Manitoba Bisons football

Last updated

Manitoba Bisons
Manitoba Bisons 2025 Logo.svg
Manitoba Bisons logo
First season1920
Athletic director Coleen Dufresne
Head coach Stan Pierre
1st year, – 
Other staffVaughan Mitchell (OC)
Home stadium IG Field
Year built2013
Stadium capacity33,234
Stadium surfaceTurf
LocationWinnipeg, Manitoba
League U Sports
Conference CWUAA (1964 - present)
All-time record196–233–4 (.457)
Postseason record– 
Titles
Vanier Cups3, (1969, 1970, 2007)
Mitchell Bowls1, (2007)
Churchill Bowls3, (1969, 1970, 2001)
Hardy Cups11, (1923, 1924, 1927,
1966, 1968, 1969, 1970,
1973, 2001, 2007, 2014)
Hec Crighton winners0
Current uniform
Manitoba Bisons football uniform 2008-Current.png
ColoursBrown and Gold
   
Outfitter Nike
Rivals Saskatchewan Huskies
Website gobisons.ca

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.

Contents

Notable history

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 then, was 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 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, was tied for second all-time for most field goals in a game. [1]

Maya Turner became the first woman to play in any U Sports regular season football game, on September 23, 2023, as a Manitoba Bisons kicker. She kicked the game winning field goal in overtime for the Bisons in their game against the Regina Rams. [2]

The Bisons were led by head coach, Brian Dobie, who served as the team's head coach from 1996 to 2024. [3] Stan Pierre, who served as the team's defensive coordinator since 1999, was named head coach on January 16, 2025. [4]

Recent season results

SeasonGamesWonLostT/OTLPCTPFPAStandingPlayoffs
2000 86110.8132791381st in CWDefeated UBC Thunderbirds in semi-final 14–4
Lost to Regina Rams in Hardy Cup 25–22
2001 87100.875302911st in CWDefeated 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 88001.0002711191st in CWLost to Saskatchewan Huskies in semi-final 37–18
2003 83500.3751722496th in CWOut of playoffs
2004 83500.3751912375th in CWOut of playoffs
2005 84310.5632281723rd in CWLost to Alberta Golden Bears in semi-final 33–24
2006 88001.0003631431st in CWDefeated Regina Rams in semi-final 44–29
Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in Hardy Cup 32–15
2007 880-1.0002061101st in CWDefeated 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 835-0.3751261605th in CWOut of playoffs
2009 [A] 725-0.2861642036th in CWOut of playoffs
2010 826-0.2501602955th in CWOut of playoffs
2011 835-0.3752142185th in CWOut of playoffs
2012 844-0.5002823064th in CWLost to Calgary Dinos in semi-final 57–18
2013 853-0.6253352742nd in CWDefeated Saskatchewan Huskies in semi-final 37–36
Lost to Calgary Dinos in Hardy Cup 43–28
2014 844-0.5002902473rd in CWDefeated 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 853-0.6252842533rd in CWLost to UBC Thunderbirds in semi-final 52–10
2016 835-0.3752763235th in CWOut of playoffs
2017 826-0.2501802896th in CWOut of playoffs
2018 835-0.3751952254th in CWLost to Calgary Dinos in semi-final 37–13
2019 844-0.5002212424th in CWLost to Calgary Dinos in semi-final 47–46
2020 Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021 642–0.6671381242nd in CWDefeated Alberta Golden Bears in semi-final 43–17
Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in Hardy Cup 45–17
2022 844–0.5002322174th in CWLost to Saskatchewan Huskies in semi-final 37–9
2023 835–0.3752032724th in CWLost to UBC Thunderbirds in semi-final 29–21
2024 871–0.8752512041st in CWLost to Regina Rams in semi-final 28–25

^ 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".

National postseason results

Vanier Cup Era (1965-current)
YearGameOpponentResult
1968 Churchill Bowl Queen's L 6-29
1969Churchill Bowl

Vanier Cup

Windsor

McGill

W 41-7

W 24-15

1970Churchill Bowl

Vanier Cup

Queen's


Ottawa

W 24-20

W 38-11

1973Churchill BowlMcGillL 0-16
2001Churchill Bowl

Vanier Cup

McMaster

Saint Mary's

W 27-6

L 16-42

2007 Mitchell Bowl

Vanier Cup

Western

Saint Mary's

W 52-20

W 28-14

2014 Uteck Bowl Montreal L 26-29

Manitoba is 4-3 in national semi-final games and 3-1 in the Vanier Cup.

Head coaches

NameYearsNotes
Paul Bennett1919–1920
Fred Ritter 1921–1922
Hunt1923
Hal Moulden1924
Fred Ritter1925–1928
Bob Priestley1929
Jack Little1930
Karl Wintemute1931
No team1932
Gordon Bowes1933
Walter Hass 1934
No team1935–1940
Bill Boivin 1941
Art Stevenson 1942
No team1939–1945
Pat Twomey1946–1947
Acey Olson1948–1950
No team1951–1961
George Depres1962–1966
Henry Janzen 1967–1971
Gary Naylor1972–1978
Dennis Hrycaiko1979–1989
Scott Spurgeon1990–1992
Ron Lancaster Jr. 1993–1995
Brian Dobie 1996–2024
Stan Pierre2025–present

National award winners

[5]

Manitoba Bisons in professional football

As of the end of the 2024 CFL season, four former Bisons players are on CFL teams' rosters:

[6]

In the 2016 NFL draft, David Onyemata became the first Bison to be drafted into the National Football League, being selected in the 4th round, 120th overall by the New Orleans Saints. As of the start of the 2024 NFL season, he is on the active roster of the Atlanta Falcons. [7]

References

  1. ↑ Manitoba Bisons win the Vanier Cup
  2. ↑ "Maya Turner kicks OT winner after becoming 1st woman to play regular-season U Sports football game". CBC News. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  3. ↑ "UManitoba Bisons football team aims to give coach Brian Dobie's career a storybook ending". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. November 1, 2024.
  4. ↑ "Stan Pierre named head coach of Bisons football". Manitoba Bisons. January 16, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Sport awards". U Sports. Archived from the original on February 28, 2021. Retrieved November 24, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Players". Canadian Football League . Retrieved November 4, 2024.
  7. ↑ "David Onyemata". National Football League . Retrieved November 9, 2023.
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