Fruition of a dream?

Longtime dream could become reality for UBC Okanagan football

Potential partnership between UBC Okanagan and Okanagan Sun has city of Kelowna buzzing for CIS football.

The city of Kelowna already owns one of the most successful junior football organizations in the Okanagan Sun, but now, with the help of the Sun organization, the city has taken a significant step towards expanding its roots in to CIS play.

With their recent approval in to the Canada West University Athletics Association (CWUAA), UBC Okanagan has taken a pivotal stride towards fielding a university football team. Combine that with a potential partnership with the Sun organization, and UBC Okanagan athletics director Rob Johnson believes that CIS football could soon be on the horizon.

“Both organizations are excited about the possibility of football here in Kelowna at the university level,” said Johnson. “This idea was initiated back in 2001, and is now something that is actually possible.”

Being a full-time member in the CWUAA allows UBC Okanagan to apply for new varsity sports teams within Canada West. With successful CIS programs already established in both men’s and woman’s volleyball and basketball, Johnson believes that there is no reason why UBC Okanagan can’t field a varsity football team.

Although the partnership between UBC Okanagan and the Sun organization is yet to be official, both parties believe that only the particular’s need to be ironed out before a deal is struck. With similar partnerships being made between university and junior football organizations in both Regina and Laval, Johnson doesn’t see any setbacks of a potential deal.

“This is not the first time in the country something like this has been done,” said Johnson of the potential partnership. “Both organizations are cautiously optimistic that a model can be worked out that will fit with the Canada West standards.”

However, even if the partnership goes through as expected, both parties realize that the hard work is yet to come if Kelowna is to see CIS football by the year 2016.

One of the biggest challenges will be determining a workable budget that can accommodate the funds needed to run a successful football program. Furthermore, upgrades will likely be needed to the Apple Bowl, where UBC Okanagan would call home, just to meet Canada West standards. Still, Johnson sees these as merely slight speed bumps towards fielding a university football squad.

When UBC Okanagan does submit an official proposal to Canada West, which they plan to do within a year, it will then be presented to the current members of the football conference for approval. With six teams currently featured in Canada West: University of Alberta, University of British Columbia, University of Calgary, University of Manitoba, University of Regina, and University of Saskatchewan – approval of a seventh team would require a 75 per cent approval. That means that five of the six football programs would need to approve in order for UBCO to gain acceptance in to Canada West.

Still, Johnson believes that partnering with the Sun organization is going to be a crucial step in the process, and both parties agree that it’s only a matter of time before Kelowna sees CIS football action.

“College football has a unique place in the community, with the city already being a strong supporter of the Sun,” said Johnson. “They are a very well run organization and we have a lot of respect for them.”

So is it feasible to see gridiron dreams come true at the CIS level in Kelowna in the near future?

“It may be too early in the process right now,” said Johnson. “But, that being said, we’re working very hard towards making it a reality.”