The team began its second incarnation in 2003, thirty years after the first program was dropped in 1973. The Vert et Or first began to play in 1971 in the Quebec Universities Athletic Association as the Sherbrooke Estrien. The varsity team's name was changed to Sherbrooke Vert et Or in 1972. The program was dropped after the 1973 season due to a shift in philosophy as many francophone universities placed an emphasis on community involvement and intramural athletic activities as opposed to intercollegiate athletics. That philosophy shifted back to intercollegiate sports as Université Laval, Université de Montréal and Sherbrooke each began programs in 1996, 2002 and 2003, respectively.
