StFX X-Men football launches Touchdown Club

Antigonish, NS – StFX X-Men football head coach Gary Waterman is pleased to announce the launch of the X-Men Football Touchdown Club. In partnership with StFX Athletics, the mission of the X-Men Touchdown Club is to provide support to the StFX X-Men football program and its desire to be 'Leaders & Champions' on and off the playing field.

Coach Waterman, the reigning two-time AUS coach of the year comments, "The launch of the Touchdown Club is historic for our football program. It will provide us with the most organized engagement structure that we have ever had. With an extremely loyal and passionate fan base, the X-Men Touchdown Club will be a tool to help us stay connected."

By seeking to enhance the X-Men football program through athletic scholarships, coaching opportunities, recruiting and academic support, the X-Men Touchdown Club will provide a mechanism for organizing alumni/supporter events, generating revenue for the X-Men football program, providing communication via a newsletter and website, as well as providing opportunities for networking for football alumni and supporters.

"I very much look forward to building and growing the Touchdown Club into a program that all of our alumni and supporters can be proud of," continues Waterman. 

StFX Director of Athletics & Recreation Leo MacPherson echoes Waterman's remarks, saying "The primary purpose of the X-Men Touchdown Club is to engage and unite our wonderful alumni and friends in support of X-Men football. It's all about engagement."

The board executive for the X-Men Touchdown Club includes Pat Flemming as President, Derek Martin as VP Events & Communications, David Skillen as VP Young Alumni, and Romonda Kuntz as VP Parent Relations. StFX Sponsorship and Fund Development Coordinator Alexa Zarins will serve as the university liaison to the Touchdown Club. In addition, spots are being filled for 16 directors from the following regions: Atlantic Region (4), Ontario/Quebec Region (6), Western Canada Region (4), and United States/International (2).

X-Men Touchdown Club president and alumnus Pat Flemming is excited about the launch commenting, "The Touchdown Club is a very exciting initiative for the X-Men football program. It is going to help engage multiple generations of alumni who are committed to seeing St FX student-athletes have great experiences during their playing years and consistently compete on a national stage."

There will be engagement opportunities for Touchdown Club members at golf tournaments, StFX Homecoming weekend, the X-Men Captain's Ball annual dinner, chapter events in Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, Calgary and New England, and other events as they arise.

The X-Men football team recently wrapped up a very successful 2016 season on the gridiron. With a 7-1 regular season record and going undefeated in against their AUS opponents, they won their second consecutive AUS championship banner and represented the conference in the U Sport nationally televised Mitchell Bowl semi-final game against Calgary.

More details on the X-Men Touchdown Club are available at www.goxgo.ca/touchdownclub. The 1996 X-Men football Atlantic Bowl championship team (and recent StFX Sports Hall of Fame inductees) have made a membership commitment to launch the Touchdown Club, extending an invitation to all X-Men football alumni and supporters to join the club today. Membership forms are available online.

With the launch of the X-Men Touchdown Club, StFX Athletics also has plans in the very near future to launch similar initiatives in support of all their varsity programs. Anyone interested on serving as a director for any of the StFX varsity athletics fundraising clubs is asked to contact Alexa Zarins.

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