1976
- Member of the 1978 Can-Am Bowl team

Jamie Taras (1984-1986)

- Member of Western's Atlantic Bowl championship teams in 1985 and 1986
- Two-time OUA All-Star in 1985 and 1986 at Offensive Guard
- 3rd-round draft pick of the B.C. Lions in 1987
- Enjoyed a 16-year CFL career
- Two-time CFL All-Star in 1995 and 1999
- Two-time winner of CFL's West Division Most Outstanding Lineman in 1995 and 1999
- Most Outstanding Canadian Player in the CFL West Division in 1999
- won the Tom Pate Memorial Award in 1999
- Member of the B.C. Lions All-Dream Team
- Won two Grey Cups with Lions
- now working at community relations manager with the B.C. Lions

BUILDER
Clay Warner

- Western's equipment manager for years, deep connection with the varsity football team
- Read story by Trent Williams by clicking here

TEAM
1971 Team

- Coached by Frank Cosentino, the team compiled a 9-3 record, defeating Alberta 15-14 in the Vanier Cup final
- Won Yates Cup 13-0 over Ottawa at J.W. Little Stadium

PAST INDUCTEES
2010 – Jack Cowin, Paul Hauch, Jude St. John, Claude Riopelle, Jamie Taras, Clay Warner and the 1971 Western Mustangs
2009 – Duane Forde, Kevin Ford, George Arnott, Ray Truant, Larry Haylor and the 1959 Western Mustangs
2008 – Bill Britton, Rob Campbell, Rick Scarborough, Matt Janes, Jack Fairs and the 1939 Western Mustangs team
2007 – Doug McNichol, Pete Martin, George Willis, Jeff Arp, Brent Lewis, Steve Samways, Clarke Samways and the 1957 championship team
2006 – Lionel Conacher, Dr. Peter Fowler, Gino Fracas, Michael Kirkley, Craig Labbett, Allen Philbrick, Sean Reade and Frank Turville
2005 – Al Hurley, Jack Kennedy, Duncan MacKinley, Bill Mitchell, Jack Parry, David Sapunjis, Darwin Semotiuk, Whit Tucker, Pierre Vercheval and Tyronne Williams
2004 – John Priestner, Tim Tindale, Blake Marshall, Bob Gage, Bob McFarlane, Don Getty, Don McFarlane, Frank Cosentino, Greg Marshall, Jamie Bone, Joe Krol and John Metras

ABOUT
About the Wall of Champions
The Western Mustangs football team and the Champions Club established the Mustangs Football Wall of Champions in May, 2003. Few football teams at any level can claim a more distinguished tradition of high achievement and glory than Mustangs football. That proud tradition is the result of the players, coaches and support people who have graced the university since football was established. The criterion for election to the Wall of Champions is simple: significant contributions to Mustangs Football. Each year, a nomination panel of eight individuals accepts nominations up to and including the final game of the season. At that time, 25 names of players, coaches and builders are forwarded to the selection committee, consisting of more than 25 alumni, coaches, past inductees and local sports media.

About the Champions Club
In the Spring of 2002, Michael Kirkley, a former star Mustangs running back, and Jeff Fischer, a member of the coaching staff for 10 seasons, created the Champions Club – a group of alumni and friends dedicated to raising support for Mustangs Football. The mission of the club is to “support and enhance the Championship tradition of Mustangs Football.” The Club has worked directly with the football coaching staff to enhance the program and has focused on creating successful tools for the program’s success such as the Adopt-a-Player Program, The Michael Kirkley Centre and the Wall of Champions. They also organize an annual golf tournament and other social functions. For details please email Jeff at fish007@rogers.com.