User:Wikidoubter/Sydney Uni Lions

The Sydney University Lions is the team fielded by the Sydney University American Football Club in Division I of Gridiron NSW, the top level of competitive American football in New South Wales, Australia. The Sydney University American Football Club is a constituent member of the oldest and largest sporting organization in Australia, Sydney Uni Sport and Fitness, and was honoured as the University's Sporting Club of the Year in 1985, 1991, 2006 and 2012. The Sydney University Lions was one of the foundation teams of Gridiron NSW, playing its first game on 29 April 1984. The team was founded as the "Stormtroopers" before changing to the "Lions" in 1985, becoming the first University of Sydney club to adopt the "Lions" mascot. The Sydney University Lions is the only club to have competed in every season of Gridiron NSW.

While the Sydney Uni Lions drew interest as pioneers of American football in Australia and for their run of NSW championships, it was their lifetime win/loss record which brought them to the attention of the American football world with the publication of College Football Scorebook and the Small College and Rugby Football Scorebook in 1995. The Sydney Uni Lions was one of only three college (university) teams from outside of the United States to be included in these digests of all-time college American football scores, results and statistics. Even more notably, the (then) win-loss-draw percentage of the Sydney Uni Lions of 98 wins, 27 losses and 3 draws (77.7%) was the best all-time winning percentage of any college American football team. This achievement was confirmed with the publication of the third edition of Football Scores & Schedules - the Book in 2004, which brought the earlier digests and the Pro Football Scorebook up-to-date. As at 2004, the all-time winning percentage of the Sydney Uni Lions of 177 wins, 51 losses and 5 draws (77.0%) was the best all-time winning percentage of any college American football team. While the fourth edition of "Football Scores & Schedule - the Book" is still pending, the Sydney Uni Lions have won 180 out of the 185 games the team has played since the publication of the third edition in 2004. This has improved the all-time wining percentage of the Sydney Uni Lions as at the end of the 2018 season to 358 wins, 56 losses and 5 draws (86.0%). By comparison with other levels of competition in American football, this places the Sydney Uni Lions' all-time winning percentage (85.9%) above:
 * the best all-time record in the NFL - Dallas Cowboys (57.2%)
 * the best all-time record in NCAA Division I-A college football - Michigan (73.4%)
 * the winningest high school football program in the United States - Valdosta High School, GA (78.6%)

In addition to its outstanding all-time record, the Sydney Uni Lions also compiled a remarkable winning streak of 99 games. This winning streak started on 7 October 2006 (defeated UTS Gators, 20-17) and was ended at 99 games on 30 August 2014 when the Lions were defeated by the West Sydney Pirates 20-17 - the same score as the game which started the streak! In American football, the Sydney Uni Lions winning streak of 99 games is longer than: In Australian sport, the 11 consecutive premierships won by the St George Dragons in rugby league between 1956 and 1966 was considered to be a world record for consecutive championships by a sporting team. The Sydney Uni Lions have won through to 28 Gridiron NSW championship games in 34 years of competition and won 19 NSW state titles - the most by any team - and are currently on an unbroken run of 15 consecutive Gridiron NSW premierships from 2003 to 2017.
 * the most consecutive games won in the NFL - 21 games, New England Patriots
 * the most consecutive games won in College football, NCAA Div I - 47 games, Oklahoma Sooners
 * the longest unbeaten streak in College football, NCAA Div I - 63 games, Washington Huskies
 * the most consecutive games won in College football, NCAA Div II - 40 games, Grand Valley State Lakers
 * the most consecutive games won in College football, NCAA Div III - 55 games, Mount Union Purple Raiders

On 11 August 2013, the Sydney Uni Lions won the first National Club Championship in American Football in Australia by defeating the Gold Coast Stingrays 45-13. . In 2014, the Sydney Uni Lions were ranked #1 in the final 2014 National Club Championship rankings.

The Sydney Uni Lions also secured Gold Medals in 1999 and 2000 for the University at the Eastern Australian University Games, the only years American football has been contested.