Coach's Comments

What are the RAMS all about? First and foremost, we are about fun, making new friends, and learning the most intense team sport anywhere. We understand that you may want to play other sports and we encourage our players to do just that- as long as your school work doesn't suffer! You are a student first and an athlete second!

 

Each year we hold a golf tournament to help support our RAMS bursary program (see one of our links) In 2008, we received a very special letter of request from a former player Jordan Allers (1998,1999). Jordan was applying for a bursary bursary to help him with his post secondary studies. The letter is reproduced almost in its entirety below (it has been shortened a bit to fit into this space).

I think this says it all about what it means to be a Ram, even long after you move on to the next phase of your life. This is why I am proud to be associated with this team.

February 15, 2008
Hello my name is Jordan Allers. I would like to apply for a bursary as I am in my first year of studies at the University of Wales in Cardiff where I am taking Educational Studies with Sport and Physical Activity. I played for the Rams for two seasons, 1998 & 1999. In the 1998 I started on the defensive line and was nominated for rookie of the year. In the 1999 season I was named co-captain and we went on to win the Provincial Championship. I was also named Lineman of the year for that season. After finishing with the Rams, I went on to play football for McNally High School in Edmonton, where I started all of my 3 years there on the senior football team.

In my grade 12 year I was also selected as one of the Edmonton Journal All-stars alongside several of my old teammates from the Rams. During my time in High School I picked up the game of rugby as well, and have had great success thus far. Most notably, I played for Canada U-21's in the U-21 World cup in Argentina, and have spent the last 3 years in Wales playing rugby, where I have played representative rugby at every age grade. I have also captained the Alberta rugby team in the National Championship and have won numerous awards for my efforts so far in the sport of rugby.

All of my accomplishments in sport to date have rooted from my early days as a Ram. It was here that I learned about many characteristics that I like to think I possess today. Honour, discipline, self-respect, hard-work, and integrity are just some of the values that I became one with while playing for the Rams. The old cliche goes, "You get out what you put in" which is very true. But I want you to know that I have not put near as much into the Rams organisation as I have got from it. I have carried with me always the memories and success, the maturity and wisdom gained, and most importantly, the friends and good times I experienced whilst playing for the Rams.

As coach Skitsko always said, 'Once a Ram, always a Ram'. Truer words never spoken.

Yours truly,

Jordan Allers

Team History

You will learn about the history and tradition of the RAMS and when you join, you will be part of it. “Once a Ram, Always a Ram!”

This team was started by a strong group of volunteers in the early 1960’s when Sherwood Park was a small town of about 3000 people. The first team was composed of about 20 players and almost every player had to play two ways. [ I know because one of my nephews played on the first team and I watched a game or two.]

Volunteers

To the volunteers of the past who brought us to this point, the RAMS salute you! To the present volunteers who work hard to make our team experience a success every day, we thank you!

Tradition and Community

Like the community of Sherwood Park, the RAMS have come a long way and over the years have seen many strong athletes and good students come through our clubhouse. This team has seen sons and grandsons of players from those early days play for the RAMS. I am honored to be part of a team that has that kind of tradition. We know that when you join our team you will feel a strong sense of community and family. When you finish your time with us, we hope that you continue to carry the RAMS tradition of giving back to our great community.

Success

Our team has experienced a tradition of on field and off field success. City championships were plentiful in the seventies and eighties under Coach Robert Dolman and other dedicated coaches with the last one coming in 1992 under Coach Irv Loucraft. In 1993, with the help of Football Alberta, the championship format changed to a full Alberta Provincial championship tournament. Since 1996, the RAMS have won 6 provincial championships, four of them in a row!

Team

Each championship is special and unique and does not happen without hard work. Our teams work ethic is based on the concept that “many hands make light work”. When everyone participates and no one looks for individual accolades, everyone is successful. The team concept means no one puts themselves ahead of the team. Many of our alumni have gone on to play high school, junior and college football and have taken this team attitude with them to help their new teams on to championships.

Education

The off field success is also apparent with many RAMS who move onto higher levels of education after high school being offered financial assistance by our club. In 2000 a bursary program was put in place to help all RAMS alumni with financial help in assisting them with the costs of a post secondary education. Many of our Rams alumni are now in or have graduated from dentistry, law, education, engineering, motor mechanics, heating and ventilation, and other trades, professions and jobs because of their decision to continue in school. We are proud of them and proud that we were able to, in a small way, help contribute to their success.

Join us by becoming part of our family. We know you will enjoy the experience!