CALGARY – The 45th University of Calgary Dinos Football camp presented by APX Alarm opens Friday, Aug. 15, and the storylines are many as head coach Blake Nill enters his third season at the helm.
Following a 4-4 regular season in 2007, the Dinos returned to the playoffs after a two-year absence, where they lost the conference semi-final 27-5 to the eventual Vanier Cup champion Manitoba Bisons. While the taste of defeat is still bitter, optimism reigns for a program on the rise in CIS football.
Two-a-days will run for eight days from Aug. 15-22, with an exhibition game against Regina slated for 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23 at the Methanex Bowl in Medicine Hat, Alta. The Dinos open the 2008 Canada West season with a visit to the Saskatchewan Huskies on Friday, Aug. 29.
The Dinos' success in 2007 was tied to the explosive running tandem of Anthony Woodson and Matt Walter, who combined to break the school's single-season rushing record by more than 400 yards. Woodson was runner-up for the Canada West most outstanding player award and made the second all-Canadian team, while Walter was named the conference rookie of the year following his 702-yard freshman season, and both will return as key components of what could be a revamped Dinos offence in 2008.
Three of the five offensive linemen who paved the way for Woodson and Walter in 2007 will not return, and two of them – C Tim O'Neill (Calgary) and LT Mark Dewit (Toronto) – are on active CFL rosters. With the graduation of LG David Maltman, only RG Reed Alexander and RT Dylan Steenbergen will be back on the O-line, creating opportunities for veterans Lindsay Stevens, Chris Vail, and Alex Krausnick-Groh to fill those holes. Kirby Fabien out of Calgary's Bishop McNally High School is a blue-chip offensive line prospect, who was ranked among the top recruits in western Canada by several scouting organizations.
The battle at quarterback will also be one to watch in training camp, with five pivots set to contend for the starting job. Sophomore Jordan Flagel, last season's surprise starter who appeared in five games before injuring his throwing hand, is back, to be joined by transfer Deke Junior, import Casey Brown, 2007 backup Clayton Masikewich, and freshman Brett Serhyenko.
Brown was considered the likely starter a year ago before suffering a season-ending knee injury in an exhibition game against Alberta. Flagel, a converted receiver, took the reins and completed 40 of 75 passes for 611 yards before suffering the thumb injury. Junior, meanwhile, joins the program from the Regina Thunder of the Prairie Football Conference, which he led in passing yards (2,488) last season.
The Dinos' receiving corps should get a boost with the return of Matt Little, who sat out last season as a medical redshirt after an injury in practice forced him to the sidelines. A star in high school with the LCI Rams in Lethbridge, Little will finally suit up for the Dinos alongside returnees #K.C. Prince#, Nathan Coehoorn, and Anthony Parker. Prince also missed all of last season with injury, while Coehoorn led the team in both catches (30) and receiving yards (417). Parker, who enters his sophomore season in 2008, was the team's punt and kick return specialist in his rookie year, finishing with 1228 all-purpose yards – second only to Woodson's 1413.
On the other side of the football, the Dinos return most of their starters in a veteran-laden defence led by fifth-year players Josh MacDonald (DL) and Jon Waldie (DB), a returning conference all-star from a year ago. Defensive linemen Brandon Rockhill and Deji Oduwole are also back, to be joined by Rockhill's younger brother Carson, a 6-foot-6, 275-pound athlete who can play both sides of the football.
Chase Moore, who led the team with 50 tackles in 2007, will anchor the linebackers along with Andrea Bonaventura. Recruits Craig Adamson, Adam Driedger, Jordan Colebrook, and Sam Hurl – all products of the Calgary high school system – will be added to the mix, while other returnees at linebacker include Mark Deswart, Geoff Paiement, and David Gruninger.
The veteran secondary is led by Waldie, safety James Green, and halfback Matt Grohn. Grohn led the team with three interceptions last season, while Green recorded three sacks to go with 41 tackles. Joining the defensive backs will be Steve Truzak, who played for Nill at Saint Mary's University, along with Winnipeg product Tye Noble.
The Dinos will have a couple of new faces on the sidelines in 2008 with the departure of assistant offensive coordinator Greg Delaval, who took on the interim head coach position at the University of Toronto. Gino DiVincentis takes over as running backs coach following a stint with the Calgary Stampeders, while Pierre Lefebvre has come on board to work with special teams.
Media availability will immediately follow the second practice each day at approximately 1 p.m. The Dinos will practice on the University of Calgary fields for the first week of camp before moving to McMahon Stadium Aug. 25 to prepare for the opening game of the regular season.
-UC-
2008 Dinos Football Training Camp
Presented by APX Alarm
Key Losses
OL Tim O'Neill
OL David Maltman
OL Mark Dewit
DL Tim Burris
DB Curtis Woodley
Key Returnees
OL Dylan Steenbergen
QB Jordan Flagel
RB Anthony Woodson
RB Matt Walter
DL Josh MacDonald
LB Chase Moore
DB Jon Waldie
DB James Green
Key Additions
OL Kirby Fabien
QB Deke Junior
QB Casey Brown
WR Matt Little
DL Carson Rockhill
DB Stephen Truzak
2008 Dinos Football Camp Schedule
Friday, Aug. 15 – Friday, Aug. 22
8:30 – 10 a.m. Practice Session 1 UC practice fields (west of Olympic Oval)
10:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. Practice Session 2 UC practice fields
1 – 1:30 p.m. Media Availability UC practice fields
2:15 – 5 p.m. Team Meetings
Saturday, Aug. 23
2 p.m. Exhibition Game: Dinos vs. Regina Rams @ Methanex Bowl, Medicine Hat, Alta.
Monday, Aug. 25 – Wednesday, Aug. 27
5:30 – 8 p.m. Practice McMahon Stadium
Thursday, Aug. 28
Team departs for Saskatoon
Friday, Aug. 29
7 p.m. Dinos vs. Saskatchewan @ Griffiths Stadium, Saskatoon
Live on Shaw TV (Cable 10), FAN 960, and fan960.com
