After nearly two years of planning, which grew out of an original proposal to revive the team in 2000, the push for a Carleton Ravens football team is finally complete.
The Ravens men’s varsity football team will be returning to Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) action in the 2013 season, Carleton announced July 6th.
The announcement, which was made at a press conference at Alumni Hall, was led by Carleton’s director of recreation and athletics Jennifer Brenning, president Roseann Runte, and president of the Old Crow Football alumni association Kevin McKerrow.
Dozens of Ravens football alumni, as well as coaches and staff members from other varsity teams, attend the event. Media and other members of the Carleton community were also present, many holding Ravens clappers and sporting red athletics gear in support of the new varsity team.
The football revival was spearheaded by a $2.5 million donation made by Ottawa entrepreneur John Ruddy in the fall of 2009. Ruddy played cornerback for the Ravens from 1970 to 1975.
“We didn’t want to just bring football back — we want to bring it back under the conditions required for it to succeed over the long term,” said Ruddy in a press release.
To date, $5 million has been secured for the program, which will run on a very unique business model, according to the Carleton football website. The team will be fully financed by Old Crows Football Inc, which will be made up of a board of directors partnered with Carleton administration, according to a press release. This is a connection the university is very proud to see develop.
“The enthusiasm and energy of our alumni reflect the level of commitment and care that Carleton fosters in all who have been educated here,” said Runte in a press release. “I am looking forward to kickoff and yet another outstanding celebration of Carleton spirit.”
“Great teams are built on great partnerships,” added Brenning in the same release. “We look forward to working with Old Crows Football Inc. and our dedicated alumni to make this team, and this sport, a great success at Carleton.”
A common theme of the press conference was the benefits that varsity sports bring to a school and to individual students. McKerrow made reference to the strong support and presence of the Old Crows, as a number of the group’s members played less than 15 games in a Ravens jersey and some were on the team 50 years ago.
“[It] speaks volumes about the impact varsity sports has on students’ lives,” McKerrow said in his speech.
The Old Crows “look forward to engaging the student body” in the return of Ravens football, McKerrow added. They are excited about planning frosh week games and homecoming games, McKerrow said in his speech.
The first steps for the football program include hiring a manager of football operations, followed by a national competition for a head coach. Hiring a football manager is a top priority and will likely occur in the coming weeks, McKerrow said. Competition for the football coach, however, will not occur until after the upcoming CIS season.
“We’ll start to get the word out and we’ll certainly receive interest, I’m sure. But the actual formal competition we’re expecting to hold in late November or December,” said McKerrow. “Getting the right head coach in place to steward the program will be really paramount to the success of the program and establishing the program early on.”
The university will also begin the construction and refurbishment of Keith Harris Stadium, including upgraded stadium seating and press box, a new locker room for the team and fitness facilities.
The return of football at Carleton will also likely herald the return of Pedro the Panda and the Panda Game, a cross-town rivalry game between the Ravens and the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees. The game could take place at Lansdowne Stadium, McKerrow said.
The previous edition of a varsity Ravens football team was shut down by the university in 1998, due to funding issues and poor on-field performances.
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