FOOTBALL. The Cégep de Drummondville football program has been losing for a number of years. Angered by the Voltigeurs’ lackluster performance, businessman Laurent L.-Proulx decided to take the bull by the horns.

This makes the Le Canadien group the new title affiliate of the Drummondville college football team. According to an agreement between the two organizations, the catering company will invest a five-figure sum every year to promote the Voltigeurs.

In conversation with The Express, Laurent L.-Proulx explained that this sponsorship will be anything but passive. The success of the team will be as important to him as that of his restaurants, assures the Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil entrepreneur.

“We don’t buy a simple ad. We’re investing in one thing: college football in Drummondville, he says right away. The agreement provides that I will closely monitor the program and make recommendations, particularly in relation to recruitment. I will also participate in the financing of the association. In short, I will be interested in everything related to the progress of the program.

The new Voltigeurs employee is full of ideas and wants to set up a funding structure for the team. His projects also include founding a “booster club” and a golf tournament. “In the Drummondville business world, there are football fans. I will ask her. The club needs money. I think we have a business community strong enough to have a decent football program.”

Inspired by Rouge et Or

An embarrassing one follows 61:1 loss of the Voltigeurs against the Vulkins of Cégep de Victoriaville last fall that Laurent L.-Proulx decided that enough is enough. The entrepreneur immediately turned to the leaders of the program, which again took last place in the rankings of Quebec’s college football scene.

“As I’m not competitive from one season to the next, I fear that one day the football program at Cégep will disappear. That’s why I raised my hand,” he said.

“We will not hide that at the moment, we are in a low state. All programs go through this for a longer or shorter period of time. When things are going well, everyone wants to be in the know, but the old adage goes that when things are going bad, real friends show up. I love football and we will try to work hard to develop this program. I want to give the program the maximum tools and resources to move forward. I want to stay here long term.”

For Laurent L.-Proulx, Jacques Tanguay’s business model at Rouge et Or, Laval University, is a real inspiration. Closer to home, he cites the example of Éric Verrier with the QMJHL Voltigeurs.

“If there’s one message our company wants to convey with this gesture, it’s that we’re not investing in Drummondville just to make money. Before I retire, I want to leave something behind. I wanted to join a cause. Football is the sport that attracts young people to study the most. We need them especially for young men who lack the stamina at school,” explains the man, who will continue his commitment the popular table.

Laurent L.-Proulx says he felt a great openness from Cégep during this process. He was particularly impressed by head coach Francis Lapointe, with whom he will regularly discuss, “but without banging on his flower beds”.

“I feel like Francis is there for the cause. He is an excellent coach who can help the children to develop both individually and collectively. I am confident that he will help this program become competitive. He is in the same line as Luc Sylvain, who has already been successful at the top of the Voltigeurs.

“Basically, Francis has only one fault: he is too discreet and too humble. There are too few people in the region who know his origins. People should know that we have a great coach in Drummondville.

A vicious circle that needs to be broken

When asked about his expectations for the program, Laurent L.-Proulx says he hopes the team will become competitive in Division 3 within a few seasons.

“I like to win, but I’m a guy who manages his expectations. I don’t want to put additional pressure on anyone. Building a successful program takes long-term work. There are stages to go through. There’s a vicious cycle in Drummondville: it’s hard to earn because it’s hard to recruit and vice versa. You have to break it, and that goes through recruiting. They are the sinews of war.”

On this subject, Laurent L.-Proulx will not hesitate to take an active part in the Voltigeurs’ efforts to attract the best players to the program.

“In full compliance with RSEQ rules, I intend that we work very hard on recruitment and develop a local sector. I want the program to become more and more visible. We need to show what the Voltigeurs can bring to young Drummond footballers. We have talent in the region but we need to do a field job to be more present. We have to convince them one by one.”

In addition, the Le Canadien Group will also invest a few thousand dollars in the Vandoos. The Drummondville club, champions of the playoffs last season, saw several of its graduates to be recruited by Division 1 or 2 teams in recent years.

“You can’t blame a kid for going into the Premier League. It’s up to us to work better, see our perspectives better and show young people better what we can bring. We will concentrate on this task. We need to generate excitement around the program. You have to believe in it,” emphasizes Laurent L.-Proulx.

Noting that the opportunities for improvement are “endless,” the businessman reminds football is a sport where miracles happen. “It can be teams that struggle and get back on top! There are many films that testify to these stories. It will take a lot of work to bring the team back to the top of the standings but I believe in it.”

“I’ll be patient but we’ll look for the perfect effort. I think the mood will change from next season. I hope that we will see an impact on the ground. The short-term goal is that we never get beaten before the game starts.

Football culture lovers

Laurent L.-Proulx, who played football himself while in the armed forces, became a staunch supporter of the Rouge et Or while studying law at Laval University. He describes himself not only as a football fan but also as a lover of school culture around the sport.

“I don’t consume a lot of NFL. I love NCAA football. The atmosphere in the grandstands is extraordinary. In the tradition of football, we’re a bit purer, less commercial.

“Football is the ultimate sport for young people to take their place,” continues the former Quebec City Councilman. In a team there is a leveling effect. The most extroverted, those who assert themselves too much, are encouraged to come back down to earth. And the more introverts, who are less assertive, are pushed into their place. It’s going to be a pretty balanced family. I think it moves people forward. It breaks down egos, increases consideration for others and develops team spirit.

The one who manages around 135 employees, including many young people, is also required by the military side of football. “It’s a very disciplined sport. I think in our society, young people who are able to exercise self-discipline will have a competitive advantage over others.”