Big Man Bandy.....A Dino!

Logan Bandy grew up watching the University of Calgary Dinos football perform at McMahon Stadium. He always wanted to play for them. The talented offensive tackle will achieve that goal signing a Canadian Interuniversity Letter of Intent to attend the University of Calgary in the fall of 2017.

“I grew up watching the Dinos play in Hardy Cups at McMahon and can not wait to continue to play at home,” stated the 6’5”, 240 lbs. Bandy who anchors the offensive line at St. Francis High School, the 2015 defending Provincial 4A football champions. He played along side current Dino offensive lineman Peter Nicastro coached by Tyler Park for the Browns.

An excellent student, Logan plans to take Sciences courses working towards a major in Biology.

“Calgary is a great school for academics and football, and my parents and family can continue to watch me play,” stated Bandy who was heavily recruited by numerous CIS schools including Western, UBC, Saskatchewan, and Alberta and went to a visit at Simon Fraser.

Logan brings an impressive list of achievements. He started for one year on the Alberta U16 team, and for two years on the Alberta U18 team. He was Lineman of the Year in the Calgary Bantam Football Association, and a league all-star in the Calgary Midget League in 2016 in the Mavericks organization playing for Scott Rideout and Todd McKay. He is currently ranked in the CFC top 100.

“Logan Bandy is a great young offensive tackle. He is technically very sound as a player with great feet,” states University of Calgary recruiting coordinator Matt Berry.

Bandy joins current St. Francis High players, quarterback Cole Belway and linebacker Joe Dutton who also committed to the Dinos. Logan is the son of Gordon and Karen Bandy.

Local QB Joins Dinos

The University of Calgary football Dinos added another outstanding recruit form the powerful St. Francis Browns football program confirming the signing of a Canadian Interuniversity Letter of Intent from quarterback Cole Belway.

A fabulous student-athlete that is an honors student, Cole received academic honors with distinction the past five years. An all-around athlete Belway has only played competitive football for two years participating in basketball, volleyball, track and badminton. He is a three-time city champion in badminton.

Cole was a member of the Browns City and Provincial 4A Championship team in 2015 under Head Coach Tyler Park. He becomes the third member of the CFC’s current top 50 High School team to commit to the Dinos joining teammates Logan Bandy (offensive tackle) and Joe Dutton (linebacker).

Belway is the son of former University of Calgary defensive lineman Brian Belway. His father was a 1986 first round pick of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers playing in the Canadian Football League for four seasons with the BC Lions and the Calgary Stampeders. He also had a tryout with the Oakland Raiders. Brian was a member of the 1985 Vanier Cup championship team and Cole’s uncle, Steve, was a member of the 1983 National Championship team.

“Calgary has a great family atmosphere with the excellent coaching staff’s knowledge of football, I like the offense they play, and support they have from their alumni, the 5^th Quarter,” stated the 6’2”, 185 lbs. Belway who was wooed by several CIS schools including St. Francis Xavier and Western as well as Simon Fraser and Minot State in North Dakota.

Belway had a successful minor football career in the Mavericks organization. He was the all-star pivot in the 2016 Calgary Midget League for the Mavericks and played for them in 2015 as well.

Cole plans to enroll in the Faculty of Kinesiology in September 2017 with academic goal of entering the masters program in this area.

Dinos add Talented Linebacker

Joe Dutton wanted to remain at home and enjoy the benefits of his mother’s cooking. Head Coach Wayne Harris and the University of Calgary Dinos are thankful for that. The 6’3”, 195 lbs. linebacker from St. Francis High School has signed a Canadian Interuniversity Sport Letter of Intent to play for the Dinos in 2017. Dutton joins current St. Francis teammates, quarterback Cole Belway and offensive lineman Logan Bandy who have also committed to the Dinos.

“I wanted to stay in Calgary, play with the players I played with as a kid and stay at home with my mother’s cooking,” stated Dutton who has been a two year starter for the defending City and Provincial 4A Champion Browns.

“I felt the combination of education and football excellence made it the best choice to commit to the Dinos. They have enjoyed tremendous success the past few years and I am excited to help contribute to that continued success,” Dutton stated elaborating on his decision to remain in Calgary.

From a football family, Joe’s grandfather Tom Dutton was a stalwart defensive lineman for the University of Saskatchewan Huskies in the late 1960’s and also played for the Saskatoon Hilltops, while his father Paul, played for the Huskies in 1991 and 1992.

Joe brings an impressive list of credentials to the Dinos. He was a member of the Alberta U18 team for two years and was captain of the Canadian team that participated in the International Bowl in Arlington, Texas in February 2016. He was a two time all-star in the Calgary Midget League (2015 and 2016) for the Cowboys that were coached by Tony Spoletini and Al Cooper, and a Calgary High School all-star in 2015 playing for Tyler Park.

Dutton is currently ranked in the CFC Top 100 and was pursued by every school in Canada West as well as Queen’s and McGill.

“Joe Dutton is one of the top linebackers in the country. He has size, speed and instincts to be a top level CIS player,” states Dinos recruiting coordinator and Coach Matt Berry.

Dutton is the son of Paul and Jenn Kelly and plans to take Education courses at the University of Calgary.

FIVE OF SIX UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY FOOTBALL DINOS HEAD COACHES PRESENT FOR 50TH ANNIVERSARY GAME:

Stability is one word that describes the head football coaching situation at the University of Calgary. In a half decade the school has had just six head coaches.

On Saturday October 1 the University of Calgary was pleased to have five of their six Head Coaches present for the 50^th Anniversary game against the University of Alberta Golden Bears at McMahon Stadium.

“It is not very often one can get all these outstanding men that have meant a great deal to the football program together,” stated University of Calgary Dinos 5^th Quarter alumni development coordinator Jack Neumann. The only Head Coach missing was Blake Nill, who is now the Head Coach at UBC. Nill coached the team from 2006 through 2014 prior to leaving for Vancouver.

The program was started by Dr. Dennis Kadatz, regarded as the “Father of the Program,” in 1964 when the University of Calgary was known as the University of Alberta at Calgary, with the school getting independence from the University of Alberta in 1966. Kadatz was the first Head Coach as well as the inaugural Athletic Director. Dennis coached the team for the first five years in what then known as the Western Intercollegiate Football League. Dennis also served as an assistant coach the next head coach Mike Lashuk in the 1970’s including the 1975 team.

Kadatz gave way to Lashuk in 1968 as the athletic department grew. Lashuk coached the team for 13 years relinquishing the position in 1982. Under Lashuk the Dinos won their first Conference title in 1975 and played in their National Championship game losing a tough 14-9 decision to the University of Ottawa. Lashuk posted a record of 56-52 at the helm. Lashuk also served one season as an assistant coach under Tony Fasano for one season.

Peter Connellan took over as Head Coach on an interim basis in 1977 while Lashuk was on sabbatical leave. Connellan was no stranger to the program having served as an assistant coach for several seasons under Lashuk.  Connellan led the team to their second Conference title in 1977 and became the fulltime Head Coach in 1983. Peter coached the Dinos for 11 seasons (1983-90 and 1992-95). Under Connellan the Dinos captured a quartet of Vanier Cups (1983, 1985, 1988 and 1995) and lost in the final of 1993 championship game to the University of Toronto. Connellan amassed an impressive record of 70-32-2 (67.3%) and posted a 16-6 log in the postseason missing the post season on three occasions. He never had a losing season in his 11 year tenure as head coach.

Tony Fasano took over reigns in 1996 coaching the Dinos until 2005. He also coached the team while his predecessor was on sabbatical leave in 1991. Fasano joined the program in 1986 serving as Defensive Coordinator until 1995. He was on staff for the 1988 and 1995 National Championship teams. Fasano’s clubs made post season in six years as Head Coach.

Current Head Coach Wayne Harris is in second year at the helm with the Dinos. No stranger to the program Harris played for the Dinos from 1977 to 1981. He has the unique distinction of either coaching with or playing for each previous head coach with the program. He served either as an assistant coach or a defensive coordinator with the program in three different stints from 1989 through 2014. He has the unique distinction of winning both the Frank Tindall Trophy (Canadian Interuniversity Sport Coach of the Year) in 2015 and the Gino Fracas Award in 2006 as the CIS Volunteer Coach of the Year. He served as an assistant coach and defensive coordinator with Nill since 2006 replacing Nill as the head coach in February 2015.

The football Dinos were honored to have these five gentlemen present together and appreciate the effort all of them did for the program.