A RUSHING LEGACY

What many people do not know is that Mercer Timmis has outstanding football ancestry. His late great-grandfather Brian Timmis is member of the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame and a member of the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in Hamilton.

Brian Timmis played for the Hamilton Tigers in an era when many players played on both sides of the football; he was a dominant fullback and defensive lineman. During his time in Hamilton the Tigers captured three Grey Cups (1928, 1929 and 1932). Brian followed his playing days by joining the coaching ranks, in 1943 he lead the Flying Wildcats to a Grey Cup Victory. To honor the contribution Brain Timmis made to football in Hamilton, the field adjacent to Ivor Wynn Stadium is named after him.  

Mercer’s grand-father also named Brian Timmis played in the Canadian Football League for the Saskatchewan Roughriders in 1953 as a running back. Prior to his time in the pros he attended McMaster and Queen’s Universities playing for their football teams. Brian is now 84 years old and currently lives in Burlington, Ontario. He is now a proud grandfather who follows Mercer’s games on the computer.

“I am definitely aware of my great grandfather’s accomplishments and also that of my grandfather,” states Mercer who is named after his great-grandfather.

Mercer’s father, Brian Timmis played High School football in Burlington but did not play the game at the university level. Aside from football, he was an accomplished tennis player. While Mercer’s Mother Jennifer was a competitive ski racer and runner. So athletics were skill strong in the genes. “Football skipped a generation in our family,” jokes Mercer when asked about his father’s football accomplishments.

A second year Haskayne School of Business student Mercer rushed for 1157 yards (4^th in school history) this season which was a mere 26 yards short of Anthony Woodson’s 1183 (2^nd most) set in 2007. Mercer did run his way into the school and conference record books with 19 total touchdowns in 2013. His performance on the field this year earned him 2013 Canada West Most Outstanding Player Award, a Conference all-star selection and he is a finalist for the Hec Crighton Trophy.

“I loved the program and wanted to play for Coach Nill,” stated Timmis who felt both the football and academic programs were the right fit for him to make the move to Calgary after spending two seasons at a prep school in Buffalo, NY,

Mercer now hopes to lead his team to victory this weekend over the Western Mustangs, in the Mitchell Bowl, so the Dinos could move on to the Vanier Cup in Quebec City.

This weekend’s game will pit Mercer against, fellow Hec Crighton Nominee, Western QB Will Finch. Mercer and Will were teammates growing up in the Burlington Stampeders Minor Football Program.

For more information on Brian Timmis visit the following link:
Canadian Sports Hall of Fame: Brian Timmis 

HARD EARNED 3

Dinos Cornerback Adam Laurensse has played for four teams in four years, lucky for the Dinos he’ll be wearing the red and gold for the next four years.

After graduating from Bev Facey High School in Edmonton, Adam headed to the Vancouver Island Raiders of the British Columbia Football Conference. As a Raider he gained all-star and all-Canadian status by leading the country in interceptions.

In 2012 Adam moved back to Edmonton and suited up for the Edmonton Wildcats of the PFC. Adam once again lead the nation in interceptions and was named a PFC all star and All-Canadian..

In the winter of 2013, Adam Decided his junior days were over and it was time to attend university. The success he enjoyed in the junior ranks lead to him being one of the most recruited players of the 2013 recruiting class. He was courted by every school in Canada West. Adam chose to become a Dino and was able to have an immediate impact on the field this season. “I came here (Calgary) because of the reputation, the good coaching and it was a great academic opportunity,” states graduate of Bev Facey High School in Sherwood Park.

The coaching staff could not be happier Laurensse decided to become a Dino. “Adam is very coachable, works his tail off, and has a great understanding of the game,” states Defensive Secondary Coach Marcello Rapini was impressed with Laurensse’s skill sets immediately. “Between his film and what we saw at our December workout, we knew immediately we wanted him,” Rapini stated.

The first year Arts student gained a starting spot at cornerback in training camp and recorded 22 solo tackles and eight assisted tackles in regular season action. In addition Laurensse had four interceptions, five knockdowns and a quarterback sacks to garner Canada West all-star honours in 2013. Thus Adam has the unique distinction of being an all-star in three different leagues for three different teams in three consecutive seasons.

Adam’s fine play has continued in the post-season as he recorded an interception against the University of Manitoba Bisons in the Hardy Cup. In two post-season contests he has chipped in with seven solo tackles.

Adam and teammates are hoping to advance the Vanier Cup game in Quebec City, by defeating the Western Mustangs, this Saturday Afternoon.

DOBKO 5 FOR 5, NOW CHASING THE BIG ONE

Senior receiver Chris Dobko accomplished something on Saturday, November 9 very few Dinos have done. The talented receiver has been a member of five Hardy Cup Championship teams, but what is even more unique, Chris has been on the field against five different opponents in those Conference final games.

“It is pretty neat to have five CW medals but they are just a stepping stone to what is ahead (Vanier Cup),” states Dobko.

2013 has been a record setting year for the Edmonton native. Earlier this season he became the school’s all-time receiver, surpassing Don Blair’s total of 138 career receptions. Despite missing the final two games of the regular season Dobko finished the regular season with 33 receptions giving him 155 during his five year tenure with the Dinos and being named a Canada West All Star for the third time in his career.

“To break a record held by Don Blair is pretty surreal,” Dobko stated earlier in the year when asked by local media.

The graduate of Paul Kane High School in St. Albert has the distinction of dressing and competing in the Hardy Cup in each of his five seasons as a Dino. This journey began with an emotional win at Saskatchewan in 2009 which Dobko savoured as a rookie.

In 2011 Chris led Canada West with 56 receptions earning him a spot on the Canada West all-star squad. In 2012 despite missing a pair of games he hauled in 50 passes and once again garnered league all-star honours and as a CIS second team all-Canadian team. This past year he named to the Conference all-star team for the third consecutive year.

Chris is currently the school’s fourth leading receiver in total yards with 2107 in Conference play finishing just 64 yards behind Dave Brown’s third place total of 2171.  

What is even more amazing about Chris is he has survived heart surgery at a very early age, when he was a one year old he had two staples and a piece of fabric placed on his aorta to help heart function that is still present today.

“My dad convinced me to send a tape to Calgary and I decided to play a year of junior (Edmonton Wildcats) before coming to school,” Dobko stated in explaining his decision to travel south along the QE II to Calgary.

Chris’s parents Mark and Karen are both teachers in the Edmonton area but manage to attend many of the games. His father was an assistant coach with the Alberta Golden Bears basketball team under Don Horwood for a few years. So athletics and academics are very important to the Dobko family. Hopefully Chris can close out his career, with a diploma and a vanier cup ring.

TRUE FRESHMEN MAKE IMPACT IN CHAMPIONSHIP GAME:

Sometimes youth and talent can overcome inexperience. This is true for several outstanding true freshmen on the Dinos football team.

Three true freshmen were starters and contributed to the Dinos 43-28 triumph over the University of Manitoba Bisons Saturday afternoon at McMahon Stadium.

From Vancouver College, Rashaun Simonise recorded two receptions for 63 yards including a 57 yard td reception in the second quarter. He is also the teams’ primary kick returner, and he recorded 55 yards on eight returns. Simonise was named Canada West Freshman of the Year earlier in the week and is a finalist for the Peter Gorman Trophy nationally.

Another true freshman also made a significant contribution on the offensive side of the football at receiver. Brendan Thera-Plamondon, a graduate of St. Albert High made two critical catches for 40 yards in the contest, which was only his second career start at the CIS level.

Defensively, Halfback Robbie Woodson started and made a vital contribution on the defensive side of the football. Woodson joined the program this year from St. Francis High School in Calgary.

A duo of rookie linebackers were also called upon to make key plays on special teams and on defence. Brad Friesen (Jasper Place, Edmonton) led the way with five solo tackles while fellow linebacker Iyanu Ojekale (Centennial, Calgary) had one solo tackle.

In total seven true freshmen dressed for the contest. Jack McEwen (Notre Dame, Calgary) saw action on the defensive line and receiver Austen Hartley (Bishop Grandin, Calgary) saw action on special teams.

“The 2013 freshman class is one of, if not the best we have had since I came here,” states Head Coach Blake Nill, “it is on par with the class of 2007 that produced Matt Walter and Anthony Parker, who are now with the Calgary Stampeders,” added Nill.

Calgary and Western: Classic Rivalry Reborn

The 2013 Mitchell Bowl will be a meeting between a pair of two of the most respected football programs in Canadian Interuniversity Sport, the University of Western Ontario Mustangs and the University of Calgary Dinos. This rivalry goes back almost 40 years, with their first meeting coming in 1977. These two great programs have met on four occasions over that span, with either the Vanier Cup or a spot in that game on the line each time. Now these two storied programs, meet again, this time at McMahon Stadium as undefeated conference champions.

1977 was when the rivalry began. The first meeting was at the Forest City Bowl hosted at J.W. Little Stadium in London. When the Dinos, lead by then interim Head Coach Peter Connellan lost a tough 24-22 game to the Western Mustangs.

The 1977 Dinos team was quarterback by Darrell Moir, and had a pair of tough running backs in John McCorquindale and Gordon Goodwin. The offensive line was anchored by all-Canadian Rob Ferguson and the defense was anchored by defensive back Gary Durbeniuk and lineman Rene Deschamps. A rookie starter at linebacker on the team was current Dinos defensive coordinator Wayne Harris. He was joined on that squad by current Dinos kicking coach Jim Hartley, who was the Dinos kicker that day.

The second meeting came in the 1985 Vanier Cup when, Calgary defeated Western 25-6 at Varsity Stadium, in Toronto. The game began with a Western score on their first possession, after that the Dinos took control and never looked back. The outstanding defensive performance was lead by a defensive line that was anchored by current Dinos defensive line coach Kent Warnock, Rob Prodanovic and Jeff Sawchuk. In the secondary that day was current Dinos defensive backs coach Marcello Rapini. The Dinos were lead to victory on offence by quaterback Lew Lawrick and running backs Tony Spoletini and Elio Geremia. The win by the Dinos was their second Vanier Cup in three years.

The 1988 Dinos went 7-1 in the regular season. Calgary defeated Saskatchewan in an epic double overtime battle claiming the Hardy Cup but had the daunting task of going London facing the favoured Mustangs. The Dinos went in to London and came away with a 34-14 triumph thanks to an impressive offensive display. The offensive production was engineered by the late Bob Torrance at quarterback. Current Dinos defensive lineman Matt Carson’s father, Paul, was a starting all-Canadian offensive guard on that team.

In 1995 the Dinos and Mustangs met again, for the Vanier Cup at Skydome in Toronto. Dinos coach Peter Connellan and Western coach Larry Haylor locked horns for the third time in a decade. Once again Calgary emerged on top claiming their fourth National Title under the Connellan regime,  with a 54-24 win. Offensively the Dinos were lead by Hec Crighton Trophy winner and game MVP Don Blair’s four touchdowns. Paul Carson, Wayne Harris, and Dennis Holowaychuk were all members of the coaching staff.

Great coaches and great players create great programs that create great rivalries. Calgary and Western meet again to renew this battle for a younger generation.