WHITEOUT!!

For the first time in school history the University of Calgary football team will not be wearing their traditional red helmets on Thursday evening when they face their provincial rival University of Alberta Golden Bears at McMahon Stadium Thursday evening. Another first is that the Dinos are playing their first ever home game at McMahon Stadium on a Thursday evening.

Thanks to the support on anonymous donors recruited by the Dinos 5^th Quarter the Dinos will don white helmets with a red face mask. The move to white helmets was four years in the making.

The helmets will be used only for special occasions as deemed by the coaching staff and equipment manager Johnny Carr.

The helmets arrived during training camp and Carr has been busy putting on the new logo (Dinos paws) and fitting the players with the new head gear in addition to polishing them. The players practiced with the helmets on earlier this week to get used to the new equipment.

“We are extremely grateful to those that stepped forward to allow this to happen,” states Head Coach Wayne Harris

Number 55 Out of Circulation for the 2015 Dinos’ football season

Offensive tackle Braden Schram has worn jersey number 55 for the past couple of seasons while with the University of Calgary Dinos. A mainstay on the offensive line, Schram, a 2014 Conference all-star will not wear sweater 55 for the 2015 campaign. Number 55 is being held out this season out of respect of the passing of legendary Calgary Stampeders linebacker Wayne Harris Sr., father of current University of Calgary Head Coach Wayne Harris and regarded as perhaps the greatest Calgary Stampeder player.

“This is our way of remembering, respecting the contribution and impact Mr. Harris had on football in Calgary,” states University of Calgary equipment manager Johnny Carr. Upon retiring from the Canadian Football League, Wayne Harris, Sr. was a frequent attendee not only at games for the Dinos but also practices until his health prohibited from coming. A scholarship currently exists administrated by the Dinos 5^th Quarter called the Harris Family Linebacker Scholarship.

Wayne senior’s grandson James Harris assists with coaching the linebackers on the Dinos and is the son of Head Coach Wayne Harris.

HEADING HOME

Friday’s game against the University of Manitoba Bisons at Investors Group Field will be a home coming for one member of the current Dinos football program.

Freshman offensive lineman Curtis Krahn will suit for his first Canada West game and as fate would have it, it is against the University of Manitoba Bisons. The Winnipeg native did not dress against the UBC Thunderbirds due to injury and joined the 45 player active roster this weekend when starting right guard Ryan Prueter was injured late in the team’s opening triumph against UBC.

“It is exciting to go back home and dress,” stated 6’3”, 290 lbs. Krahn who joined the Calgary program this season after playing Junior Football for the Winnipeg Rifles of the Prairie Football Conference. Krahn is expecting a large throng of followers of family and friends at the contest. Krahn was named Winnipeg Rifle of the Year in 2014. “I am expecting about 35-40 people there I know at the game,” stated the first year Arts student.

A graduate of College Louis Reil, Krahn was recruited by the Bisons but chose the Dinos after making a recruiting visit to Calgary in the off-season.

In addition to having Krahn and his throng of supporters in the stands for the game, current Winnipeg Blue Bombers starters and former Dino players – middle linebacker Sam Hurl and offensive guard Sukh Chung are expected to attend the game. It is also anticipated that former all-star defensive back Tye Noble, currently a High School in Winnipeg will be there to see some of his former teammates.