Barry Ogden, left, president and general manager of the University of New Brunswick Saint John Seawolves and Dave Grandy, the team’s head coach, are among those encouraged with the developments of the Atlantic Football League, which is slated to start in the fall.
  
GRIDIRON GANG WORKING OUT DETAILS ON NEW LOOP

By Scott Briggs
Published in the Telegraph-Journal on May 23, 2009
Appeared on Page C8

SAINT JOHN - Summer hasn't even arrived yet and Barry Ogden is already looking forward to the end of it.

That's because the University of New Brunswick Saint John Seawolves football team is slated to play their first official game in late September. Ogden, the president and general manager of the Port City pigskin squad, doesn't know the specific date, but he's confident there will be a kick-off.

"I think we're dealing with something that's really going to grow,'' Ogden said about the Atlantic Football League. "The one thing about the football community is that we really work well together.''

Well enough for the AFL to have three teams in its inaugural campaign. Aside from UNBSJ, Ogden said there will also be teams in Moncton and Fredericton.

The Capital City club will be known as the UNB Red Bombers, while Moncton's moniker hasn't been determined yet. Representatives from all three teams have been meeting in Sussex to lay the groundwork for the league.

Current plans call for the season to start with a jamboree before the official schedule begins. Ogden said each team will play six regular-season games and two playoff contests.

In UNBSJ's case, the team would draw from players enrolled at the school, but it would also be able to carry "a percentage'' of players attending the local community college. Ogden said the amount of that percentage will be determined this summer when the league puts the final touches on a constitution.

For now, the organizer, administrator and community activist is pleased with the local team's progress.

Ogden said close to 40 sponsors have committed their support to the Seawolves, who will play their home games in Millidgeville. UNBSJ's uniforms are navy with red, white and grey trim. The helmets will display the same Seawolves logo that's worn by the varsity teams that play in the Atlantic Colleges Athletic Association.

Each UNBSJ player will be required to pay $300. That fee will provide each player with a track suit, t-shirt and toque, while some of the money will be used to pay referees and to help cover field costs. Players will be insured through Football New Brunswick.

"We've got a good impetus to have a good organization,'' Ogden said. "Our kids are going to have the very best gear and play in the nicest stadium, and they can go to school in their hometown.''

Dave Grandy will be UNBSJ's head coach and his assistants include Chris Hopkins, Derek Bury and Mark Gallagher. Grandy, who also coaches Saint John High School and the Saint John Wanderers of the Maritime Football League, is excited about his latest opportunity.

"This is a new challenge and I'm looking forward to it,'' he said. "In the first year, there are bound to be some bumps and bruises, but it's been something I've wanted to do.

"When there were talks about it (last year), I was interested right away. When you hear about things starting off and it's new, you're always a bit hesitant. But it's more real now than it was six months ago.''

Ogden, a teacher at Saint John High, said there's no shortage of enthusiasm about the new circuit and the program at UNBSJ.

"I've already talked to a number of kids who are now staying home to play. It's much cheaper to go to school here and it's great that we can have a combination team between the community college and UNBSJ.

"They've never had teams working together. These kids are about to play in a $20 million stadium next year, hopefully. Canada Games Stadium is a $20 million stadium, if it's refurbished, and we're very hopeful that can happen.''

Ogden said local sponsors are willing to support the Seawolves provided they place an emphasis on local players. And based on the long-term success of Fundy Minor Football and the area's high school programs, there are plenty of seasoned players ready to take the field.

"Now that we have a huge minor system and high school system, the base is bigger,'' Ogden said. "Kids just want to keep playing. (Creating the AFL) just made so much sense.''

Ogden feels the league is an opportunity for Saint John to form a valuable partnership with Fredericton and Moncton.

"We have half a million people between the three cities, so certainly we can put things together if we work together. The tri-city area working together makes a lot of sense with more than just football. The three communities are really working well together.''

The overall effect of the AFL goes beyond who wins on the field, Ogden added.

"Football can be a vehicle to get kids to stay in school. For me, building the character of the person and building their education is just as important as playing football.

"In sports, we learn discipline and we take care of our physical and mental health. When you look at the demographics of our population, the largest crowd we lose is between 18 and 25, and that's the crowd the employers want to keep the most.''

"What we have to ask ourselves is what are we going to do to create opportunities? The answer is not just jobs and it's not just education, and it's not just sports. How do we create a total umbrella of opportunities for those kids between 18 and 25 years old?''