Battle of Alberta CIS exhibition game saturday

CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos wrap up their 2010 fall training camp, presented by KPMG, Saturday night when they face their old rivals, the University of Alberta Golden Bears, in an exhibition match-up.

Kickoff between the Dinos and Bears goes at 7 p.m. at Hellard Field in Shouldice Park. Live stats will be available at www.sidearmstats.com/calgary/football.

It will be the first of at least three meetings this season between the provincial foes, which will play twice during conference play. Calgary’s first road game of the season goes at Edmonton’s Foote Field on Sept. 18, while the Bears will visit McMahon Stadium to wrap up the regular schedule on Oct. 30.

Saturday’s game has no impact on the standings and will be used mostly as an evaluation and preparation tool for the regular season, which kicks off next week. But Battles of Alberta are always intense affairs regardless of what’s on the line, and fifth-year Dinos head coach Blake Nill expects a tight contest.

“Everyone knows that in this league, anyone can win at any time, and Alberta’s in a similar situation to us in some ways,” said the 2009 Canada West coach of the year. “Coach Friesen has aspirations to improve on his season last year and is motivating his players as such, and we have to do the same. This will be a good test for us. Hopefully both teams will get what they need out of this, and hopefully both teams will emerge injury-free and be able to put our first units out to start the season next week.”

The Bears and Dinos met three times last season, including one playoff game, with Calgary winning all three contests by a combined score of 119-49.

Offensively, Calgary returns virtually the entire unit that led CIS in yards gained last season and is stacked with veterans, including six current or former All-Canadians. With few if any roster spots available on offence, Saturday night’s game will give some of the Dinos’ younger players a chance to get out on the field and compete in a game situation.

“It’s unusual, but in our case the offence is ahead of the defence at this point,” said Nill, who takes on defensive coordinator duties in 2010. “We’ve made some changes defensively and the guys are working hard. We’re starting to get the hang of the new schemes.

“There isn’t a lot of room for movement in personnel on the offence, but there are some opportunities on the defence that kids are going to be battling for so I think it will be a much more important game in that regard. We’re just trying to get the best athletes on the field, and we’re trying out some different combinations. We want to be a faster defence and I think we will be, it’s just a matter of where each guy fits.”

The two-time defending conference champion Dinos open the regular season at home on Saturday, Sept. 4 when they face the Saskatchewan Huskies in a re-match of the classic 2009 Hardy Cup final, a 39-38 Calgary victory. Kickoff goes at 7 p.m. at McMahon Stadium, live on Shaw TV and AM 770 CHQR.

Season tickets for Dinos football are available until Aug. 31 for just $25 at all Calgary Co-op customer service locations.

Ben Matchett; Sports Information Director
-UC-
[URL]http://www.godinos.com/news/2010/8/27/FB_0827100308.aspx