Rivals clash to ring in new season

CALGARY – The 2014 CIS football season is upon us, and what better way to start than with a rivalry game with a big crowd under the lights on a Friday night.

The University of Calgary Dinos, winners of six straight Hardy Cups, face the University of Alberta Golden Bears Friday night in KICKOFF, the party to end the University of Calgary’s annual Orientation Week. Thousands of students are expected to fill the stands at McMahon Stadium following the tailgate party in the east parking lot, which gets underway at 3:30 p.m. Kickoff is set for 5:30 p.m., live on CanadaWest.tv.

Once again the Dinos have partnered with the Calgary Stampeders for the game, bringing a CFL in-game experience for Dinos fans in attendance complete with fireworks, contests and promotions, and Quick Six – the famous Calgary Stampeders touchdown horse.

On paper, it seems like a mismatch: the Dinos, who are 38-2 in their last 40 games at McMahon Stadium and coming off an 8-0 season in 2013, against an Alberta team that has lost 25 in a row dating back to the playoffs in 2010. But the Bears, into year two of their rebuild under head coach Chris Morris, had a solid recruiting year and are eager to climb out of the Canada West basement – and they’d like nothing more than to pull off an upset of the No. 2 team in the nation in their marquee home game.

Don’t expect the Dinos to be complacent, however. Time after time through the course of their run they have risen to the challenge within the conference, and you can expect Coach Nill to have his troops fired up to put on a show for the home fans – and set the tone for a season in which they’re the unanimous favourite amongst the rest of the Canada West coaches to lead the league.

Friday night is the ninth edition of KICKOFF, which started as a celebration of the University of Calgary’s 40^th anniversary in 2006. All-time the Dinos are 6-2 in the game, winning the last six in a row after dropping the first two. This year marks Alberta’s fifth appearance at KICKOFF, with the Bears holding a 1-3 record. Alberta captured the first edition of the game 17-15 in 2006, while their last appearance in 2012 was a 65-6 romp by the Dinos.

Here’s a look at the two teams:

No. 2 Calgary Dinos (0-0)

Last week: lost 35-23 at Laval; Next week: at UBC

Last season: 8-0, Canada West champions

Ranked No. 2 in the nation and a unanimous top pick in the annual preseason conference coaches’ poll, the Dinos are again the favourites to win Canada West as 2013 gets underway.

Andrew Buckley gets the start for the Dinos after a training camp battle with Eric Dzwilewski for the quarterback job. He leads an explosive offence that returns all but one starter from a year ago, led by Hec Crighton Trophy finalist Mercer Timmis in the backfield. As usual, look for the Dinos to try to establish the run early to open up the passing game where Buckley can find his many targets. With a veteran, talented offensive line in front of them, the Buckley-Timmis combination proved it could move the ball effectively last year, and offensively the Dinos put together a couple of decent drives in their preseason loss at Laval last Saturday afternoon.

Defensively, the Dinos have size up front, athleticism in the middle, and speed in the backfield for what Nill thinks could be his best defensive unit since coming to Calgary in 2006. All-Canadians Cyril Iwanegbe (DB) and Doctor Cassama (LB) lead the way, while Thomas Spoletini returns from testing the pro waters to retake his position at rover in the Dinos’ 3-4 defensive scheme.

Alberta Golden Bears (0-0)

Last week: lost at Regina 40-28; Next week: home to Saskatchewan

Last season: 0-8, missed playoffs

The rebuild of the University of Alberta Golden Bears football program enters its second season in 2014, and while the first season yielded no victories on the field, the program is clearly trending in the right direction. The Golden Bears finished with the 10th most productive offence in CIS football last year. Veteran quarterback Ryan Schwartz had the ninth best passing percentage in CIS last year, while rookie receiver Tylor Henry finished third in the nation in receptions and sixth in receiving yards. The 2014 team has been buoyed by the additions of several provincial team and national team players, especially along the offensive line and in the defensive secondary. The Bears offence should take another step forward in 2014, while the defence will definitely improve, making the Evergreen and Gold a team that could surprise this season.

Fifth-year quarterback Ryan Schwartz returns to lead the Golden Bears offence, as does fellow fifth-year QB Curtis Dell, along with veteran receiver Ryley Richardson and sophomores Tylor Henry (WR), Aundrey Webster (TB), Tak Landy (R) and running back Ed Ilnicki. The group combined to produce the 10th most productive (yards) offence in CIS last season, while Henry was the Canada West’s leading receiver.

Fifth-year linebacker Tyler Greenslade, fresh off a training camp with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, returns to captain the Alberta defence. He’s joined by former Team World starter Connor Ralph, a fourth-year linebacker, as well as third-year defensive lineman Greg Severin and third-year DB Mitchell Koch, who played for Team West at the 2014 CIS East-West Bowl.

Jordan Rae and Josh Normandeau highlight the defensive recruits, with having played on Canada’s U-18 team, while Normandeau represented Alberta in 2013 Canada Cup. Marshal Klein and Samson Abbott both join the U of A from St Paul’s in Winnipeg. They both come to Edmonton after winning back-to-back provincial titles, and were two of the most sought after recruits in the nation.

Kicker Stephen Fabian returns for his third season with the Evergreen and Gold, handling both the placekicking and punting duties, while sophomore wide receiver Tylor Henry looks to continue burning up the gridiron with punt and kick returns. He led Canada West in all-purpose yards in 2013, and recorded the longest single-season kick return in 2013, which was also a Golden Bears’ record, by taking a kick-off 106 yards for a touchdown.