The Rhode Island Rams’ football team got an enormous lift this week courtesy of New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
The 5-0 Rams have a road game against Towson on Saturday, which left a bit of a complication. The bus trip to the Baltimore suburbs would have been eight hours each way. Coach Jim Fleming had budgeted for a charter flight both ways, but on Monday, they were unable to find a crew for the return flight.
Desperate to avoid the bus ride, Fleming reached out to the Patriots, who have a home game on Sunday. The Rhode Island coach asked about the availability of the team’s plane, and was prepared to pay for it out of the program budget.
Kraft, however, had other ideas. Not only did he approve Rhode Island’s use of AirKraft, but he covered all costs, essentially letting the Rams use it for free.
“I almost fell out of my seat … It’s incredible for us,” Fleming told Angelique Fiske of the Patriots’ official website. “It’s an incredible show of support. It’s visible and recognizable by everybody. It probably enhances our opportunity to go out and play as best we can and try to get another W.”
Rhode Island’s Twitter account shared an image of players preparing to board on Friday, as well as a message of gratitude to both Kraft and the Patriots.
Traveling in style! #3MoreFeet #GoRhody #Patriots pic.twitter.com/7NXp97F6Jn
— Rhody Football (@RhodyFootball) October 15, 2021
Huge THANK YOU to Mr. Kraft and the @Patriots for the lift!🛫✅#3MoreFeet pic.twitter.com/APibKgB4OE
— Rhody Football (@RhodyFootball) October 15, 2021
Kraft has a history of being quite generous with the team plane. Rhode Island isn’t the first college football team to get to use it. Kraft has even loaned it out for reasons that go well beyond football.
Rhode Island has just four winning seasons since 1985. They can clinch a fifth by beating Towson and moving to 6-0, and there’s no question Kraft’s assist has helped their chances of achieving it.
