When Jennifer Brenning was hired as Carleton’s assistant director of athletics in 2005— and when she took over as director two years later— bringing back Ravens football was never part of the plan.
The program was scrapped in 1999 due to a combination of financial and on-field performance issues and Brenning had no reason to believe— or even hope— it might return.
“I never really thought that was a possibility,” she admitted. “We’re an ancillary service. If you talked to me in 2005, I never thought we’d have football back at Carleton.”
It may not have been her intention, but Brenning’s actions served as a catalyst for the program’s rebirth. After accepting the director position in 2007, one of Brenning’s priorities was to rekindle a relationship with the Old Crows, Carleton’s football alumni association.
The Old Crows were really disengaged at the time, Brenning said, and she wanted to change that.
“My discussions initially were how do we make this better for you? How do we make you feel like you are a part of Carleton’s history? How do we bring you back?”
The easy answer, of course, was to bring the team back, too.
One idea that emerged from those discussions was to look at a model where the Old Crows would raise money to field a new team – something they had first pitched in 2000.
The idea quickly gained traction and really took off in 2009 when John Ruddy, a local businessman and Ravens alumnus, made a $2.5-million donation towards the program.
Without the Old Crows and the money they contributed to the program, there’s no Steve Sumarah, there’s no Nate Behar, there’s no Ravens’ revival. It’s that simple. They deserve the lion’s share of credit, but there’s no denying Brenning’s efforts to embrace the alumni group helped kick-start the process.
And when the Ravens return to competition in September, it won’t be the first time Brenning has had a hand in “saving” a Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) football team.
It will just be under entirely different circumstances.
Back in 1998, Brenning was the acting chief executive officer of the CIS. She was tasked with investigating the University of Ottawa Gee-Gees football program after allegations of eligibility, doping, and recruiting infractions.
Brenning’s investigation, which found the Gee-Gees guilty of two eligibility infractions, resulted in a $2,000 fine and the forfeiture of the Churchill Bowl and Dunsmore Cup, which they had won the previous season.
Perhaps even more damaging, the school also lost the right to host any playoff games or be telecast during the regular season— both significant revenue-generators— over the following two seasons.
“When I completed that investigation, the athletic director Luc Gélineau actually asked me to join him at the University of Ottawa and work with him to turn the program around,” Brenning chuckled.
She accepted the offer and served as the assistant director there for seven years.
Some say Brenning saved football at the University of Ottawa. She says it was more to do with hiring the right head coach: Marcel Bellefeuille.
“That was the starting point,” she said. “You need to start with good leadership.”
Brenning may not have “saved” football at either school, but if you’re looking for a common denominator, she’s it.
Although the reborn Ravens are funded entirely by the Old Crows, Brenning is still highly involved. Just like the department’s other varsity coaches, Sumarah reports to her. She is also the chair of Carleton’s football operations committee, which reviews the budget, approves expenses, and handles other operational tasks.
“The department is ultimately accountable for the program,” Brenning said.
And by all accounts, it’s in good hands.
