Thursday 24 April 2014

EDEM BATTLING OCHOCINCO AT ALS MINI CAMP

Follow the link below to a video from Aloutettes Mini Camp in Florida. See Dino Mike Edem squaring off with new Alouette and former NFL Pro Bowler Chad "Ochocino" Johnson.

Edem vs. Ocho

Saturday 19 April 2014

DOC'S PRO DAY A SUCCESS

On Good Friday, the Good Doctor of the Calgary Dinos put his skills on display by holding a Pro Day. At Rundle College Doctor Cassama showed off his atheletic and football skills for scouts from both the CFL and NFL.

Here are links to the local media coverage:

Calgary Sun:
university-of-calgary-star-doctor-cassama-impresses-nfl-scouts-with-workout

Calgary Herald:
Dino+struts+stuff+Packers


Monday 14 April 2014

DINOS 31st FOOTBALL DINNER ANOTHER SUCCESS

The 31st annual Dinos 5th Quarter football dinner was another unqualified success Thursday evening, April 10 at Hotel Arts. Over 600 individuals attended the event that featured Canadian Football League Hall of Fame quarterback Damon Allen as the keynote speaker with former Dino football player and 2013 Calgary Booster Club Sportsman of the Year Tony Spoletini serving as emcee.

Numerous auction items were sold through the silent or live auction with proceeds going towards the Dinos 5th Quarter. Just under $300,000 was raised at the annual event under dinner chairman Harry Andersen and 5th Quarter President Greg Vavra.

Prize items included tickets to high profile football games south of the border, fishing trip to BC, Calgary Stampeders tickets, and oil industry service items to name a few that were secured by prize committee chairman Jason Assen.

The evening also recognized the contributions of two outstanding individuals that are part of the fabric in the Calgary football community.

Former St. Francis High School football head coach Gary De Man received the Connellan TEAM (Together Everyone Achieves More) Award for his unwavering contribution to the program over a three decade span. Current Defensive Coordinator Wayne Harris was the recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for his contribution as a coach, mentor and clinician over the three decades. The four graduating players who are not returning to the program either due to eligibility or graduation were also recognized.

The 5th Quarter would like thank all those that attended and sponsored the evening. What was extremely gratifying was to see the large number of former players that attended the event including those that have and currently playing the Canadian Football League.


Wednesday 9 April 2014

DINOS FOOTBALL DOMINATES NIGHT OF THE DINO

It was a banner night for the University of Calgary’s dominant team at the 47th annual Night of the Dino held Tuesday evening at the Olympic Oval.
For the third time in five years, a Dino football player was named winner of the Dennis Kadatz Male Athlete of the Year, another football player was a Finalist for Athlete of the Year thereby receiving the University of Calgary Athletic Award of Merit, another football player was the recipient of the Calgary Booster Club Scholar Athlete of the Year and Senate Award, Head Coach Blake Nill was recognized as the University of Calgary Coach of the Year, and a member  of the outstanding freshman class was a finalist for the Bill Popplewell Rookie of the Year.
Timmis, a second year Haskyane School of Business student was the Canada West MVP in 2013 after running through opposing defences for 1,157 yards this season to lead the nation. Throughout the season, he found the end zone 19 times, 18 of which were rushing touchdowns – both new Canada West records. No other player in the CIS recorded more than 12 majors on the season. With 114 points, he became the first non-kicker to lead the conference in scoring since UBC's Chris Ciezki in 2006 and tied teammate Johnny Mark and former Manitoba kicker Jamie Boreham for the conference single-season scoring record. Timmis averaged 6.9 yards per carry and 144.6 yards per game along the ground. He led the nation in total rushing yards, rushing yards per game, and touchdowns and was second in total carries with 167. Most importantly, he helped the Dinos win a sixth-straight conference title and lead them to the 2013 Vanier Cup after defeating the Western Mustangs 44-3 to win the Mitchell Bowl. Timmis was MVP of both the Hardy Cup and the Mitchell Bowl.
Doctor Cassama was a Finalist for the Male Athlete of the Year. Cassama became the seventh Dino to capture the defensive MVP in the conference this season when he moved from defensive back to linebacker. The Kristianstad, Sweden native led the Dinos with 36 tackles, 30 solo and 12 assisted, averaging 4.5 per game. Cassama played a key role in Calgary’s 3-4 defensive scheme and helped lead them to the Vanier Cup championship game. Doc also received the Gauntlet extra effort award.
Quarterback Andrew Buckley captured a pair of awards. The third year Kinesiology student from Rundle College was named winner of the Calgary Booster Club Male Scholar Athlete of the Year Award as well as the Senate Service Award. The Senate Service Award annually recognizes a student-athlete who shows strong community engagement by demonstrating direct community involvement, representing the University of Calgary Senate’s vision of “Students engaging community.”
Buckley boasts an impressive resume of community involvement, as well as successful athletic and academic performance that earned him the award as the third recipient. He was named the winner of the prestigious Russ Jackson Award at the end of the football season and has earned a spot on the Capital One Academic All America Team.
In 2011, the quarterback joined a group that travelled to Guatemala to build 500 efficient wood-burning stoves for impoverished families with the Hearts and Hands Foundation. The following year, he led the organization of a Dinos football camp for underprivileged and foster children of Sudanese decent in the Calgary area. He also remains actively involved volunteering for various senior citizens' organizations, and is a home care volunteer with Alberta Health Services, working with two Alzheimer's patients for 90 minutes per week.
On the field, the graduate of Calgary's Rundle College took over as the team's starting quarterback late in the season opener after standout Eric Dzwilewski broke his foot and the Dinos barely skipped a beat with Buckley at the controls, cruising to their first-ever 8-0 record. The 6-foot, 193-pound pivot went on to pass for 2,184 yards and 12 touchdowns in eight contests and also added four rushing majors en route to a selection as a conference all-star.
In the classroom, Buckley is a two-time Academic All-Canadian with a career grade point average of 3.93 in kinesiology and has plans to follow in his father's footsteps and enter medical school following his undergraduate work. He has received numerous academic awards since he arrived on the U of C campus, including a University of Calgary President's Admission Scholarship and Undergraduate Merit Award. He is actively involved in many research projects, most recently making a presentation as part of the Faculty of Kinesiology's Markin Undergraduate Student Research Program in October 2013 – right in the middle of football season.
Football Head Coach Blake Nill became the second winner of the Charlesglen Toyota Scion Coach of the Year, an award introduced last season to honour a coach that demonstrates excellence in coaching and leadership.  
Nill was named Canada West Coach of the Year for the third time in his career with the Dinos this past season, and guided them to the Vanier Cup after defeating the Western Mustangs in the Mitchell Bowl. The Dinos had the top offence in the conference at nearly 550 yards and 42.4 points per game and they finished with an 8-0 record for the first time in history. Eleven of Nill’s players earned conference all-star status and the Dinos brought home four of the five major player awards.
Receiver Rashaun Simonise was a finalist for the Bill Popplewell Award as Male Rookie of the Year. The graduate of Vancouver College was named Conference Rookie of the Year. The first year Arts student was a solid wide receiver and specialty team player through the 2013 season. Rashaun started every game recording 33 receptions for 481 yards.

De Man to Receive 2014 Connellan Team Award

The 2014 recipient of the Connellan Team Award is one of the most respected High School football coaches not only in Calgary and Alberta but in the country. A graduate of the University of Calgary, Coach Gary De Man coached the St. Francis Browns for 32 consecutive years beginning in 1962 and culminating in 1993.

Not only did Coach De Man win numerous championships on the field, he influenced many young players coaching them not only in football but educating and mentoring numerous young men having a positive influence on their careers.

During his tenure at St. Francis Coach De Man encouraged many of his players to pursue post-secondary education at the University of Calgary with numerous becoming members of the Dinos football program. Several of his former players have followed his steps and have become coaches both in community and high school football programs in Calgary and surrounding area. When Gary De Man recommended a player for post-secondary football, you knew you were getting a player who had the fundamentals and came from a program with great values.

Some of the players that joined the Dinos from St. Francis that were coached by Coach De Man included the Tom and Tony Spoletini, the Geremia brothers, the Lewis brothers, Joe Stambene, Remo Cardone, Dennis Mahony, Rod Monden, Shaun DeSantis, Marcello Rapini, Steve Pozzi, Patrick Mosca, Rob Scrauth, Brian Baker, Dan Diduck, Chester Krala, J.P. Izquierdo, and Rob Furlan to name a few.

Gary De Man earned numerous honours throughout his career. He was the recipient of the Alberta Achievement Award for Excellence in Community Service in 1981, the Alberta Amateur Football Coach of the Year in 1971, 1981, and 1986, and the 3M Coach of the Year for Alberta in 1992. He was given a life membership by Football Alberta in 1993.

Coach De Man was honoured by the Calgary Booster Club receiving a Distinguished Leader Award and in 2012 was inducted into the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame. His former players thought so much of his contribution and influence that an endowed scholarship is in his name for a St. Francis High School graduate to attend the University of Calgary was created in 2011. Recipients of this prestigious award include Steven Lumbala and Carson Stambene.  


WAYNE HARRIS DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI WINNER FOR 2014

A familiar name synonymous with Calgary football is the recipient of the 5th Quarter Distinguished Alumni Award for 2014, Wayne Harris, He has been involved with the Dinos football program for the greater part of three decades as a player and coach.

Wayne played linebacker for the Dinos from 1977 through 1981 earning Conference all-star honours in his final three seasons. He spent one season (1982) playing professionally with the Stampeders before becoming a teacher with the Calgary Board of Education and becoming a successful coach at the High School level. The peak of which was coaching Henry Wise Wood High School to a city championship in 1992.

He assisted with various football clinics and training camps before joining the coaching staff of the Dinos in the 1990’s serving as a volunteer assistant coach. He was a member of the coaching staff, serving as the linebackers coach in 1995 when the Dinos captured the Vanier Cup under Head Coach Peter Connellan.

Wayne has been involved with the Dinos since Blake Nill joined the program in 2006. He has been responsible for coaching the linebackers and does the defensive play calling. He is regarded as one of the top coaches in his area in Canadian university football. Wayne is known for his attention to detail and preparation. He has been instrumental in coaching numerous players that have gone on to play in the Canadian Football League.

In 2006 he was the recipient of the prestigious Gino Fracas Award that goes to the volunteer assistant football coach of the year in Canadian Interuniversity Sport.

Wayne’s son, James Harris played for the Dinos for three seasons and helps coach with the Dinos on a volunteer basis as well.

From a football family, Wayne is the son of Canadian Football Hall of Famer Wayne Harris who played professionally with the Stampeders for 12 seasons (1961 to 1972). Mr. Harris is regarded as greatest Calgary Stampeder player in their history and is enshrined in the American College Football Hall of Fame due to his stellar All-American career at the University of Arkansas.

In 2012 the Harris Family Linebacker Scholarship was created by the 5th Quarter recognizing the contributions of the Harris family to the football fabric of Calgary. This endowed award is presented annually to a linebacker on the Dinos football team.

The Dinos Football Team and the 5th Quarter, would like to congratulate Wayne, on being the 2014 winner of the Distinguished Alumni Award.

2014 Dinos Football Schedule

2014 Dinos Football Schedule
Non-Conference
Saturday, August 30 @ Laval
Regular Season
Friday, Sept. 5 vs. Alberta, 5:30 p.m., McMahon Stadium – KICKOFF 2014
Saturday, Sept. 13 @ UBC, 2 p.m. PT, Thunderbird Stadium
Friday, Sept. 19 @ Saskatchewan, 7 p.m., Griffiths Stadium
Friday, Sept. 26 vs. Manitoba, 6 p.m., McMahon Stadium – HALL OF FAME GAME
Saturday, Oct. 4 vs. Regina, 2 p.m., McMahon Stadium
Saturday, Oct. 18 @ Alberta, 2 p.m., Foote Field
Saturday, Oct. 25 vs. UBC, 2 p.m., McMahon Stadium
Saturday, Nov. 1 @ Manitoba, 2 p.m. CT, Investors Group Field
Playoffs
Saturday, Nov. 8: Canada West Semi-final
Saturday, Nov. 15: 78th Hardy Cup
Saturday, Nov. 22: CIS Uteck Bowl – Canada West @ Quebec
Saturday, Nov. 29: Vanier Cup