Carleton Ravens football

Carleton Ravens
Current season
First season 1945
Athletic director Jennifer Brenning
Head coach Steve Sumarah
4th year, 15–17–0  (.469)
Other staff Jean-Philippe Asselin (OC)
Ryan Bechmanis (DC)
Home stadium Keith Harris Stadium
Stadium capacity 3044
Stadium surface FieldTurf
Location Ottawa, Ontario
League CIS
Conference OUA (2013 – present)
Past associations OIFC (1957–1966)
CCIFC (1967–1970)
OUAA (1971–1973)
OQIFC (1974–1998)
All-time record – 
Postseason record –
Vanier Cups 0
Yates Cups 0
Dunsmore Cups 1, 1985
Hec Crighton winners 0
Current uniform
Colours Black and Red

             

Mascot Rodney the Raven
Rivals Ottawa Gee-Gees
Website oldcrowsfootball.ca

The Carleton Ravens football team represents Carleton University, which is based in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. The team plays Canadian Interuniversity Sport football in the Ontario University Athletics conference. The Ravens football program started in 1945 and was continuously in operation until 1998 when the program was disbanded. The football program was brought back to the university in 2011 and began play in 2013.[1] The football team has won one conference championship, winning the Dunsmore Cup in 1985 while playing in the Ontario-Quebec Intercollegiate Football Conference.

History

Historically, the Ravens football team first began play just after the Second World War in 1945 and was in continuous operation until the program was dropped in 1998.[2] While the team had some success in the mid-1980s, poor performances and a plan by the Carleton Athletic department to invest more funds in other sports led to the sport being cut after the 1998 season.[3][4] In their history, the Ravens won one Dunsmore Cup conference championship in 1985, but lost in the following Western Bowl to the Calgary Dinos 56 to 14.[5]

Historical regular season results

Season Games Won Lost Tied Pct % PF PA Standing Playoffs
19887 070 0.000 53 244 6th in OQIFC Did not qualify
19897 070 0.000 42 289 6th in OQIFC Did not qualify
19907 160 0.143 83 225 6th in OQIFC Did not qualify
19917 160 0.143 99 225 6th in OQIFC Did not qualify
19927 070 0.000 44 237 6th in OQIFC Did not qualify
19937 250 0.286 94 166 5th in OQIFC Did not qualify
19947 250 0.286 97 224 5th in OQIFC Did not qualify
19958 161 0.188 136 221 6th in OQIFC Did not qualify
19968 530 0.625 137 149 4th in OQIFC Lost to Ottawa Gee-Gees in semi-final 28-0
19978 170 0.125 106 174 7th in OQIFC Did not qualify
19988 170 0.125 102 187 7th in OQIFC Did not qualify

[6]

Revival

For a number of years, there had been movements to revive the team, but there was no real interest from the university. However, on June 25, 2009, an announcement was made that the Lansdowne Live group, which owns the Ottawa Redblacks, the new Canadian Football League team, was in negotiations with the university to bring back the football program and play at a rebuilt Frank Clair Stadium to be shared with the CFL team and the Ottawa Gee-Gees. Lansdowne Live partner and Ravens alumnus John Ruddy has pledged $2.5 million to provide funding for the program and it would follow the private partnership model that has proved successful both financially and on the field with the Regina Rams and Laval Rouge et Or teams.[7] The program needed to raise a minimum of $5 million in pledge commitments in order to secure final approvals, and establish Old Crows Football Inc. by May 2011 for the team to start play in time for the 2012 season.[8]

While the group closely missed the May deadline, Old Crows Football Inc. and Carleton University announced on July 6, 2011 that the program would return in 2013. The $5 million was raised and the team operates independently by Old Crows Football Inc. as a non-profit corporate entity that will fund and market the program. Renovations to the locker rooms, coaches' offices and Keith Harris Stadium will be paid for by the Old Crows.[1][9] On January 16, 2012, Steve Sumarah was named the team's head coach.[10]

The 2013 team began the new era of Ravens football on September 2 against the Western Mustangs in London, Ontario with a 71-4 loss. They would finish the season with eight losses in eight games as was expected for a program in its first year. In 2014, the Ravens earned the revived program's first win with an away victory against the Waterloo Warriors. Overall, the team finished with a 4-4 record that year, including a memorable Hail Mary Panda Game victory over the Ottawa Gee-Gees.[11] In 2015, the Ravens qualified for the playoffs for the first time since the 1996 season with a 5-3 record. They defeated the Queen's Golden Gaels in the first round, but lost to the Guelph Gryphons in the semi-finals. In 2016, the team hosted their first playoff game since 1986, with both games featuring wins over the Ottawa Gee-Gees.[12]

Old Crows season-by-season record

Team records since the program was revived in 2013:

League Yr Team Yr Games Won Lost Pct % PF PA Standing Playoffs
20132013 8 0 8 0.000 95 390 11th in OUA Did not qualify
20142014 8 4 4 0.500 199 266 7th in OUA Did not qualify
20152015 8 5 3 0.625 288 244 5th in OUA Defeated Queen's Golden Gaels in quarter-final 39-8
Lost to Guelph Gryphons in semi-final 33-21
20162016 8 6 2 0.750 318 150 4th in OUA Defeated Ottawa Gee-Gees in quarter-final 45-9
Lost to Western Ontario Mustangs in semi-final 51-24

[13]

Notable Alumni

References

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