Oct - Old Ottawa South

THE OSCARlOCTOBER 2013Page 33CARLETON FOOTBALLFootball Returns to Carleton UniversityBy Joe ScanlonAfter a 15-season absence Canadianfootball is back at Carleton Universityand on Saturday, September 7th,team’s first home game since October,1988 got a roaring welcome. The3,000-seat rebuilt grandstand sold outand 1,544 students sat on the grassymound on the Bronson Avenue sideof the field – total attendance 4,544.There was a small but enthusiasticband, a few fireworks and – somethingnew – young women and menmoving up and down the aislesselling beer – and the beer cans weretucked into covers with the Raveninsignia – a type of covering Australianscall a stubby cooler.There were scores of old-timers– former football head coach andDirector of Athletics, Keith Harris– after whom the stadium is named– plus two of his children and two ofhis grandchildren – former coachesKim McCuaig, Gary Shaver and AcePowell – and many former players.The former players included JonRuddy whose commitment and financialsupport were mainly responsiblefor the return of football, KevinMcKerrow, president of the footballalumni, the Old Crows, along withGene Rheaume, both members ofthe group that persuaded Carleton’sBoard of Governors to bring backfootball, and Rheaume’s daughter,Amanda, who sang the National Anthem.(She also performed that weekat the Ottawa Folk Festival.) Therewas also Mayor Jim Watson – a Carletongraduate – who disdained theVIP box to sit in the stands. (While astudent Watson was President of theRideau River Residence Association;after graduation he served as Presidentof the Carleton Alumni Association.)Of course there was Carleton president,Roseann Runte, celebrating hersecond football revival. Runte alsobrought back football at Old Dominionin Virginia where she was presidentbefore Carleton. Carleton waswithout football for 15 seasons; OldDominion had been out of footballfor 53 years until Runte sparked itsrevival. When it came back, she tolda local newspaper, “Football alonedoes not make a university great, butthere are very few great universitieswithout football,” After being atcentre field for the Carleton-Waterlooopening kickoff she worked her wayup and down the aisles chatting withpeople she recognized and many whojust wanted to say hello and thanks.The President, Mayor Watson andAmanda Rheaume wore shirts with alarge “13” marking the year footballreturned.There was also unusual media attention.Rogers broadcast the gameand it was streamed on SSN, as wellas covered by the Citizen and theAmanda Rheaume who sang “O Canada” with Mayor Jim Watson at the Raven’s first home game on September7. Amanda is the daughter of Gene Rheaume, a former player who was part of the group responsible for thereturn of football to Carleton.PHOTO BY JOE SCANLONSun, and of course by the OSCAR.Although no one expected miracles– the Ravens had lost 71-4 in theiropening game at Western – the crowdhoped to see at least one touchdown.(The four points against Westerncame on a 51-yard punt single and a40-yard field goal, both by AndrewBanerjee.).At 7:02 in the third quarter, thosepresent finally got their wish. Afterplunging successfully on thirddown and getting another third downthrough a faked punt, Carleton’s firststring quarterback Jesse Mills hitKyle Van Wynsberghe with a passdeep in the end zone – officially 22yards. Carleton converted then addeda single on the subsequent kickoffbringing the score to a respectable24-8. But Waterloo scored 23 unansweredpoints in the final 15 minutes.Against 1-2 Windsor the team fareda little better. They were down 10after one quarter, 24-0 at half time,42-7 after three quarters, but lost44-14. They scored their first touchdownon the ground when MarleyPaterson went over after three triesfrom the three. The touchdown wasset up when Andrew Banerjee went32 yards on a fake kick. They scoredagain in the final minute after a 28-yard completion Gorgichuk to VanWynsberghe, and an interference callallowed Keith Graham to score fromthe one.Head coach Steve Sumarah is newHome FootballGames in October7 p.m. Friday, Octobe 11Guelph at Carleton1 p.m. Saturday, October 19McMaster at Carletonto Carleton – he washead coach at St. Mary’sfor six years –as are mostcoaches – though TomTimlin is a former Carletonplayer, captain, All-Canadian and coach andWayne Baird has comeout of retirement to serveas equipment manager, ajob he had in the seventiesand eighties.The team has had theinevitable teething problems.Receivers have notalways run all out forpasses and running backs have notalways gone through the assignedholes. Against Windsor two differentreceivers were offside before the snapon two consecutive plays. A 50-yardpass and run play from Nick Gorgichukto Kyle Van Wynsberghe wascalled back on a rough play call inWindsor, and a ball was fumbled onthe two-yard line against Western. Afumble on the nine also stopped theirfirst sustained drive against Windsor.And – as always – there have beeninjuries. Nat Behar, who caught threepasses in the first two games, missedthe third and starting quarterback JesseMills was injured by a late hit andforced out of the Windsor game. Butthe team’s passing game is showingsigns of improvement. Against Windsor,Mills and Gorgichuk were 17 for34 (50 per cent) with two interceptions.Van Wynsberghe caught eightpasses for 108 yards; Tyler Callahanfour for 62 yards; and Wilson Birch,two for 53 yards. The Ravens lost by67 to Western, 39 to Waterloo and 30to Windsor.As this is being written, two otherCarleton games are already sold outand the Carleton-Ottawa game is beingbroadcast on network television.The team opened against Western inwhite, used their black uniforms fortheir home game against Waterloo,switched to red for their third gameagainst Windsor. Though the colourschanged one custom did not: as theplayers stretch before a game, CoachSumarah goes from player to playeruntil he has spoken and shaken handswith everyone on the team.