Kevin Mitchell
Saskatoon StarPhoenix
Few things are quite as nice as coming home, especially when you’re a struggling football team.
The University of Saskatchewan Huskies, after opening their season with treks to two hostile ports, are back at Griffiths Stadium Friday (7 p.m.) for a home-opening clash with the Calgary Dinos.
“In front of our fans, on our field,” says Huskies’ receiver Daniel Wiebe. “It’s going to be nice. No bus rides — just coming here, and playing a football game.”
The Huskies opened their season with a 37-24 loss to Manitoba, and followed that with a 33-28 setback against the Regina Rams.
Saskatchewan, which played at Vanier Cups in 2021 and 2022, have now lost five of their last six regular-season and playoff games dating back to last season.
“We’ve got to figure out how to start strong, and keep that going throughout the whole game,” said Wiebe, who — at 16 catches for 305 yards and three touchdowns — is by far the league’s most productive receiver through two games. “We’ve had highs, but we also had lots of lows. We’ve got to keep that steady pace through the whole game.
“We’re oh-and-two right now. We’ve got to be careful with that. We can’t keep losing games. Before you know it, the season’s done. It’s a short season, and we’ve got to make sure we’re making the most of our games, and start winning games.”
Huskies head coach Scott Flory said this week that talking in old, tried-and-true cliches is not a bad approach when a team is trying to shake a slump.
“We’ve got to be in the moment,” he began. “We’ve got to not worry about the scoreboard, and about all the other things that are happening — the wind, the rain, all the things that are happening. Just play the play.
“I know those are old sports cliches, but they’re so appropriate. There’s a reason why they’re used, because they’re so appropriate. Just be in the moment, and that’s what I tell our players. Understand and trust the process, and what we’re doing, and how we’re developing. And when you’re in the game, just play that play. It’s the only one that matters.”
Flory is asked if the homecoming could be seen as a potential reset, and he nods.
“‘Reset’ is a good way to put it,” he said. “We get an opportunity to erase. ‘Hey; it didn’t work out the first couple weeks, the team’s still working its butt off, we’re getting better each and every play.’ And it’s another opportunity for us Friday night.”
Calgary enters with 1-1 record. They lost 24-16 to Regina on opening day, and beat Alberta 36-22 last weekend.
The Huskies advanced to the post-season with a 5-3 record last year (before losing in the first round of playoffs) and Calgary failed to advance after going 3-5.
As part of Friday’s homecoming festivities, the 1973 and 1974 Huskie teams are holding a reunion and will be introduced on the field before the game. That 1973 squad went 6-2 and lost to Manitoba in the conference championship, while the 1974 team is celebrating the 50th anniversary of its Western Intercollegiate Football League title.
Two Huskie all-Canadians from that era, John Konihowski and Gerry Harris, will be the flag-bearers.
kemitchell@postmedia.com
