(L-R): Thomas Spoletini, James Green, Michael Klassen, Mike Edem, Linden Gaydosh, Sam Hurl, Coach Wayne Harris, Mercer Timmis, and Tanner Doll after Saturday afternoon's on-field session at McMahon Stadium

CALGARY - Stop us if you've heard this one: a REDBLACK, a Lion, a Roughrider, a Blue Bomber, a Tiger-Cat, and an Alouette walk into the Stampeders' stadium...

The University of Calgary Dinos football team has had more players in the Canadian Football League over the last few seasons than any other school in North America - and Head Coach Wayne Harris was thrilled to welcome back several of those alumni to McMahon Stadium as the Dinos took the field for their annual Spring Camp this weekend.

The three-day event wraps up Sunday with the alumni tournament, followed by the annual scrimmage at 12:30 p.m. While the current pros will suit up as celebrity officials for the alumni tournament, over the first two days they've been passing on their wisdom to the next generation of Dinos.

"It's a great opportunity for players to learn about what it takes to get to the pro level, and the things that they've learned after they've moved on from the University of Calgary," said Harris Saturday after the fourth and final practice session of the weekend. "We're always pleased when they can come back and contribute however they can."

From reigning Grey Cup champion Tanner Doll of the Ottawa REDBLACKS to the No. 1 pick in the 2013 draft, defensive lineman Linden Gaydosh of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, the returning alumni represented six of the nine CFL teams. Also on hand were B.C. Lions safety Mike Edem, Winnipeg Blue Bombers linebacker Sam Hurl, Hamilton Tiger-Cats running back Mercer Timmis, and Montreal Alouettes defensive lineman Michael Klassen. In addition to those six current players, two recent CFLers - James Green and Thomas Spoletini - also lent their services to help out at the camp.

"They really seem excited to be here and be part of it all, and we're really pleased that they want to be involved and stay involved with our program," said Harris. "One of the things we talk about is being a Dino for life - not just the four or five years you're here playing. We want our players to stay involved, whether it's through our alumni association the 5th Quarter, through coaching and on-field activities...we've had a lot of great assistant coaches come through the system, and I was in that same position at one time. It's nice to see that continue on and to have guys that want to be involved."

Also on the field, but not participating in the camp, were several players looking to be the next Dinos to enter the Canadian Football League, including three who were ranked in the top-20 prospects by the CFL: defensive back Robert Woodson, offensive lineman Braden Schram, and defensive lineman Connor McGough. Each will look to hear their names called in just a week's time during the draft set for Sunday, May 7.

-UC-