When Pat Gillin and a group of UNB Alumni financed the rebirth of the Red Bombers in 2009 under a “club” structure to take advantage of the creation of the AFL, everyone involved agreed to commit to taking a 3-year “Nike Approach” and “just do it”. At the end of the 3 years we agreed we would take stock and determine where it should go from there.

The determined efforts of a core group from among alumni, friends of football, and coaches created the 2009 Red Bombers and sustained it to date to give football players the opportunity to play for UNB.

Much has been accomplished: Not the least of which has been that UNB’s administration including the President’s Office has answered all of our calls for help to clear obstacles in our path. UNB Admin., Rec., and Athletics are very supportive of the UNB Red Bombers Football Team.

Our Vision statement is clear: To establish a sustainable, highly organized, and properly funded team that provides the UNB and City of Fredericton communities with a memorable cultural and recreational experience.

Our Mission statement is equally precise: To provide football players attending UNB an opportunity to participate in a competitive football program within the Atlantic Football League.

Purpose

The purpose of this document is to set the Club’s priorities for the next 3 years through the end of the 2014 football season. Based on the experiences gained over the past 3 years, a planning session was convened on Feb. 13, 2012. Over 30 people attended and included a broad cross section of individuals representing the players, coaches, Red Bomber organization, alumni, administration, local football, former Red Bombers, and friends of football.

In that meeting 5 areas were identified that should be the focus of the Red Bombers priorities for their action plans over the next 3 years. Those were:

Finances/Sponsorship/Fund-raising

Player Recruitment

Governance/Organization

On field Improvement

Game Day/Marketing

From this, the organization developed Goals and Action Items in each area and an overall timetable and budget.

Finances/Sponsorship/Fund-raising

Goals 2012-2014

To attract Alumni contributions of at least $30,000/year

To earn Fredericton Sports Investment Diner returns of at least $2,500/year

To reach a level by the 2014 season of netting $2,000 in revenues during the football season from sources other than gate receipts, alumni, or players fees.

To create an endowment fund into which contributions can be held for the operation of the team going forward.

Strategy

The strategy for the next three years (by the end of 2014) is to have provided sufficient funding that will sustain the team ‘as is’ at least to 2020, and thereby give the organization the time it needs (over the next 8 years) to develop and put in place the means for sustainability and growth ongoing.

Action

By March 31 designate 1 local support committee member to lead the committee’s efforts to develop, under Cyril Lutze-Wallace leadership, an ongoing year-round Alumni booster campaign for the Red Bombers.

By March 31 designate 1 support committee member to investigate the requirements of establishing an endowment fund.

By April 20 provide the proposal and budget for the inaugural year-round Alumni booster campaign for the Red Bombers.

By April 30 approve and launch Alumni booster campaign.

By May 31 report back to the club the opportunity and requirements to establish the Endowment Fund.

By May 31 recruit 10 or more additional local members of the support committee who have the time and interest to be active members to contribute their talents to any action items throughout this plan.

By June 30 designate a sub committee of members of the support committee who will concentrate on the Fredericton Sports Investment Dinner sponsorship and ticket sales.

By June 30 designate a sub committee of the members of the support committee who will concentrate on new revenue sources.

Player Recruitment

Goals 2012-2014

To successfully recruit players from the Highs Schools in the Province of New Brunswick.

To recruit football players who are currently on-campus but not playing for the Red Bombers.

To promote the Red Bomber BRAND to the youth and coaches of the Capital Area Minor Football Association (CAMFA)

To provide an opportunity for EX-CIS players to join the Red Bombers after they have stopped playing at the CIS level.

Strategy

After its nearly 30 year absence on campus, the strategy re-establishes the Red Bombers as a playing option in the minds of young football players to help increase recruitment.

Action

Identify current Bombers willing to recruit graduating High School players form their Alma Mater –

ACTION Feb 17-Mar15/2012:

Poll Current Players as Red Bomber Ambassador: Jack Dallaire, VP Recruitment.

Target Specific player who are likely to want to play football at universities –

ACTION Feb 17-Mar15/2012:

Secure Maritime Combines list of participants (Jack D):

Secure NB-HS All-star list: Coach D:

Send each targeted player a letter: Coach D / Jack D

Develop a recruiting package for HS visits

ACTION Mar 15-20/2012:

Update AV presentation, Develop Flyers &Business cards: Coach  D

Provide training to current Bombers for presentations:

                                ACTION Mar 15-20/2012:

Secure facility and equipment to conduct training: Coach D

Contact High Schools to establish visits

ACTIONS Apr.25 – May 15/2012

Secure HS coaches’ contacts from Football New Brunswick. Write introductory letter /e-mail to coaches or School Athletic Directors: Coach D

Execute Visitation Plan

ACTION Apr.25 – May 15/2012

Identified Ambassadors visit their Alma Mater and deliver the recruitment package: Current Players, Jack D, Coach D

Identify past Red Bombers, on –Campus who no longer play

ACTION Feb 17-March 15:

Review 2009and 2010 Player registration and identify potential recruits: Coach D

Identify past HS players on campus who have not decided to play-

                                ACTION Feb 17- March 15:

Poll Current Bombers for names of Players from their s High School: Jack D

Send Campus wide e-mail/inviting players from out of province: Jack D/ Coach D

                Brunswickan/CHSR promotion, inviting players to register:        Jack D  / Coach D

Plan for the Coaches to meet the HS players not yet playing:                     Coach D

Conduct an annual  “Skills” and Drills’/COACHES CLINIC  camp for 14-17year olds

ACTION Conduct Camp on APRIL1, 2012

Meet with U-18 organizers, CAMFA, and Red Bombers Coaches: Coach D

Invite a Pee-wee and / or Bantam “TEAM of the WEEK” to join Bombers on Field for practice: Coach D

ACTION August 15-30:

Contact President of CAMFA to develop a visitation Schedule Coach D

Existing Bombers to poll their friends in CIS to determine the interest: Feb 17- March 30: Jack D

Governance/Organization

Goals 2012-2014

To develop the Constitution to be reflective of the best methodology for a division of powers and responsibilities

To ensure the Constitution does not restrict the administration of the team

To place responsibility for deliverables with the person or people in the best position to be successful

To divide responsibility in a way that the board can oversee the administration of the Bombers to help achieve the teams overall goals.

Strategy

A thoughtful implementation of a new structure is important to achieving the above goals. The strategy is to achieve the following:

1. 1.       The organizational operations must be divided into functional areas.
2. 2.       Functional areas must have goals and deliverables clearly defined.
3. 3.       In light of the goals and deliverables, the best structure for the functional group must be determined.
4. 4.       A new constitution must be drafted to reflect the desired organizational structure.
5. 5.       The new constitution should be distributed to all stakeholders for comments.
6. 6.       An AGM or EGM (Extraordinary General Meeting) must be called.
7. 7.       The new constitution must be voted on for ratification by a 2/3 majority

Action

A committee to be struck and within one month a brainstorming and idea refinement session will be held by the committee to achieve items 1, 2, and 3 above. Estimated completion date May 1, 2012.

One member then tasked with drafting a new constitution, to be reviewed and commented by the committee for update by the drafter. Estimated completion date June 1, 2012.

Once a draft constitution is delivered by the committee it will be distributed to the stakeholders for their comments. Comments reviewed and, where appropriate, implemented by the committee. This process should be iterative and can continue until the EGM is called.

Upon the delivery of the draft constitution the Bombers organization should, where possible, implement the new constitutional structure and fill positions with interim appointees. This will allow for a trial of the new structure before a true ratification by the membership.

With the goal of having the new constitution ratified in time for the 2012 season an EGM should be called by the Vice-President – Communications by Saturday, August 11, 2012 in accordance with the current constitution, specifically Article 9.

On field Improvement

Goals 2012-2014

To attract a core group of players of between 40 to 50 who are truly committed to the club.

To ensure players selected for the team maintain a high level of responsible behaviour in the discipline and organization of personal time to ensure their personal success on the field as well as the quality of the performance on the field by the Red Bombers.

To establish a work ethic of regular attendance and practice activity focused on development and preparation

To develop off season activities that build a broader sense of culture of Red Bomber Football and work on individual skills.

Strategy

The strategy is for coaches, captains and veteran players to communicate a clear and consistent message of the level of commitment expected of everyone, and to hold everyone accountable to that expectation of commitment.

Action

Hold an orientation meeting for players just before the first practice.

Develop team bonding sessions (with strict adherence to UNB’s anti-hazing policies) to help grow a sense of commitment and team.

Use the lines already in place within the club for communication between players and coaches.

Hold a team practice once a month during the off-season to promote a team culture, and one spring session tied to recruitment.

Develop weight room programs for players

Continue optional off-season activities such as the gym football league

Game Day/Marketing

Goals 2012-2014

To re-establish a game day committee with set responsibilities and roles

To establish a marketing committee that works with the game day committee to identify targets audiences

To identify special events for each game

To continue to integrate marketing using web site and social media to communicate with Bomber fans

To work with UNB Varsity athletics on a comprehensive plan to establish an “event atmosphere” at BMO field

Strategy

The Strategy is to establish Red Bomber games as a “tradition” for students to attend games and for the Fredericton community to attend games, in direct support of our Vision Statement.

Actions

Before the April 8^th to set up a meeting with Residence Presidents for upcoming academic year.

Recruit at least 3 (an more if available) additional members of Game day Committee by June 30 2012

Establish marketing committee with connection to Game day committee by June 30 2012

Establish attendance target goals for 2012/2013/2014 and plans within the Game day and marketing committee’s on how we arrive at those targets.

Meet with UNB athletics to see how the UNB Red Bombers can support UNB Varsity events as a strategy. (By July 2012)

Budget

Separate document as part of annual budget process.

It was a celebration 51 years in the making.

The Holland College Hurricanes captured the first intercollegiate football title of any kind for a P.E.I.-based team since 1960 on Saturday and did it in style, thrilling a crowd of more than 2,000 at MacAdam Field on the UPEI campus with a 28-0 shutout of the New Brunswick Red Bombers in the Atlantic Football League championship game.

Demetrius Ferguson played on both sides of the ball and scored on both, with a nine-yard touchdown run at 3:29 of the first quarter on the game’s opening drive and a dazzling 63-yard interception return 8:25 into the second quarter that made it 14-0.

Robbie Tufts caught a two-yard pass from quarterback Nick Hunsley for a touchdown with 48.1 seconds left before halftime and workhorse running back Dave Clark tacked on a one-yard run for a major with 1:44 to go in regulation.

The New Brunswick offence never got inside the Hurricanes’ 20-yard line. The Holland College defence recorded three interceptions, a sack and blocked a punt.

It was the third year for the AFL, and the second for the Hurricanes program. Holland College won the regular-season title with a 5-1 record and defeated Dalhousie 38-7 a week ago in the semifinals.

For more details, read Monday’s edition of The Guardian.

After winning the inaugural Atlantic Football League championship two years ago, the University of New Brunswick Red Bombers were kept out of the league final last season. But they’re back this year looking for another championship.

Bombers starting quarterback Brendan Cornford has been with the team every year since the AFL began three years ago.

He was also the winning quarterback in the championship game in the inaugural AFL season, something he hopes will help his team when they take on the Holland College Hurricanes tomorrow at 1 p.m. in Charlottetown.

Although he has that experience and plans on using that himself, he says the AFL is much different now than it was two years ago.

“Honestly over the past few years since that game happened the league has changed so much,” said Cornford, who played his high school football with Leo Hayes Lions. “It is so much better overall now. Every team plays at the exact same level and there aren’t really any underdogs in our league. It’s just an awesome feeling knowing that every team can score and they can stop defensively wise. Being one of the four teams and making it to the final is pretty awesome.”

The Red Bombers are the only team to beat the Hurricanes this season, coming after Cornford brought his team from behind late in game to win 28-26 in the final regular season game for both teams a couple of weeks ago. He hopes the trend continues today.

“That whole game we did pretty well passing wise,” he said. “Running wise we did pretty well as well,” he said. “I threw four touchdowns that game so it wasn’t really an issue passing against them the last time we played them. It just took some time to get our offence to click. Once the receivers and I got our game together it was a perfect day.”

Cornford says being the only team to beat Holland College plays a minor role in the team’s confidence level. But it doesn’t change much.

“It definitely helps us out, but doesn’t really change our mindset,” he said. “We’re still going to play as hard as we possibly can. We know that we can beat them, but we know that they can score too.”

The Bombers needed a point on the last play to beat the UNBSJ SeaWolves 23-22 in the semifinal at BMO Centre last weekend. Cornford says they haven’t changed anything. At this stage of the season, they’re just continuing to fine-tune.

“We upped to an extra practice this week,” said Cornford. “We’re just going over the basic stuff, not really learning anything new, just going over what we already know. We just want to make sure everybody knows what they need to do and where they need to be.”

What has changed in recent weeks are the weather conditions.

“We practiced Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday this week all at 8 p.m. so it’s pretty already pretty cold out,” he said. “Wednesday night it was raining pretty hard, but we still practiced,” he said.

“We practice in those conditions as hard as we do when it’s nice out because we’re at the point we can’t afford to lose a game. We need to be ready for whatever weather comes at us.”

The Weather Network forecast in Charlottetown called for a few flurries Friday evening, with winds from the west at 50 kilometres per hour. Game time temperature Saturday is projected at eight degrees Celsius, with a 20 per-cent chance of precipitation and partially sunny skies.

Cornford said he believes the team has the skills to win the league championship for a second time in the league’s three year history, but it will come down to how badly the team wants it on Saturday.

“We’ve just got to play one of the best games of the year,” he said. “It’s the championship, we’ve just got to let it all go and leave it on the field.”

The UNB Red Bombers would have to come from behind to beat the UNBSJ Seawolves 23-22 at BMO Centre to make the Atlantic Football League final at Holland College this weekend.

The weather itself wasn’t the greatest, but the Bombers knew what was at stake, and they fought both Seawolves and weather to win the game.

The game kicked-off tightly-matched from the beginning. By the end of the first half, the Seawolves lead the Bombers 14-7, but that didn’t last long.

By the third quarter, UNB tied it up 14-14, but the Seawolves fought back, and by the end of the third quarter, they were leading the Bombers 22-14.

“It was pretty mind blowing. Never thought it would be an outcome like that. You know, both teams played well so that and the game a bonus for us really,” said Red Bombers quarterback Brendan Cornford.

“Offensively we played awesome, defensively we played incredible, couldn’t ask for anything better, really.”

In the last few minutes of play, the Bombers struck gold. With an impressive touchdown followed by a two-point conversion, the team evened the playing field against UNBSJ to tie the game at 22-22.

“That tied it and then there was a couple back-and-forth, two-and-outs, two-and-outs, punt back-and-forth and then we luckily got the ball back with about 10 seconds left.”

In the last 10 seconds of play, slot-back Cody Stewart punted the ball into the end zone. The field went quiet.

The Red Bombers had just won the semi-final, with less than a few seconds, bringing the final score to a 23-22 victory over the UNBSJ Seawolves, their long-time rivals and the Atlantic Football League champions from last year.

“It was awesome. We basically have been like rivals since the league opened so it feels pretty good to beat them,” Cornford said.

“We planned from the get-go to get to the championships and that’s what we had our mind set on all year long. We worked hard to get here.”

Every team has a superstition or tradition they hold too. The Red Bombers are no exception. Before each home game, coach Dollimore brings in an old UNB Bombers helmet from the Proudfoot days.

“Everybody on the team just kind of taps it as we’re going out on the field. We’ve done that pretty much every home game since the league was formed.”

The Bombers are enjoying this victory, but they’re looking to and preparing for their game against Holland College, who finished first in the AFL this season.

“I think we’re basically on the same level. Honestly, I think every team in the league is basically the same level of play,” Cornford said.

“We can all score, we’ve all done well throughout all the games, PEI beat us once and we beat them once. So I think it’s just a matter of whose going to play the best game.”

The Bombers have a couple tricks up their sleeves for the playoffs, as they have the number one receivers and running backs in the league with Cody Stewart, Eric Smith and Pat Forbes, respectively.

“Defensively, Tyler Doak is just a machine. He can’t be stopped and it’s just unreal playing with the boys that we’re playing with this year. I think this year’s our year to take it.”

The Bombers will take on the Holland College Hurricanes this Saturday at 1 p.m for Moosehead Cup.

It was a game to remember for some, and possibly one to forget for others.

The score was 22-22 with one second left in the fourth quarter. The University of New Brunswick Red Bombers were lined up just inside the Saint John Seawolves’ half, looking to avoid overtime in the Atlantic Football League semifinal.

The whistle blew and the ball was snapped to Cody Stewart, who sent a punt sailing into the UNBSJ end zone. Evan McAulay, who simply needed to run five yards and get out of his end zone, hauled the ball into his clutches, took a step to his right, bumped into a teammate and promptly fell to the BMO Centre turf.

As McAulay’s knee touched the green surface, the referee’s whistle screeched, signalling a single point and the end of the game. UNB had won 23-22.

Confused? So were the teams. There was a two-second pause before the reality of what had happened sunk in. However, before his club charged Stewart and celebrated at midfield, Bombers head coach Mike Dollimore already knew they had advanced to the AFL final.

“You take them whichever way you can,” he said after Friday’s roller-coaster game.

“At the end it was just wild. We just got ourselves in a position where we were able to kick for the single and we put it in the end zone. They had a nice catching play and they stumbled and tripped and fell in the end zone.

“What an incredible ending to a pretty good football game.”

Stewart was still in disbelief after the once-in-a-lifetime finish.

“It’s the most exciting thing I’ve ever played in or seen,” he said.

“I just had lots of great blocking, lots of great time. I just knew we had to get it into the end zone and luckily the guy couldn’t get it out and we won the game.”

It was a see-saw affair as much as it was a comedy of errors. The Red Bombers had several opportunities to run away with the match, yet always managed to commit a costly blunder that allowed Saint John back in.

After running back Eric Smith punched a four-yard score to open the game, Jory Smith picked off a Trevor Harrison pass for a 40-yard interception return to give the Red Bombers a 14-0 lead after the first quarter. Then a series of mistakes took the wind out of their sails.

UNB’s Jordan Ley dropped a sure interception, and possibly a 110-yard touchdown return, off Harrison at the Bombers’ goal line. The play left the Bombers deep in their end and they eventually conceded a safety. Three minutes later, Stanley Barnaby did pick Harrison for another interception, but fumbled back to the Seawolves, who marched and kicked a field goal.

Shortly after, Tommy Broad had plenty of room to run after a clever reverse by the Bombers at their own eight-yard line. Broad was on his way to a significant gain until he tripped over a teammate, forcing the punt squad to surrender another safety.

Three plays that could have blown the game wide open were all for not and the Seawolves left down by seven at the half before they came out firing in the third.

The Seawolves caught the Bombers napping and scored 15 points that would go unanswered until 1:37 left in the fourth quarter.

After marching down the field and with help from the Seawolves conceding 25 yards in penalties, Bombers QB Brendan Cornford spotted Eric Smith in the end zone to cut the deficit to 22-20. Then Cornford swung out to his right and sent a strike to Pat Forbes to complete the two-point conversion before Stewart kicked his miracle punt.

It was ugly, but Dollimore said it showed a lot of character.

“Against Holland College last weekend, we spotted them 14 points in the first two or three minutes, then we marched and came back and see-sawed back and forth and won. That’s the way this league is: it’s open to really anybody.”

However, the Bombers coach knows the game could have played out differently if luck wasn’t on their side. He said they have to execute better on offence at all times, noting when Cornford threw up an interception at the goal line midway through the fourth after marching over 60 yards.

“We can’t keep creating our drives and shutting down our drives.”

Despite the manner in which they advanced, every Bomber will be smiling for the rest of the weekend nonetheless.

“This group of guys is unbelievably good to play with and I’m excited we get to move on to the final together,” said Stewart.

When asked who he’d rather see emerge from today’s Dalhousie-Holland College semifinal, Stewart said he couldn’t care less.

“It doesn’t matter because we’re going to give it our all and do our best and try to bring home the championship.”

In one of the most exciting games of the Atlantic Football League season, the UNB Red Bombers knocked off the previously unbeaten Holland College Hurricanes 28-26 in Charlottetown Saturday. FL season, The UNB Red Bombers Football team defeated the unbeaten Holland College Hurricanes by a score of 28-26 at PEI on Saturday. The win for the Bombers (3-3) leaves them in second place, while the Hurricanes (5-1) had already secured a first- place finish.

The Bombers were down quickly, trailing 14-0 four minutes into the game, but they tied it up before the end of the quarter on a 32-yard pass from quarterback Brendan Cornford to slotback Pat Forbes after a UNB interception, and a five-yard TD pass from Cornford to Eric Smith.

A Phil Lanthier field goal allowed the Hurricanes to take a 17-14 lead into the half. Bombers were hemmed deep in their own zone following a wide Lanthier field goal attempt in the third quarter. They conceded the safety to fall behind 19-14. But a 12-yard strike from Cornford to Cody Stewart and a missed two-point convert attempt left the Bombers with a 20-19 lead. Hurricanes struck back with a touchdown from quarterback Humsley to Jeff Hillier covering 47 yards to make it 26-20 for the ‘Canes entering the fourt quarter.

In the final two minutes, Cornford and company drove the ball deep into Holland College territory but the drive was snuffed out by a Patrick LeFrank interception. Holland College conceded a safety and kept the ball, leading 26-22. Bombers got the ball back and Cornford connected with Forbes on a 30-yard TD pass with 56 seconds to play. Bombers rattled the convert off the upright.

Holland College marched up the field and got to within field goal range for one final attempt, but the field goal attempt was short, giving the Bombers the victory and home field advantage for the AFL semifinal here Nov. 11 at 1 p.m.

A pair of touchdowns from running back Eric Smith led the University of New Brunswick Red Bombers to a 27-20 win over the Dalhousie Tigers in a see-saw affair at BMO Centre Saturday night.

It was an important comeback victory for the Red Bombers after a heartbreaking loss to the Saint John Seawolves in their Atlantic Football League home opener Oct. 1. After the Thanksgiving bye week, the well-rested Bombers outlasted their Nova Scotian rival to improve to 2-2 on the season.

UNBSJ is also 2-2 and Dal is 0-4. The Holland College Hurricanes, who beat the Seawolves 22-14, are 4-0.

“We were expecting the win and we came out with it,” said UNB quarterback Brendan Cornford.

A blocked punt early in the fourth quarter set up a two-yard score by Smith to give his squad a 24-20 lead. On the following kick return, the Bombers recovered a loose ball fumbled by Dalhousie’s Greg Pelly at his own 32-yard line, which led to Cody Stewart’s second field goal of the game, clinching the 27-20 final.

“We just hung in there and waited for our breaks, and we made our own breaks with the punt block,” said Red Bombers head coach Mike Dollimore.

“We made that move and blocked that punt. It was huge. When the kid fumbled coming around the corner, that was the icing on the cake for us.”

After taking an early 3-0 lead, Cornford opened the second quarter by evading pass rushers to find an open Stewart, who doubles as a wide receiver, for a 37-yard catch-and-run play to go up 10-0.

Cornford’s mobility was key in the victory. On several occasions the Bombers’ quarterback scrambled around the pocket and found targets downfield or decided to hold on for significant gains.

As UNB was trying to run out the clock with under two minutes left, Cornford swung outside of the pocket for a 10-yard run on second and 9, picking up the important fresh set of downs for his squad.

“He made some really nice reads and late in the game we asked him to come outside to kill the clock and he did that really well,” Dollimore said.

Cornford praised his offensive line for the available time and space.

“Our O-line played a hell of game tonight,” he said. “That’s what it comes down to – if you don’t have good blocking, you can’t make good plays.”

After a botched punt snap, the Tigers were handed the ball in the Bombers’ red zone. Dalhousie would punch in its first score on a goal-line play, but fail on the extra point attempt to leave the score at 10-6 midway through the second quarter.

UNB responded two minutes later with a 25-yard rushing touchdown by Smith for his first score of the night after Cornford connected with Stewart for a 34-yard gain.

Stewart, a Leo Hayes High School product who played with the Saint Mary’s Huskies of the AUS, made himself open for deep looks from Cornford all game long.

“Cody Stewart coming from Saint Mary’s last year, he’s just an awesome addition to our offence,” Cornford said. “I couldn’t ask for anything better from my receivers.”

The Tigers answered right back as quarterback Brendan Festeryga went deep just before the half and minutes into the third quarter for a 38-yard touchdown and a 36-yard TD. A successful two-point convert on the second score gave the Tigers a 20-17 lead before Smith mounted the comeback.

Although Festeryga picked apart the UNB secondary, the defence made a number of timely stops in the fourth quarter. Cornerback Jeff Madsen made four impressive coverage plays on deep throws by Festeryga during the Tigers’ final two drives to seal the win.

“Jeff Madsen saved our team in the final three minutes,” Dollimore said.

The two squads meet again Saturday at 6 p.m. at Wickwire Field in Halifax.

After being routed 33-7 by the UNB Red Bombers the previous weekend, the UNBSJ Seawolves spoiled the Bombers’ homecoming game Saturday with a 14-7 victory at BMO Centre.

Prior to the Atlantic Football League game, the Red Bombers retired Tony Proudfoot’s No. 24 jersey, hanging it below the scoreboard at BMO Centre. They also awarded the scholarship in Proudfoot’s name to UNB slotback Pat Forbes.

Once the game got underway, both teams struggled to have any offensive success through a scoreless first quarter.

The Bombers’ offence started to click late in the second quarter. Starting on their own 35-yard line, UNB quarterback Brendan Cornford completed an 18-yard pass to Forbes and another to wide receiver Andrew Guest to push the ball into Seawolves territory at the 45-yard line.

Nick Lane-McEachern ran the ball to the 34 on the next play and, with a five-yard penalty to the Seawolves, the Red Bombers were in a position to score.

However, Cornford’s next pass attempt was intercepted by Justin Mousek of UNBSJ.

“Offensively, surprisingly, we moved the football,” said Red Bombers head coach Mike Dollimore. “We moved it on the ground to the outside better and we moved it in the air, but we have to give them credit. They really prepared for our inside running game that we had last week. We ended up not being able to finish up any offensive drives, shooting ourselves in the foot with either an interception or a fumble.”

Beginning on their 27-yard line, the Seawolves put together a scoring drive when Isaiha Nice ran for 23 yards and, after a two-yard loss, UNBSJ quarterback Trevor Harrison threw to Joel Searle, who took the ball from his own 48-yard line to UNB’s five.

After two failed attempts to get into the end zone, Harrison pushed the ball in himself and the point after gave the Seawolves a 7-0 lead.

After the Bombers fumbled the ball away in Seawolves territory, the Saint John squad put up some insurance points after starting near midfield. Alex Peabody’s 56-yard touchdown run gave the Seawolves a 14-0 halftime lead.

The Red Bombers recovered a fumble on the UNBSJ 21-yard line early in the fourth quarter, but fumbled the ball away two plays later to waste the opportunity.

UNB finally got on the board with 4:11 remaining. Cornford hooked up with Cody Stewart for a 25-yard pass and, following a UNBSJ offside penalty, Derek Broad caught consecutive passes from Cornford to get the Bombers on the board, but the Seawolves held on for the 14-7 win.

“The film of last week’s game wasn’t so pretty,” UNBSJ head coach Dave Grandy said. “We just got the guys to work harder in practice this week and work on our fundamentals. Last week we were caught a little off guard by their offence and they’ve got some great receivers out there. Today, we ended up with four interceptions and two fumble recoveries and really hurt their offence.”

Although Dollimore would have preferred a victory, he was pleased with his defence and knows his offense was unlucky on certain drives.

“The defence was just swarming,” he said. “They (defence) were energized, they blitzed well, they tackled well, they were in the backfield on a lot of the plays. There are a lot of positive things in this game. We just didn’t get the win.”

The Red Bombers are idle until hosting the Dalhousie Tigers on Oct. 15.

As the UNB Red Bombers prepare to host the UNBSJ Seawolves in week three of their Atlantic Football League season, they’re also planning a ceremony to honour Tony Proudfoot.

With kickoff at 1 p.m. on Saturday, the Red Bombers will retire Proudfoot’s No. 24 jersey, the number he wore at UNB, which will hang under the scoreboard at BMO Centre.

“Tony’s brother and his daughter will be here to receive his jersey,” said Red Bombers head coach Mike Dollimore. “We will also be raising a banner under the scoreboard. The university has also promised they will find a place in the Aitken Centre to hang the banner in the off-season, when the field isn’t in use.”

Proudfoot played for the Bombers from 1967 to 1971 as a linebacker before being drafted by the Montreal Alouettes. Dollimore, a former Red Bomber, played with Proudfoot and has been working with the UNB Associated Alumni to name a scholarship in honour of Proudfoot.

“I played with Tony my first year, which was his last year,” said Dollimore. “Tony was an inspiration to all the players on our football team. He was the leader on the field without question. He made his mark in professional football and that doesn’t happen very often from the Atlantic schools.

“We’ve been working with the university to have a scholarship put in his name to someone in the kinesiology department. There’s going to be a presentation of that at halftime.”

The Bombers will also be raising money for ALS research, as Proudfoot lost his battle with ALS in December.

“We’re planning on taking a dollar from every paying customer as a contribution to ALS and to support their society in trying to ultimately find a cure for that horrible disease.”

Although honouring Proudfoot is important to this weekend, Dollimore doesn’t want it to take away from the task at hand. The Seawolves will be looking for payback after losing 33-7 to the Red Bombers last week.

“I think the boys are always going to be up for this football game because there are four or five guys on our team from Saint John,” Dollimore said.

“Some of them even played for UNBSJ last year. There may be some guys that get caught up in the moment, but I don’t think it will be a major problem, motivating those guys.”

After their week one loss to Holland College due to their special teams lacking, the Bombers continued to struggle in week two, but their offensive and defensive teams stepped up.

“We still struggled on special teams,” said Dollimore. “(UNBSJ) did the same thing to us that Holland College did. On the very first play of the game they ran back a 90-yarder on us. Once we got the ball we took control.”

Dollimore said the main focus between games was not reworking offence and defence, but rather the technical aspects.

“Our systems are pretty much in place right now, so what we worked on in our second week was mostly technical stuff,” said Dollimore. “I think if we’re able to do that in practices, continuing to work on technical expertise instead of systems, then a simple, basic system can pay dividends if you can execute it.”

With the afternoon game time, the Bombers hope to have more fans in attendance to add to the atmosphere.

“In our view, this is when we want all of our games. It’s a prime time for the university students to be coming out on campus after lunch on a Saturday afternoon,” said Dollimore. “That was a tradition we always had for 30 years before at UNB and that was the whole idea this weekend.”

The UNB Red Bombers will honour the memory of former Red Bomber and CFL Star Tony Proudfoot on Saturday at 1 p.m. at BMO Centre, prior to their Homecoming Game against the UNBSJ SeaWolves. Donations of $1 to the ALS Society of New Brunswick will be made for each fan in attendance in addition to voluntary donations being accepted.

At the start of the game the Red Bombers will retire Tony’s Red Bombers jersey number 24 by presenting the jersey to family members and unveiling a number 24 banner that will be displayed at BMO Centre during each Red Bombers home game and at the Aitken Centre between games.

The game also marks UNB Homecoming and the ceremonial kick-off will be made by UNB’s President Eddy Campbell. At half time the first Tony Proudfoot Memorial Scholarship will be presented to a UNB student.