By Nancy Lewis

Following the controversial decision in 1999, a group of volunteers led by the Old Crow Society, Carleton’s football alumni chapter, spent “hundreds of hours” lobbying, letter writing and conducting research to “Revive the Ravens.” In cooperation with the department of development and alumni services, the group produced a planning-feasibility study in 2000 which identified the potential to raise $1 million in donations plus an additional $1 million in other forms of revenue to support a competitive football program. The 12 committee members personally pledged $165,000 if the sport was reinstated.

Kevin McKerrow, president, Old Crow Society

After the group presented a formal proposal to Carleton’s senior administrators in April 2000, the Old Crow Society was disappointed to learn that the men’s football program would not be reinstated “in the foreseeable future.”

"I know we made a sincere and substantial effort to work with the university to bring about the program’s return under a format that would ensure its competitive success,” says Kevin McKerrow, BAHons/87, president of the Old Crow Society and former all-star with the Ravens in the 1980s.

President Richard Van Loon, who played football for the Ravens in the 1960s, commends the group on its commitment and enthusiasm, but says it’s just not feasible to reinstate football at this time.

"I know that this was very disappointing for the group, especially given all their hard work,” he says.

The main reason for the decision, says the president, is economics.

"It did not seem likely that we could sustain an on-going operation like football through a one-time fundraising effort,” he explains. “Football is a very expensive program to run. It would cost between $250,000 and $300,000 in annual expenses. At the time it was disbanded, it was taking up a very large part of our athletics budget with not very good results on the field.”

Even more troubling, he adds, there wasn’t much money left in the athletics budget to fund other programs. The new model of athletics programing adopted in 1999 focused resources on other men’s and women’s varsity sports, a broader range of competitive clubs and enhanced intramural programing. The goal was to increase participation, create more gender equity among sports, and create a higher rate of success on the field.

Since the new model was instated, Carleton has successfully added six competitive clubs to its roster of 17 varsity teams. Plus, the number of athletes has increased from 294 to 401 in the last four years (257 on varsity teams; 144 in competitive clubs). As well, intramural participation now includes more than 2,500 students and some 1,400 students are using the athletics and fitness facilities daily.

"We’ve had more people participating in varsity sports and club sports and we’ve certainly had a higher rate of success on the field, in the pool and in the gymnasium since 1999,” says Van Loon.

Van Loon also points to the financial restrictions faced by the university. Because Carleton does not have a physical education or related program, the athletics facility and operations are not supported by government grants.

Most of the money that goes into athletics comes from student fees, he says, with the remainder from the University on behalf of faculty and staff and from the use of the facilities for community activities.
“We work with pretty sharply constrained athletics budgets and we need to ensure that as many students as possible can participate in recreational and athletic activities,” says Van Loon.

Still, McKerrow remains disappointed by the decision and is now feeling challenged to motivate the football alumni chapter with no team to support.

"Many members are frustrated by the way the football program was handled and though these alumni have generally been ardent supporters of the university, it is now very hard for them to remain unconditional supporters,” he says.

Shown here is the Ravens football team circa 1949. Courtesy of Carleton University Archives. ZOOM IN

However, McKerrow feels the alumni chapter still has an important role to play.

"I believe we can refocus our attention on one of our original objectives — to foster and serve the esprit de corps existing among its members,” says McKerrow. “I would like to see our association devote itself to supporting charities and amateur sport, with money raised through our social activities and other endeavours being channelled in this direction.”

The chapter will continue to support two student bursary awards it established at Carleton. Plus, it will carry on the time-honoured tradition of selecting the Canadian Interuniversity Sport Frank Tindall coach of the year award. The Old Crow Society created the award in 1969 and a committee of alumni still selects the winning coach.

"The Old Crows have demonstrated true dedication as alumni volunteers,” says Jane Gilbert, vice-president, chapters, national alumni executive. “It is my hope that the chapter can remain strong, despite the setback. I hope they will choose to continue as a chapter, and that we can count on their energy and experience to develop other athletic opportunities for students on campus.”

McKerrow says he hasn’t given up on the football tradition returning to Carleton. “We remain ready and able to introduce our model for a sustainable high quality football program at Carleton. But as long as the university doesn’t want to tackle this problem, it’s just not going to happen.”

The fate of the football team, at least for now, is clear.

"I don’t think this [return to football] is likely to happen within the next five years,” says Van Loon, “but I’m not saying it’ll never happen.”