In order to amp up awareness for the revival of a Carleton Ravens varsity football team, Carleton’s department of student services held a charity flag football tournament Oct. 23.
Nine teams totaling approximately 120 students battled it out at Keith Harris Stadium, which will become home field to the future Ravens football team. Each team paid $50 to play, with proceeds going towards the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Event organizer and director of student affairs Ryan Flannagan said the tournament was successful in both its goals: raising money for the foundation and promoting the return of a varsity program.
“I think students really enjoyed themselves,” Flannagan said. “A number [of students] expressed that it would be great to have varsity football at Carleton.”
Carleton is on track to see a varsity Ravens team suit up for the fall 2012 season.
At the event, Carleton alumni and president of the Old Crow society of former Ravens footballers, Kevin McKerrow, announced a vision for stadium upgrades that will support the team, including creating stands to accommodate 3,000 fans and the possibility of future growth. The upgrade will also include a new press box that meets OUA standards, he said.
McKerrow also said the facilities committee is looking at expanding Alumni Hall, where current varsity dressing rooms exist to add changerooms and coaches’ offices for the football program.
Meanwhile, he said the fundraising committee is “definitely in the throws of securing the commitments needed.” While McKerrow could not provide an exact figure, he said the committee is on track to meet its goal of $5 million in pledges to support the team’s first five years.
The Ravens’ official fundraising campaign will kick off in time for the 2010 Vanier Cup, which will be held at Université Laval's PEPS Stadium Nov. 27.
“Our goal — at the end of November — is to have satisfied all of the [Board of Governors’] requirements under the three committees,” McKerrow said.