Hall of Fame Profile: Tom Barbeau

Tom Barbeau, a 2009 inductee to the McGill Sports Hall of Fame, is today's featured profile.

Thomas Philippe Barbeau was born on July 3, 1956 in the Notre Dame de Grace district of Montreal. He went on to play football at McGill, from 1975 to 1978, graduating with a bachelor’s degree in physical education (1978), followed by a master’s degree in the same discipline (1981).

The 5-foot-8, 185-pound running back made an immediate impact with the Redmen, winning the team’s Fred Dupré trophy as rookie of the year. Barbeau earned OQIFC East all-star honours three times in his four seasons, received the Students’ Society trophy as team MVP in 1976 and captured the Forbes trophy as McGill’s male athlete of the year in 1977-78.

A two-time co-captain, he established McGill career records for points (150), touchdowns (25), rushing TDs (21), carries (388), rushing yards (1,959), punt returns (126) and yards (1,556), kickoff returns (39) and yards (736). He also caught 83 passes for 594 yards and a pair of TDs and connected on 11 of 21 pass attempts for 154 yards and three TDs.

Barbeau was selected 79th overall by Ottawa in the 1978 Canadian Football League's college draft.  After his playing days were over, Barbeau coached the Redmen running backs while completing a master's degree. He also taught at McGill and later coached with the Canadian national alpine ski team for two seasons, including the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary. He also coached the South African ski team at the 1998 Games in Nagano and the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City.

He currently serves as director of athletics for the Waterville Valley Ski Academy in New Hampshire.

The 2009 induction luncheon, scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 15, 2009, officially kicks off McGill's Homecoming Week celebrations. Tickets for the event are $65 and can be reserved by contacting Kathryn Weaver at kathryn.weaver [at] mcgill.ca or 514-398-7002.