St. Francis High School, University of Calgary, Three Sons Following their Fathers:

What do freshmen Christian Cardone, Cole Belway and Jacob Izquierdo have in common? All three attended the same high school their fathers, they are now attending the same university as their father playing post-secondary football with the Dinos. All three also won City Championships in High School, just like their father. But that is where the similarity ends.  All three play different positions than their father.

Christian Cardone is defensive back, Cole Belway is a quarterback, and Jacob Izquierdo an inside receiver.

Remo was a fullback for the Dinos from 1988 through 1992 graduating with a Management degree and is currently employed by TD Wealth Management. Young Christian hopes to pursue a career in Accounting and is enrolled in the Haskayne School of Business.

“It is good to follow in my father’s footsteps. He talked me a lot about the program here but was completely behind me whatever decision I made to play after St. Francis,” stated the 5’10” 175 lbs Cardone.

“It makes one wonder how fast 30 years went by,” stated the elder Cardone at practice. “Having Christian with the Dinos brings back a lot of great memories,” Remo stated.

Brian was a member of the Dinos 1985 Vanier Cup Championship starting on the defensive line and a first round selection of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the 1986 Canadian Football League Draft. He is now employed as manager of Western Canada for CSL Behring.

“I feel honored another generation is now with the Dinos,” said Brian who played in 1984 and 1985 before spending five seasons in the CFL with Winnipeg and BC. “The tradition at St. Francis was phenomenal and that has helped Cole,” he added.

“He (Brian) talked to me about the relationships he had especially with the 1985 Championship team and the tradition with the program here,” stated Cole who quarterbacked the Browns to City and Provincial 4A Championships in 2016. “It is a great to be here,” stated Cole who is studying Kinesiology.

“I knew how good my father was. It is a honor to playing here and keep the tradition going, that tradition played a choice in helping me decide to come here,” stated the 6’3”, 200 lbs. Haskayne School of Business student.

“It is nice to see the next generation come up,” stated Jacob’s father, a four year starter who played with the Dinos from 1987 through 1990 earning all-Canadian status before embarking on a seven year professional career that saw him win three Grey Cups.

J.P. sees a difference between football now and when he played.

“Seeing Jacob at training camp reminds me on how difficult it was when we played. We had two a days with full equipment and contact but it in this era this is the way football has to go,” said J.P. who currently teaches at St. Francis and coached his son but let his son decide where he wanted to attend university.

“Calgary is home and he wanted to stay home and play here,” J.P. stated.

Three players following in their father’s footsteps, with the tradition of being a St. Francis Brown, a University of Calgary Dino, and hopefully a Vanier Cup champion, just their father.

DINOS TAKE THEIR GAME TO MEDICINE HAT

For the third consecutive season the University of Calgary Dinos and the University of Regina Rams met in a pre-season game at the Methanex Bowl in Medicine Hat, AB. to conclude their respective training camps.

“It is an opportunity to have our team play a game and for us as coaches to evaluate our new players as well as showcasing our product to the people of Medicine Hat and surrounding area,” stated Calgary Head Coach Wayne Harris who is in his third year at the helm of the Dinos.

Approximately 1000 fans took in the contest on a hot evening that saw the Rams lead 10-3 at the half and scored 29 unanswered second half points to 39-3 win.

“A lot of guys got a lot of game time, more than in past years, and that was our plan going in,” stated Harris.

Prior to the game both teams had their pregame meal at Crescent Heights High School.

Both teams did not show much in the terms of plays as they meet in the second week of the regular season in Calgary. Calgary opens their regular season Friday evening in Alberta while Regina does likewise hosting the University of British Columbia.

An interested spectator at the game was former University of Calgary player and Medicine Hat Crescent Heights graduate, Connor McGough. McGough was on his bye week with the Hamilton Tiger Cats who selected him fourth overall in the 2017 CFL draft.

A special thanks to the organizing committee of the game whose proceeds went to the United Way of Medicine Hat.

Dino Recruits to Represent Calgary at Montana All-Star Game

A pair of University of Calgary incoming freshmen offensive line players will close out their distinguished High School career south of the 49^th parallel.

Logan Bandy and Tyler Packer will compete against each in the 71^st Montana Shrine all-star football game in Billings, Montana on Saturday July 15 at Rocky Mountain College at 7 PM MST. This marks the fourth year that players from the Calgary High School League have been selected to compete in the event.

The Montana High School all-star game is one of the oldest in USA. Proceeds from the game go to support the Shriner’s Hospital for Children in Spokane, WA.

“It is great to see these players go down there and compete. It is important to us to keep the connection between us (Calgary Shrine Temple) and them (Montana Shrine). For the past, several years two U Sports players have competed in Tampa at the East West game, and we now have two our own players competing at the High School level,” states Al Azhar Potentate Karl Fraser.

Bandy, is a 6’5”, 250 lbs. offensive tackle will compete for East team coached by Chris Murdock of the defending state champion Billings Broncos. Bandy was a key player on the last year’s City and Provincial 4A Champion St. Francis Browns. He was in the CFC Top 100 graduating High School players last year and was recruited by numerous CIS schools.

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.

“I am extremely pleased to represent Calgary in this game. I could not think of a better way to represent my school and close out my High School career,” Bandy stated.  

The 6’6”, 285 lbs. Packer will lineup for the West team coached by Tony Arnston of Helena High School. A product of the Hilltoppers organization in the Calgary Minor Football Association Tyler won numerous awards as a youth player including winning the Aaron Neidergesaess Heart of a Champion Award in 2013 and 2016 and their Rookie of the Year in 2014. Packer also was starting member of the Hilltoppers Division II City Championship team and a Calgary Midget Football Association all-star offensive tackle in 2015. During a stellar high school career Packer was a CFC Top 100 player.

“This game means a lot to me with the charity and the hospital. It is a great opportunity to represent my school and be a part of an amazing cause,” stated Packer.

“I am confident both Logan and Tyler will be very good players in that game,” stated University of Calgary Head Coach Wayne Harris.

Both players received cheques from the Calgary Minor Football Association to help defray the cost of attending the practices and for other incidentals with respect to their trip.  

Finally, an interesting fact about the Montana Shrine Game, current Calgary Stampeders Head Coach Dave Dickenson was the Offensive MVP in 1991.