Grey Cup has distinct Dinos feel
Together, they took the University of Calgary Dinos to the brink of a national championship in 2013, only to fall just short in the final against the Laval Rouge et Or.
This week, they’ll be standing on opposite sides of the field.
In Ottawa Redblacks colours will be receiver Jake Harty and linebacker Tanner Doll, while quarterback Andrew Buckley will be decked out in the remarkably similar colours of the Calgary Stampeders.
For four quarters, friendships will be cast aside and old loyalties left behind.
First, though, they might just grab a bite to eat and catch up.
“Me and Buckley will probably catch dinner sometime this week,” said Harty, a born-and-bred Calgarian now in his second year with the Redblacks. “We’re good buddies and we definitely stay in touch and stuff like that, but come game day, you’re not friends then.”
Together, Harty, Buckley and Doll formed the core of a Dinos team that dominated the Canada West conference regular season for the past couple years, although they never quite managed to get back to the Vanier Cup final after that fateful run in 2013.
They’re only three of the 17 former Dinos who started the season with CFL teams and each is finding his feet as a professional.
The memories of that game are still fresh, though, and it’s clear the time all three spent with the Dinos was meaningful.
“The players we had on that (2013) team were incredible,” said Buckley, who has been a consistent presence on the Dinos sideline this season. “There were a lot of big names on that team and guys who are now playing in the CFL. It’s cool to see where they all ended up.”
Doll was drafted in the fourth round of the 2015 CFL Draft and has played in eight games so far this season, picking up two special teams tackles and forcing one fumble in his rookie year.
Harty, meanwhile, has seen his workload increased in his second season with the Redblacks.
The 25-year-old has made appearances in 14 games, making nine receptions for 81 yards.
Buckley’s made even more of an impact for the Stampeders after a career that ranks among the greatest in Canadian university history for the Dinos. While he’s officially the Stampeders’ third option, he has been used in short-yardage situation and appeared in all 18 regular season games, picking up eight touchdowns on 27 carries.
Throughout all of it, they’ve stayed in touch.
“We always say once a Dino, always a Dino,” Doll said Wednesday from the field both teams are using for practice this week in Toronto.
“I’m still in touch with all the boys, so this has turned into a dream weekend.”
That might be something of an understatement as Calgary football will be in the centre of the Canadian sports spotlight this weekend.
While the Dinos alumni play in the Grey Cup on Sunday, the university team will be down the road in Hamilton, Ont., a day earlier, playing in Saturday’s Vanier Cup in a rematch of the 2013 national final against the Rouge et Or.
Buckley said he’s still got to ask Stampeders head coach Dave Dickenson if he can make the trip down the QEW to watch the game firsthand, but there’s no question all three of the former Dinos will be keeping a close eye on the proceedings at Tim Hortons Field.
Once a Dino, always a Dino, after all.