Football: Ottawa's move to OFC, right on Carleton's turf

Carleton will have a junior football program in Ontario's top league playing on its campus this fall.

The indispensable Capital Region Football Blog notes the Ottawa Sooners have been accepted into the Ontario Football Conference. There is an event notification on Facebook for the Aug. 28 season opener vs. the Burlington Braves. The Sooners play at Ravens' Field on the Carleton campus. This is bound to increase speculation of Carleton reviving the football program it folded 10 years ago this March.

Each Ottawa daily has been on this story from the beginning, so it's fair to keep this short and let them give it its due. The Sooners had been in the Quebec Junior Football League for the past several seasons (it has two other teams in the Ottawa region). This will be good for football in Ottawa, and if it leads to having two CIS teams in the nation's capital again, so much the better.

(And if Carleton comes back, does the OUA run with 11 teams, or does someone leave?)

Related:
Sooners accomplish their goal! (Capital Region Football Blog)

(Cross-posted to Out of Left Field.)
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5 comments:

  1. The LAST thing the OUA needs is another team: Ontario football talent is diluted enough as is.

    Another francophone team in the Q is what's needed for CIS football to become competitive again. This Laval and the 26 dwarfs situation is getting ridiculous.

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  2. Actually, wouldn't another francophone team dilute the Québec talent pool even farther?

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  3. Uh, yes...that's the whole point. Another French school - ideally outside of the MTL - would take a few good prospects a year from Laval. Not saying this would result in Laval becoming an average team, but I do think it would result in a more competitive league.

    The Q with three francophone schools is akin to the OUA only having six football programs.

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  4. Laval's still going to be first choice, that was the point.

    You're right, the talent probably is there for a fourth Francophone team in Quebec.

    (Feel free to make a joke that the OUA only has six programs, in essence.)

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  5. Oh please, no football at Carleton.

    I attended the school when it still had a team and it was an embarrassment. Since dropping the team, Carleton kept its promise and pumped the savings into improved facilities, creating new varsity teams, and increased funding for the existing ones.

    Now the school has exceptional facilities a well-respected athletics program. They have been national contenders in at least three sports (mens basketball, x/c skiing and mens soccer) and provincial powers in means and womens water polo. It looks like the mens hockey program is also well on its way to becoming a contender, too.

    Just say no to football at Carleton!

    ReplyDelete