THE HEADING TO THE HAT:

For the second consecutive year the University of Calgary Dinos will play a pre-season game in the Gas City at the Methanex Bowl on Thursday, August 25 at 6:30 PM against the University of Regina Rams.

For a trio of Dinos the game will be a home coming. Fullback Anthony Anderson and defensive end Connor McGough are veterans with the Dinos and are looking forward to heading back to where they played their High School football. For freshman offensive lineman Kirkland Lawrence it will be a new experience.

“It is always nice to go back home to play,” states McGough who was 2014 Canada West all-star defensive lineman and is now in his fourth season with the club joining the Dinos from Crescent Heights.

For Anderson, who played his football at Medicine Hat High this game will be his final game for the Dinos in Medicine Hat as fullback and special team player is in his final year of eligibility with the Dinos.

Lawrence, a pure freshman from Quinn Skelton’s program at Medicine Hat High it marks the first time he will be dressed in a Dino uniform.

“I am excited having my parents, family and friends see the game,” Lawrence states who witnessed the game last year in the stands with members of his High School team when the two clubs played in late August.

Calgary Head Coach is excited about playing the pre-season game in Medicine Hat.

“We have been practicing since August 13. The guys are excited to line up against someone other than our own players,” states second year Head Coach Wayne Harris. “The Methanex Bowl is an excellent venue and it is an opportunity to showcase CIS football to the people from the Medicine Hat area.

Both teams are expected to dress and play all players that are eligible and healthy as it is the only preseason game for the both clubs.

A SECOND GENERATION PENNER MAKING IMPACT FOR DINOS:

Another Penner from Kenora, Ontario will be in the lineup for the University of Calgary Dinos when they kick off their 2016 Canada West football season in Winnipeg against the University of Manitoba Bisons Thursday evening at Investors Group field.

Jackson Penner, son of the former Dinos linebacker Chris Penner will be the Dinos long snapper and see action on special teams.

Young Penner is well aware of his father’s impressive credentials with the Dinos that earned him Canada West middle linebacker all-star honors three times in his five career in which he started four seasons and saw action as a reserve as a pure freshman. His father, affectionately known as “Prime Time Penner,” because of ability to excel in big games was a member of Calgary’s Conference championship teams in 1992 and 1993. What is ironic is that Chris was coached by current University of Calgary Head Coach Wayne Harris, who was linebacker coach with the Dinos then.

“I am well aware of my father’s contribution to the program,” states the 6’, 190 lbs. Penner who like his father attended Beaver Brae Secondary in Kenora and was coached by Chris in High School where Chris is a teacher as well as football coach.

“I started snapping in High School with my father, who also long snapped and he taught me quite a bit,” stated Jackson.

“His (Jackson’s) long snapping ability gets him on the field. He throws a nice ball that is very accurate for a young player,” states defensive coordinator Tom Higgins.

An excellent student academically Jackson was approached by Western and Queens but left little doubt that Calgary was where he wanted to continue his football and academic aspirations.

“I am here (Calgary) because of the fine football program and the school,” stated Penner.

TWO DINOS SURVIVE FIRST ROUND OF NFL CUTS:

While the current football members of the Dinos will be opening their 2016 Canada West regular season in Winnipeg at Investors Group on Thursday evening, a pair of their last year’s teammates will be focusing on making National Football League rosters.

Defensive back Elie Bouka and receiver Rashaun Simonise have survived the initial cut down to 75 by National Football League clubs on Tuesday August 30 at 2 PM EST.

Bouka, who missed all of last year due to an Achilles injury was placed on injury reserve by the Arizona Cardinals. The 6’1”, 205 lbs Bouka has been hampered by a leg injury much of training camp and questionable for the Cardinals final pre-season game Thursday against the defending Super Bowl Champion Denver Broncos at the University of Phoenix Stadium. Elie spent majority of the summer training with the Cardinals including attending mini-camp and getting treatment from the Cardinals’ medical personal for his Achilles injury. He missed the last two preseason games due to his hamstring injury but played initial preseason game against the Oakland Raiders.

The 6’5”, 200 lbs. Simonise spent three seasons with the Dinos earning all-Canadian status last year and signed a tryout a free agent tryout with the Bengals in July 2016. Simonise who caught a 47 yard pass in his initial preseason game is expected to dress for Bengals final preseason game Thursday evening at home against the Indianapolis Colts.

All National Football League teams will make their final cuts to the required 53 by September 3 and will name their 10 man practice roster the following day.

Rookies Making Impact in the Secondary for Dinos

They are mature football players beyond their age. That is why they are playing so much as freshmen in the defensive secondary.

Rookies Joshua Quarles and Treshaun Abrahams-Webster are making their mark in the secondary in 2016 for the University of Calgary Dinos.

``Both Josh and Treshaun are doing a great job for us. They are mature beyond their years with fabulous football instincts,” veteran defensive secondary coach Marcello Rapini.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. Quarles has dressed and played in all three regular season games while Abrams-Webster has dressed and played in two of the team`s first three games being forced to miss the first game against UBC due to injury.

``What makes both players so good is that they are very coachable,` added Rapini who is thrilled to have the two freshman from High School ranks.

``The game at the university level is so much quicker, everyone here knows what they are doing,`` stated Quarles who was coached at Henry Wise Wood High School in Calgary by former Dino defensive back Cody Ehrmann. ``Another difference is the dedication to play book as compared to High School,” stated the first year Open Studies student.

Abrahams-Webster was recruited by numerous CIS schools choosing Calgary to move from Ontario.

``Everyone at this level is more dedicated. The game is faster, the players are a lot bigger, and there is more attention to detail,” states the 18 year old native of Pickering, Ontario.

``I am more than glad I came out here, Coach Rapini is a great coach and has taught me to compete,`` the 5’11” 195 lbs. Abrahams-Webster stated.

FOOTBALL DINOS RECEIVE COMMITMENT FROM OUTSTANDING DEFENSIVE LINE PROSPECT:

The University of Calgary football Dinos confirmed defensive lineman Justin Sambu has signed a Canadian Interuniversity Sport Letter of Intent and will attend the U of C beginning in the fall of 2017.

Sambu, who graduated from Cochrane High School in 2016 as a 17-year old is currently with the Calgary Colts of the Prairie Junior Football Conference.

The 6’3”, 265 lbs. Sambu had a distinguished High School career playing for Rob McNab despite being one of the youngest players in the Rockyview League. He started for the Cobras for three seasons and was a member of two Provincial Championship teams. He was also a member of the Alberta U18 provincial team in 2015 and a member of the South team in the 2016 Senior Bowl.

Sambu also distinguished himself on the international stage. He was a starting member of the Canadian team that competed in the 2016 International Bowl in Arlington, Texas that defeated a United States all-star High School team.

University of Calgary Head Coach Wayne Harris is elated to receive a commitment from Sambu.

“Justin is one of the most outstanding defensive linemen in all of Canada. He is a big, strong young player that will continue to get better,” states Harris of Sambu who was ranked 11th in Canada by the Canada Football Chat scouting service of graduating High School seniors last year.

Sambu received numerous overtures to attend various NCAA and CIS schools included North Dakota and Missouri in the NCAA as well as a multitude of CIS schools that included UBC, Regina, Carleton, and Alberta.

“Calgary is my favorite CIS team. It is home for me and I always wanted to play here,” stated Sambu who will pursue courses in the Faculty of Kinesiology.

Justin is the son of Lesley Sambu who attended the University of Calgary.

DAN TEITZ JOINS THE DINOS FOR

Daniel Teitz always wanted a chance to play football with his older brother Micah Teitz. His wish will be granted in 2017.

The University of Calgary Dinos confirmed the signing of linebacker Daniel Teitz to a Canadian Interuniversity Letter of Intent.

Teitz, a 6’, 205 lbs. linebacker is a product from the Falcons program of the Calgary Minor Football Association who will graduate from Springbank High School in June 2017. Daniel was a Rockyview Football League all-star last year and was his team’s Most Valuable Player as well as the MVP for the Falcons of the Calgary Midget Football League.

A starting member of the Alberta U18 team for the past two years Daniel is familiar with the Dinos football program seeing his older brother, who was a Canada West all-star and CIS second team all-Canadian in 2015.

“I felt Calgary was the place for me. I have seen my brother play here (Calgary) and know the expectations,” stated Teitz who will enter the Faculty of Kinesiology. “I grew up around the program so I know how it (the program) works and I like the family atmosphere with the team. I knew this was the place for me,” states Teitz who was recruited by McGill, Manitoba, Alberta and Queens but did not make any official recruiting visits.

Head Coach Wayne Harris is delighted with Teitz’s decision to the join the Dinos.

“Daniel is an outstanding linebacker with great range and mobility. He had an outstanding Canada Cup with the Alberta U18 team,” Harris stated.

Daniel is the son of Martin and Hope Teitz of Springbank, AB.