Manitoba Bisons football
The Manitoba Bisons football team represents the University of Manitoba in the sport of Canadian football in U Sports. The program was the first of four U Sports football teams to have won back-to-back Vanier Cup championships, having won in 1969 and 1970. In total, the Bisons have won three Vanier Cup national championships and 11 Hardy Trophy conference championships. The Bisons are led by head coach, Brian Dobie, who has been the head coach since 1996.[1]
| Manitoba Bisons | |
|---|---|
 Manitoba Bisons logo | |
| First season | 1920 |
| Athletic director | Coleen Dufresne |
| Head coach | Brian Dobie 24th year, 95–94–2 (.503) |
| Other Staff | Stan Pierre (DC) Vaughan Mitchell (OC) |
| Home Stadium | IG Field |
| Year built | 2013 |
| Stadium capacity | 33,234 |
| Stadium surface | Turf |
| Location | Winnipeg, Manitoba |
| League | U Sports |
| Conference | CWUAA (1964 - present) |
| All-time record | 178–221–4 (.447) |
| Postseason record | – |
| Titles | |
| Vanier Cups | 3, (1969, 1970, 2007) |
| Mitchell Bowls | 1, (2007) |
| Churchill Bowls | 3, (1969, 1970, 2001) |
| Hardy Cups | 11, (1923, 1924, 1927, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1973, 2001, 2007, 2014) |
| Hec Crighton winners | 0 |
| Current uniform | |
 | |
| Colours | Brown and Gold |
| Outfitter | Nike |
| Rivals | Saskatchewan Huskies |
| Website | gobisons.ca |
Recent Vanier Cup
In 2007, the Bisons' football team won the Vanier Cup as the national champions in Canadian Interuniversity football, the first for the school in 37 years. Pat Gill, the manager, has been the manager for 40 years and was with the team during the 1969 and 1970 Vanier Cup teams. A big factor in the 2007 Vanier Cup was the injury to running back Matt Henry, who suffered and a broken femur in three places and severe muscle damage. However, in the end, kicker and punter Scott Dixon converted on all but one of his field goals and pinned the Saint Mary's Huskies deep several times. Dixon, in his rookie year, is tied for second all-time for most field goals in a game.[2]
Recent season results
| Season | Games | Won | Lost | T/OTL | PCT | PF | PA | Standing | Playoffs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0.813 | 279 | 138 | 1st in CW | Defeated UBC Thunderbirds in semi-final 14-4 Lost to Regina Rams in Hardy Cup 25-22 |
| 2001 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0.875 | 302 | 91 | 1st in CW | Defeated Calgary Dinos in semi-final 31-10 Defeated Regina Rams in Hardy Cup 23-17 Defeated McMaster Marauders in Churchill Bowl 27-6 Lost to Saint Mary's Huskies in 37th Vanier Cup 42-16 |
| 2002 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 271 | 119 | 1st in CW | Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in semi-final 37-18 |
| 2003 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0.375 | 172 | 249 | 6th in CW | Out of playoffs |
| 2004 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0.375 | 191 | 237 | 5th in CW | Out of playoffs |
| 2005 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0.563 | 228 | 172 | 3rd in CW | Lost to Alberta Golden Bears in semi-final 33-24 |
| 2006 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 363 | 143 | 1st in CW | Defeated Regina Rams in semi-final 44-29 Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in Hardy Cup 32-15 |
| 2007 | 8 | 8 | 0 | - | 1.000 | 206 | 110 | 1st in CW | Defeated Calgary Dinos in semi-final 27-5 Defeated Regina Rams in Hardy Cup 48-5 Defeated Western Ontario Mustangs in Mitchell Bowl 52-20 Defeated Saint Mary's Huskies in 43rd Vanier Cup 28-14 |
| 2008 | 8 | 3 | 5 | - | 0.375 | 126 | 160 | 5th in CW | Out of playoffs |
| 2009[A] | 7 | 2 | 5 | - | 0.286 | 164 | 203 | 6th in CW | Out of playoffs |
| 2010 | 8 | 2 | 6 | - | 0.250 | 160 | 295 | 5th in CW | Out of playoffs |
| 2011 | 8 | 3 | 5 | - | 0.375 | 214 | 218 | 5th in CW | Out of playoffs |
| 2012 | 8 | 4 | 4 | - | 0.500 | 282 | 306 | 4th in CW | Lost to Calgary Dinos in semi-final 57-18 |
| 2013 | 8 | 5 | 3 | - | 0.625 | 335 | 274 | 2nd in CW | Defeated Saskatchewan Huskies in semi-final 37-36 Lost to Calgary Dinos in Hardy Cup 43-28 |
| 2014 | 8 | 4 | 4 | - | 0.500 | 290 | 247 | 3rd in CW | Defeated Saskatchewan Huskies in semi-final 47-39 Defeated Calgary Dinos in Hardy Cup 27-15 Lost to Montreal Carabins in Uteck Bowl 29-26 |
| 2015 | 8 | 5 | 3 | - | 0.625 | 284 | 253 | 3rd in CW | Lost to UBC Thunderbirds in semi-final 52-10 |
| 2016 | 8 | 3 | 5 | - | 0.375 | 276 | 323 | 5th in CW | Out of playoffs |
| 2017 | 8 | 2 | 6 | - | 0.250 | 180 | 289 | 6th in CW | Out of playoffs |
| 2018 | 8 | 3 | 5 | - | 0.375 | 195 | 225 | 4th in CW | Lost to Calgary Dinos in semi-final 37-13 |
| 2019 | 8 | 4 | 4 | - | 0.500 | 221 | 242 | 4th in CW | Lost to Calgary Dinos in semi-final 47-46 |
^ A. Manitoba forfeited two wins for using an ineligible player. Simon Fraser also used an ineligible player in a Manitoba loss, so the game was declared "no contest".
Manitoba Bisons in professional football
As of the end of the 2019 CFL season, 13 former Bisons players are on CFL teams' rosters:
- Samson Abbott, Ottawa Redblacks
- Anthony Coombs, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- Nic Demski, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- Derek Dufault, Hamilton Tiger-Cats
- Geoff Gray, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- Kienan Lafrance, Saskatchewan Roughriders
- D. J. Lalama, Montreal Alouettes
- Chris Larsen, Ottawa Redblacks
- Jamel Lyles, BC Lions
- Thomas Miles, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
- Landon Rice, Montreal Alouettes
- Shai Ross, Edmonton Eskimos
- Zack Williams, Calgary Stampeders
In the 2016 NFL Draft, David Onyemata became the first Bison to be drafted into the NFL, being selected in the 4th round, 120th overall by the New Orleans Saints. As of the 2019 NFL season, he is on the Saints' active roster.[4]
References
- Brian Dobie Bisons profile
- Manitoba Bisons win the Vanier Cup
- "Players". Canadian Football League. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
- David Onyemata NFL profile