This year’s Panda Game is fast approaching, and after last year’s dramatic win against the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees, many Carleton students hold high expectations. Ravens fans may be preparing themselves for another win against the Gee-Gees this year, but with such an amazing turnout and triumph last year, it might be hard to meet their expectations.
At least the weather forecast is a good one, so if the game doesn’t go in our favour, we won’t be walking home defeated, and in the cold like Gee-Gees fans did last year. But as a loyal Raven, I’m optimistic that we will not feel one bit of defeat.
“I don’t think anyone at Carleton is going to forget it any time soon,” Nick Gorgichuk, last year’s quarterback, said following the game—and he was completely right.
On Sept. 30, 2014, with seconds remaining, the score was 31-27 for the Gee-Gees. In a dramatic turn of events, the Ravens finished the game off with a 55-yard Hail Mary.
The win was one for the books, as thousands of fans and students piled onto the field to celebrate. The final score of 33-31 definitely has students wanting more this year.
So when I hear someone unsure if they should attend this year’s game, I tell them what it was like last year to hop the barricade and storm the field—because who doesn’t want to be part of an array of students chanting against our rivals, the Gee-Gees?
After the game, Ravens coach Steve Sumarah said, “the Gee-Gees are a great team and my heart goes out to them a little bit.”
But that doesn’t mean we should go easy on them. It’s fair game, and the Ravens football team will have plenty of earnest fans to impress, even though it may be difficult to exceed expectations built up from 2014.
After hearing about the dramatic win from peers and news stations around Ottawa, it’s safe to say the TD Place will be full of eager Ravens fans with strong hopes for another win on Oct. 3. But if the play doesn’t go in our favour, let’s remember that more fans means more Carleton spirit—and that’s never a bad thing.
