U of S Huskies relaunch Dog's Breakfast; next on the menu is spring camp
Annual fundraiser for team's scholarship fund returns after 2-year COVID absence
SASKATOON Thursday morning at Prairieland Park, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies basked in cameras, bright lights, bacon, a large throng, and — most important — a sense of normalcy.
Charlie Parks, a versatile football recruit out of Sheldon-williams, surveyed the scene at the 20th Dog's Breakfast and pronounced himself suitably fired up.
“It was spectacular,” Parks said of the breakfast, an annual fundraising affair for the football program that had been cancelled each of the last two years because of COVID -19.
“It's 1,500 people in this big-ass room. That's a lot more than I was expecting. I was accustomed to the high-school classic 50 people in the top of the Turvey Centre back in Regina. You've maybe got a Bluetooth speaker or something, and just your coaches talking. This is surreal, and getting to walk out of the (giant inflatable) dog for the first time ... it's unbelievable.”
Parks, a member of the Huskies' 2022 recruiting class, walked through the Huskie dog 's legs and up onto the stage while being introduced.
Saskatchewan Roughriders' quarterback Cody Fajardo, also on hand, said later that the breakfast — which raised $110,000 for the team's scholarship fund — “is as close as it gets to a top-tier college feel.
“Seeing the recruits walk across the stage,” he added, “it brought me back as a player to my first year at the University of Nevada — a wide-eyed, nervous kid, and growing up to be a man throughout my four years at university.”
And that extends to players like Parks, who played running back, receiver, defensive end and on special teams for Sheldon-williams.
Not quarterback, though it was close.
“I was second-string in the city championship,” he noted
That versatility gives Parks — whose uncle, Brent Dancey, played defensive end with the Huskies when they won their last Vanier Cup in 1998 — plenty of options as he heads into this weekend's Huskies spring camp.
“It's a little bit ridiculous,” he quipped, referring to all the positions he's played. “I think I'm pretty much sticking at the edge defender role (with the Huskies) — mostly defensive end, maybe a little bit of outside linebacker. But at the end of the day, I don't really care where I'm playing. If you tell me to line up somewhere, I'm going to line up there. If you need a guy to go fill in at boundary corner, I'll line up at boundary corner. I'll probably get toasted, but I'll line up and I'll try my hardest.”
Parks said he talked with every Canada West school except Manitoba and Alberta while narrowing down his choices.
A supper with the Huskies' player leadership group greatly impressed him, and he liked the coaches. They were “less like a boss, and more like a family,” he said. “I just had a feeling, and I followed it.”
The breakfast featured four members of the Grey Cup-champion 2007 Saskatchewan Roughriders as guests: Andy Fantuz, Jeremy O'day, Tad Kornegay and Scott Schultz.
And then, spring camp — a chance for the Huskies, who lost last year's Vanier Cup, to see what they'll have for the 2022 season.
Quarterback Mason Nyhus said he appreciates the return to normal routines.
“I remember the 2020 season (when the team practised, but didn't play),” Nyhus said.
“We were eight guys in cohorts, working out, and you had to cut the field in fours. Only quarterbacks and receivers could work together, and you can't go against DBS. It was some crazy times, and I'm just happy we're back together as a team.”
As is Parks, who launches his collegiate career this weekend.
“I'm stoked,” he said. “It's been the only thing on my mind for a month and a half. I'm ready to go.”
The Huskies practised Thursday night, and are back on the field Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 1 p.m., and then Sunday at 11 a.m. for their Green and White game.
This is surreal, and getting to walk out of the (giant inflatable) dog for the first time ... it's unbelievable.