Dinos football program a who's who of excellence

2016 marks five decades of the University of Calgary being part of this vibrant, energetic city and we have a great deal to celebrate. Throughout the year, we’re sharing the stories of the clubs and teams that contribute to our amazing culture. Whether you’ve sat in the stands, played in the game, or worn red in support of our athletes, Dinos pride is everywhere and has made UCalgary what it is today. #GoDinos #WeAreAllDinos 

 

You could call him the ultimate Dino, but that will only elicit a guffaw from Wayne Harris Jr.

“I’ve been around a long time,’’ smiled Harris, “seen a lot of great football players come through our program. I’ve had the fortune to coach some of them, play with some of them. Watch some of them. It’s been a lot of fun over the years to watch and cheer on the Dinos program.’’

As the University of Calgary celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, one of the most successful athletic programs over the seasons remains football — which has seen four Vanier Cup national titles and countless conference championships.

A who’s who of excellence

And one guy who has experienced decades as a player, volunteer coach, assistant coach and now head coach is Harris, who has rubbed shoulders with all of the Dinos head men — a who’s who of excellence.

Dennis Kadatz was the offensive line coach when Harris began his gridiron career in 1977 and in subsequent years he played under or worked alongside Peter Connellan, Mike Lashuk, Tony Fasano and Blake Nill.

“Each person is their own person and you have your own style,’’ Harris, who also excelled as a wrestler, pointed out. “Certainly, they all had a big impact on our program. There’s been some real strong gifts that they’ve been able to share which I’ve been able to utilize and still do to some degree. You want to make sure you are true to yourself and not try to be someone else.’’

Harris’s efforts haven’t gone unnoticed. In 2006, he won the Gino Fracas Award as top volunteer coach and in 2015, after the Dinos strung together an undefeated regular season, he was awarded the Frank Tindall Trophy as CIS coach of the year.

The ultimate team game

The 56-year-old Harris comes by his football acumen naturally, as he is the son of Calgary Stampeders' legend Wayne Harris.

“My father always said, it’s the ultimate team game,’’ he said. “You have to rely on a group of people to achieve success. Nobody comes by it by themselves. You need that supporting group around you and I’m fortunate to have a very strong supporting group that has a similar mindset and similar goals.

“At the end of the day, you have to remember they’re student-athletes,’’ he added. “Winning is very important to all of us, but it’s not always the measure of success. It’s the impact that you might have on young men’s lives and getting them set in the right direction.’’

Dinos’ football will celebrate its alumni at the Oct. 1 tilt, the Battle of Alberta, against the Golden Bears, another roadblock in the quest for Canada West and Canadian Interuniversity Sport supremacy.

“We focus a lot on the attitude that we carry and the pride that we have in what we do,’’ suggested Harris. “It can’t be a boastful pride; it’s through humility. Respect for one another, respect for opponents, respect for the game. That’s all very important to me. But it’s always nice to hold that championship trophy up in the end.’’

Standout lineman coaches current crop

One of the innumerable UCalgary players who have gone on to achieve special things at the pro level is yet another who devotes a good deal of his time coaching the current crop. An overseer of the defensive line, Kent Warnock was a standout lineman who played on both the 1983 and ’85 Vanier Cup squads and went on to become the top CFL draft pick in 1986. He was a final cut of the Pittsburgh Steelers and would win a pair of Grey Cups in an eight-year CFL career.

Trying to impart a winning attitude to the program is Warnock’s objective.

“It’s about relationship-building,’’ the 52-year-old noted. “It’s a people business really. It takes me back to the coaches I had and the influence that the football experience had on my life. Definitely, there’s a bigger picture than just the football.’’

As a former player, the idea of giving back is paramount. “I think (it’s important) to keep alumni connected and involved … just the community of it,’’ Warnock submitted. “Feeling that connection. If you have a good experience there, you feel that you can contribute some way so that others have that same experience.’’

Come to the Battle of Alberta

This Saturday, Oct. 1, the Dinos welcome their archrival University of Alberta Golden Bears for the Game of the Half-Century at the Battle of Alberta.

Dinos football team will pay tribute to the history of the football program and the university by wearing special edition retro gold uniforms. Fans are encouraged to proudly wear the UCalgary colours: red and gold.

The festival zone will open at 2 p.m., with Juno-winning band Dear Rouge beginning its set at about 2:30 p.m. Kickoff is at 3:30 p.m.

Learn more.