Introducing the Bulldogs Insider

Each week Bulldogs wide receiver and quarterback Matt Gordon will be giving you an insightful look at the North Bay Bulldogs. Enjoy!

Summer is once again upon us and for 45 athletes in the North Bay area this means it is time for football. For those who are not aware, North Bay has fielded a tackle football team each summer with the exception of a handful of years since 1954. The team has hit the field under several names, the Roughriders, the Ti-Cats, the Northmen and now since 1991, the Bulldogs. The team began as a part of Northern Ontario Rugby Football Union up until 1967 when the league changed names to the Northern Football Conference in which we play now. I have been a member of this football club since 2000, and I would like to give the Bay Today readers an inside look at how the club runs throughout the summer and in the process hopefully attract a few more fans.

Although the Bulldogs season commences this weekend they have been on the gridiron practicing at least three days a week since the beginning of May in preparation for the season. What is remarkable about this itself is that the team is completely made up of amateurs; not a single member of the organization including the coaching staff or management is paid to be a part of the football club. In other words, attendance for all of training camp, as well as the two practices a week during the season is completely voluntary. What keeps the team running is the universal love of football throughout the organization, well that, and a whole lot of fundraising. It is North Bay business’ that really keep this team alive, from our major sponsor including the Moose’s Loose Change Lodge and Promo Sports to the individual player sponsors, the people of North Bay have been very generous in supporting our franchise.

This season the league will field 10 teams, last years’ league and national champions the Sault Ste. Marie Steelers as well as teams in Kingston, Oshawa, Milton, Oakville, Tri-City (Kitchener), Sarnia and two teams in Toronto. Unfortunately one of the league staples and original teams from 1954, the Sudbury Spartans will not field a team this season. Last season was the first time since 1961 that Sudbury, having been the fiercest rival of North Bay did not have a team; I know the players in the locker room are disappointed they will not get a chance to renew the rivalry this season.

League began play this past weekend for most teams, however, the Bulldogs had their first of two bye weeks and will begin the 2008 campaign at 7pm this Saturday evening at Rollie Fisher field against the Sarnia Imperials. Each week during the season I will be writing a piece to give the people in North Bay a closer look at the team, how its run, its successes and maybe even throw out a few opinions about pro-football while I am at it. I hope to see lots of new fans on the sidelines this summer strengthening our reputation of having the best fan support in the league. It makes for excellent family entertainment and a terrific opportunity to see high caliber football and it costs less than it does to see that hockey team play in the building beside us. So reserve a couple Saturday nights and I assure you, you will become an instant fan of Canadian football.

Photo courtesy North Bay Bulldogs and Flic Media