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.