Roosevelt Alumni Football Club Gets Their Game On

For more than 25 years, the Roosevelt High School Alumni Football Club has helped sponsor and support all aspects of the game and anyone affiliated with it.

During that time, they've raked in nearly a half-million dollars, according to club members.

And it's that time of the year again to bring in some more.

From noon to 5 p.m. March 12, club president Dan Cusson will present the organization’s annual Wild Game Dinner at Arnaldo’s Banquet Hall in Riverview.

“The club has been around since 1986 and we’ve raised about $200,000 in scholarships and about $500,000 overall,” he said.  "The scholarship money is available for athletes, cheerleaders or even the trainers. Anybody who is involved with the football program can use the money."

As a nonprofit organization, the club holds many events throughout the year to help bring in money to its football program. The wild game dinner is open to the public. "Some people even drive in from three hours away to come to this thing,” Cusson said.

The goal of this year’s banquet event is to raise $18,000 towards the purchase of new weight equipment.

“The Wyandotte community would benefit as a whole since it’s ," Cusson said, explaining that the gym has weekday hours when residents can come in and use the facility.

The dinner will be more than check writing and formalities, however.

“Starting at the gate, we have a 50/50 raffle, which should leave the winner with $1,000," Cusson said. "We have 12 to 15 silent auction items, which include signed memorabilia from professional athletes such as Nicklas Lidstrom, Muhammad Ali and Dan Marino. People can auction for party-tent rentals, outdoor smokers and other great items."

The club makes no fouls when it comes to grand prizes.

“What we call the ‘Couch Potato’ is sort of a man cave idea," Cusson said. "It includes a recliner, a 50-inch plasma, beer and wine amenities with a mini-fridge and a popcorn machine."

Other top prizes include a four-person golf outing, a fishing trip on Lake St. Clair and a smorgasbord of hunting gear.

When dinner is served, the food will include wild boar, baked perch, roasted rabbit and grilled bison.

Tickets are $60 each and are in limited supply. If available, they can be purchased at , and . It's advised to call ahead, as the event has sold out before.

For more information, contact Cusson at rhsalumnifootballclub@yahoo.com or at 734-231-1005.

Click here to watch a photo slideshow of past wild game dinners.