CALGARY – The University of Calgary Dinos officially kick off the 2024 season Friday with a big home opener, welcoming the University of Regina Rams to McMahon Stadium.

The action is set for 5:30 p.m. on Friday, with festivities for fans starting at 3:30 as part of the annual KICKOFF event.

• HEADLINES
• The Dinos and Rams met just once last season - a Week 3 home win for Regina. Calgary entered the game with a number of backups forced into early action. The Dinos jumped out to a 15-1 lead, but the Rams scored 16 unanswered in the fourth to pull off the victory.
• After dominating the head-to-head series 22-2 from 2008-2019, the Dinos have now dropped the last four against the Rams.
• Regina has been Calgary's opponent for the annual KICKOFF event twice prior to Friday's opener. The Rams have managed to keep things close in those two meetings, falling 24-21 back in 2010 before a 49-35 Dinos win in 2017.
• This is the first of two meetings between the Dinos and Rams this season. Calgary will make the return trip to Regina on Oct. 5. The Dinos' other two home-and-home series this season will come against Saskatchewan and UBC.

Calgary Dinos (0-0)
Next week: at Alberta

• Ryan Sheahan officially takes over as the seventh head coach in Dinos football history on Friday. The former assistant coach and offensive coordinator for the Dinos will look to get the offence back on track after the team finished 3-5 a season ago.
• A season ago, the Dinos just missed out on a playoff berth, finishing tied for fourth in the Canada West standings, losing out on the tiebreaker.
• Calgary's defence was one of the most feared in the country by the end of last season. Over their final three games, the Dinos allowed just 23 points by opposing offenses down the stretch.
• A total of eight of the Dinos 12 starters from last year's defence return, including their three leading tacklers along with Nate Beauchemin and Jordan Chizda who combined for seven interceptions a season ago.
• The Dinos hit the road the next two weeks, starting with a trip north to take on provincial rivals Alberta next Friday at 7 p.m. from Foote Field.

Regina Rams (0-0)
Next week: vs. Saskatchewan

• The Rams open up their 25th season at the U SPORTS level on Friday night. After a 5-3 campaign in 2022, things unravelled a year ago for the Rams, going just 1-7, with their lone win coming at home against the Dinos.
• Head coach Mark McConkey enters his fourth year at the helm of the Rams. The Calgary native holds a 7-15 mark in conference play through his first three seasons. Regina competed in one preseason game this year, hosting Manitoba at Mosiac Stadium on Aug. 22.
• The Rams took the lead late in the seesaw affair before a pair of Maya Turner field goals gave the Bisons a 29-25 win in the exhibition. The Rams will host their home opener next weekend as provincial rival Saskatchewan comes to campus for a 7 p.m. kickoff. 

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