Dalhousie Tigers Football Helmet Fund

Vision

After a 34 year hiatus, football finally returned to Dalhousie University in September 2010. Thanks to two Dal Alumni, Jim Wilson (MBA ‘87) and Rick Rivers, Dalhousie Football was resurrected to the delight of many. In 2016, we celebrated the 70th anniversary of football at Dalhousie. During that season the Tigers went undefeated (8-0), outscoring their opponents by over 300 points overall. The Tigers then brought home their first championship in 62 years, with several alumni from the 1954 championship squad in attendance at the championship game on Wickwire Field. In the past three years, under the leadership of Head Coach, Mark Haggett, our record of 19 wins and 5 losses includes two perfect 8 and 0 seasons and two Championship wins out of three appearances.

This year the Tigers celebrated Dalhousie’s 200th Anniversary, handing out 30 awards to ten Decade Greats each from the 50’s, 60’s and 70’s. Notable alumni from the first era of Tigers football were present to celebrate Homecoming and the history of Dalhousie Football.

The goals of Dalhousie Football include the development of young student-athlete leaders, engagement of the football community of Halifax, and promotion of school spirit through engaging Dalhousie students, faculty, alumni, and community members.

Contact Leslie Harnish at the Office of Advancement to make a gift over the phone: 902.494.6862.

Story

Dalhousie Tigers Football is committed to ensuring player safety. That’s why we’re the first university football program in Canada to order helmets equipped with Riddell InSite® technology, the leading impact monitoring system in football. Over 1200 programs in the USA are currently using this cutting-edge tech.

InSite collects an impact profile for each player during practices and games, allowing for precise monitoring. If an impact or sequence of impacts exceeds a threshold, an alert is wirelessly transmitted from the field to the sideline monitor in the hands of a trainer or coach. This will allow our medical staff to more quickly and accurately pinpoint concussions before a player can sustain any further injury. Additionally, coaches can identify training opportunities on the interactive InSite platform that may decrease head impact exposure.

See the platform in action here: https://youtu.be/QgUkonQFRFY

We hope to pave the way for player safety in university football through this precise player-monitoring system, and through potential research collaborations with Dalhousie.

Strategy

As a club team, Dalhousie Football is funded by player fees, sponsors, and our Founders Club. The Founders Club is a group of Dal Football supporters and alumni who helped provide the start-up funds for our team. Since 2010, over 350 student athletes have worn the black and gold of Dalhousie Football. As we near our tenth season in September 2019, we have purchased 60 new helmets as the existing ones reach the end of their ten-year life.

Impact

The safety of our student-athletes is our top priority. These funds will be directly used to purchase new helmets for the Dalhousie Football Club. Each helmet costs approximately $500, not including fees for upkeep and reconditioning every year. These helmets (Riddell SpeedFlex) were shown to be one of the safest helmets in a recent NFL Study of 34 helmet brands. Already, several past captains of the new-era Dal Football have offered their support for our campaign and we need a little more help from you.

We want to purchase top of the line helmets to ensure the safety of our athletes, reduce concussion risk, and ensure the academic success of our student-athletes. If you are able to make a donation towards the purchase of these helmets our players and coaches would greatly appreciate it. You will get a tax-receipt and the satisfaction of knowing that your Dal Football program is leading all University football programs in Canada in player safety.

Updates

Dalhousie Football makes national headlines!

May 2, 2019

Hi all,

It's so exciting to see more media outlets picking up stories about our smart helmets! Dal Football is the first university football team in Canada to equip all its players with life-saving technology. Check out these new news articles!

Dal's high-tech football helmets can help detect concussions from the sidelines by CBC, April 28, 2019

Former football players welcome Dalhousie’s adoption of smart helmets by Global News, April 30, 2019

Global News Video Clip -May 2, 2019

Football players at Dalhousie University get 'smart helmets' that detect impacts by National Post, April, 29.


Supporters

Reed and Benedetta Holmes

Gregory Pelly

Tigers football will always be a part of me. I will always remember the good times that I had with the Players and Coaches I had the pleasure of sharing the field with. All the best to the current and future Dalhousie Tigers. You are truly part of something special.

jamie wright

Reid Morden

As I former football Tiger, this donation is in memory of Andy MacKay and others who kept the dream of returning football to Dal alive

Richard Rivers

Football develops youth mentally, physically and spiritually to become a better person!

merv shaw

Tom Lynch

Charlie, Margot Kinal, Rochester

Scott Nordlund

My four years of ball at Dal were truly amazing, and I could not wait to help out as one of the original players on the squad. From winning out first game to the long bus rides across the Maritimes, Tiger football is more than football, it is a family. Enjoy the helmets lads and looking forward to coming back during Homecoming!

Charles Purcell

Jordan Stirling

Boy does the time fly!! It's been 2 years since graduating at Dal, and I miss it so much. This program was by far the best thing I could have done. It helped me developed skills and relationships that I wouldn't have gotten anywhere else. Jim Wilson once said that this is more than just a football team, it's a leadership development program - and I couldnt agree more. During my tenure I learned basic skills like teamwork, communication, and was shown the value of hard work - as well as learning how to read the quaterback. I learned how to be assertive, speak with confidence, and take instruction. I LOVED my time on this team, and am super excited to be able to contribute so that more young men can experience the same transformation.

Wallace Clements

Glad to see football back at Dal. I had the good fortune to enjoy 3 seasons playing for Dal and I hope you all enjoy every minute (even the practices!) as much as I did. Go Tigers!

Henry Whitfield

I started at Dalhousie before the football program returned and can tell you that from the moment I heard about Jim Wilson and his plan to bring football back to Dalhousie, I was hooked. It was an honour to be involved with the project as a Team President and to work with such an excellent program. It blows me away how far this club has come in such a short period, under the stewardship of Jim Wilson and countless coaches, student executives and volunteers - The Dalhousie Football Club is an excellent example of what sports can give back to the Student Experience. Giving back to the program and supporting it was a no-brainer - I hope you will join me in supporting the team!

Rob Wilson

Good luck in the upcoming season!

Chad Kirkhus

The program at Dal has made enormous strides over the years since my first involvement in 2013. Winning the championship in 2016 coming off of a season where I broke my ankle is one of my top highlights from all of university. Originally coming from Ontario, I can honestly credit this program as a major reason I still live in Halifax!

Kati Wilson

Dal Football is not just a football club it is a leadership development program, not only for the players, but for the trainers and student executive as well. Being on the club executive for three years and the President for one, I gained valuable leadership skills that I will use for the rest of my life. Good Fun, Great Friends, GO Tigers!

Jordan Wright

My four years with the Dalhousie Football Club were phenomenal. Being involved in the team that brought football back to the university was one of the best experiences of my life. Jim Wilson and Rick Rivers have not only created a championship team from the ground up, but a genuine family. Never have I enjoyed playing football more then when I was able to take the field at Wickwire. When I was approached to donate to this organization as an alumni and to say a few words about my time in Halifax, it was a simple decision. To my former teammates, coaches, physiotherapists, organizers, volunteers and friends, thank you for an unforgettable four years in Halifax. To the incoming and current players, I trust you sense the family that you have joined and the support behind you. Go Tigers!

Mark Haggett

I have been involed with Dalhousie Football for 5 years. I cannot express enough it’s positive impact on everyone involved from the athletic trainers , athletes , coaches and fans. Our goal is to recruit the best, work the hardest and bring championships to Dal Football. We create a champions mindset along with leadership and positive influence within the community. Personally I have benefited greatly from my time spent with Dal Football and will continue to give back on and off the field. As Jim Wilson always says “this is a leadership development program” we are equipping young men to succeed in the classroom, professionally and in life. Your support and donation will go a long way in helping us support this program. I am happy to contribute to this fundraising campaign. HC - M

Jim Wilson

After 8 completed seasons we have built a very impressive football program. This could not have been done without the commitment of many volunteer club executives, coaches, trainers, volunteers and the financial support of The Dal Football Founders Club and sponsors. Please help us ensure our Club's future success. GO Tigers!

Casey Jones

The 5 years that I have spent with Dalhousie Football were invaluable to my university experience. The friends I made and the skills I picked up along the way are irreplaceable. As a captain for 3 years and team President for 2, I learned countless leadership and time management skills that helped me get to where I am today. I hope that you'll join me in supporting Dal Football to purchase helmets for our program!

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