Stingers football team helps more than 700 students move in
Concordia’s entire football team — 95 Stingers strong — was at Concordia’s residences at 8 a.m. Saturday, August 23 to help students move in.
Over the weekend more than 700 students moved in to Concordia’s three residences, Grey Nuns, Hingston Hall and Jesuit residence, with most arriving on Saturday.
Football players carried boxes and suitcases up flights of stairs and placed students’ belongings in front of the doors to their new rooms while they checked in.
Head Coach Mickey Donovan said the workout probably wasn’t as hard as usual drills for his players, “but they were sweating — I know that!”
The initiative, the first of its kind at Concordia, meant students had more time to say goodbye to loved ones.
Grey Nuns resident Maara-Louisa Dunbar and her mother were glad for the help.
“We came up in a car and they greeted us immediately and took our bags,” said the first-year political science student. “It made the experience a lot nicer, easier and more accommodating.”
Mickey Donovan and his brother Patrick Donovan, an assistant head coach who coordinates the defense, have seen similar initiatives at other universities, but only with a handful of athletes.
“We’re big believers in keeping all the guys together when we do things,” explained Mickey Donovan, “so we said, ‘Hey, let’s send the whole team and really reach out.’ “
The initiative was as unexpected for the athletes as for the students and parents.
“I told them I had a surprise for them at 8 a.m. and the surprise was we’re going to move everyone into residence,” Donovan said.
Senior members were keen to show new players what it means to be part of the team and encourage new students to come out to games.
“The best part was hearing people say thank you,” said Jamal Henry, Stinger slot back and fourth-year student of theological studies. “It was really fun.”
Defensive end Andrew Barlett agreed. “Raising a sense of community and hearing people say it was a pleasant experience is one of the most rewarding things.”
Barlett, who studies human relations, also received a “number of cookies” from a grateful family, according to Head Coach Donovan, which he presumably shared with his teammates.
“We’re trying to make these guys realize that when you do good things in life then good things will come back to you,” Donovan said.
Stingers from the rugby team and members of the Concordia Christian Fellowship also lent a hand on Sunday.
The Department of Recreation and Athletics plans to repeat the initiative next year.
Come out and cheer the Stingers at their first home game of the regular season on Saturday, September 6. The game against Bishop’s Gaiters starts at 1 p.m. at the Concordia Stadium on the Loyola Campus. Tickets are $5 for students (includes a drink).