[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/percy.jpg” caption=”Percy Fernando of McMaster’s Hospitality Services provides the coin toss at Saturday’s game.”]Close to 700 McMaster employees and their families turned out to cheer on the McMaster Marauders as they battled and triumphed over the Ottawa Gee-Gees at Ivor Wynne Stadium on Saturday, Sept. 10.

The final score was Marauders 28, Gee-Gees 18. Ivor Wynne Stadium, home of the Hamilton Tiger Cats will be the Marauders' temporary home for the next two seasons until the completion of the Ronald V. Joyce Stadium on campus.

The event was sponsored and organized by the McMaster Employee Spirit Society (M.E.S.S.!) in partnership with the Department of Athletics and Recreation and the Hamilton Tiger Cats organization. Along with free admission, employees and their families enjoyed reserved seating, complimentary refreshments and the opportunity to win prizes.

Employees also participated in the game. Percy Fernando, from Hospitality Services, agreed to toss the game coin. It was a fitting choice since Fernando has had to oversee the catering of this event for the past three years. This year, he and his family could sit back and enjoy the game. Sam Walkes, the daughter of Jennifer Walkes (Obstetrics & Gynecology), sang the national anthem. Walkes is a Grade 12 student who plans on attending McMaster after graduation.

“With the change in venue, we didn't know what to expect in terms of attendance. It is terrific to see this turnout,” said Pat Harris, chair of the Spirit Society. She added, “We are grateful to Athletics and Recreation, the Hamilton Ti-Cats organization and our prize sponsors for helping us put together another terrific event.”

Robert Hilson, manager, Marketing & Media Relations for Athletics and Recreation said, “The people we are working with in the Tiger Cats organization are terrific partners. The planning and organization was smooth, and I think it is inspiring for the team to be able to play in a first-class facility like Ivor Wynne Stadium.”

Members of M.E.S.S.! include Pat Harris (chair), Office of Student Liaison, Susan Birnie, Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, Pat Fraser, University Secretariat, Terry Galan, Purchasing, Andrea Hartin, Mathematics and Statistics, Robert Hilson, Athletics & Recreation, Kathy Kishimoto, Office of the Vice-President Administration, Dale Stevens, Finance, Health Sciences Corporation, David Tucker, Health Physics.