CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos football team will return to the field for the first time since the Vanier Cup Friday night as its 2010 Spring Camp opens at McMahon Stadium.

Approximately 100 players, both returnees and newcomers, will participate in the weekend camp which culminates in Sunday afternoon's Red-White scrimmage. For the players, spring camp is an opportunity to get back on the field after a long off-season of training, while the coaching staff gets a first look at the recruiting class to aid in preparation for the 2010 season.

The Dinos have won back-to-back Canada West championships and made their first appearance in the Vanier Cup since 1995 last season.

“Our spring camp is really important to gain some momentum heading into the summer,” said Canada West coach of the year Blake Nill, who enters his fifth season with the Dinos in 2010. “We always want to be considered as one of the top programs in the country, and we have to work hard to stay at that level. This weekend gets the guys out of the weight room and back onto the field, and it helps keep football at the front of their minds heading into the summer.”

The Dinos will return seven All-Canadians to their 2010 team, with all but one offensive starter back from the 2009 squad that lost a heartbreaking Vanier Cup 33-31 to Queen's after blowing an 18-point halftime lead. For the players, Spring Camp is just the first step toward returning to that stage and a shot at redemption.

“It's always rewarding to get back on the field after training so hard through the winter,” said Matt Walter, the two-time Canada West rushing champion and a first team All-Canadian in 2009. “We get to take advantage of our conditioning and see how things are going. The summer is a pivotal point in training for the season, and this weekend sets us up well for that.”

As a veteran returning for his fourth year this fall, Walter pointed out the importance of this weekend to the younger players who will be the future of the program.

“For me and the veterans, it's a good chance to get the helmet on and work on some football skills to refine and get the rust off,” said the Bishop O'Byrne high school grad. “Systems are almost second nature for us at this point. But for the younger guys, the guys who will be looking to step up and contribute, spring camp is a great time for them to get more experience under their belts and get a better idea of how things work.”

“It's a chance for the young players to step up and reach a new level, not just the new recruits but the guys that have been here for a year or two and are looking to crack that travel roster,” Nill agreed. “The guys who have made the commitment in the weight room will see that play out on the field.”

At the centre of Nill's plans for the future of the program is the succession at quarterback, with BLG Award winner Erik Glavic entering his fifth and final year of eligibility. The backup pivot spot is up for grabs with the graduation of Deke Junior, and the coaching staff has designed many of the drills this weekend to help in their evaluation of the young quarterbacks that will look to crack the roster.

The weekend opens Friday afternoon with the Dinos' annual Recruit Signing Day, where the 2010 recruiting class will be introduced to the media. The first practice goes Friday night, followed by two sessions each day on Saturday and Sunday. The scrimmage goes at 2:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon.

Sunday is also Draft Day in the Canadian Football League, and at least two Dinos – running back Anthony Woodson and offensive lineman Quinn McCaughan – are expected to be selected.

All practices will take place at McMahon Stadium and are open to the media and the public.

2010 SPRING CAMP SCHEDULE
All events at McMahon Stadium

Friday, April 30
1:30 p.m.    Recruit Signing Day
7-9 p.m.      Practice Session #1

Saturday, May 1
8:30-11 a.m.    Practice Session #2
2:30-5 p.m.      Practice Session #3

Sunday, May 2 (CFL Draft Day)
8:30-11 a.m.    Practice Session #4
2:30-5 p.m.      Red-White Scrimmage

-UC-