CALGARY – An incredible amount of Canadian football history was present Monday evening at University of Calgary Dinos football practice at McMahon Stadium.

Four Canadian Football Hall of Famers were in attendance as Head Coach Ryan Sheahan and his staff prepared the Dinos for the 2026 Canada West football season.

Two were great players. One was a distinguished coach. Another was an incredible builder and executive.

Henry Burris had a fantastic 18-year career in the Canadian Football League. Greg Vavra had an incredible career with the Dinos. Peter Connellan is one of the most distinguished coaches in the history of U SPORTS football, and Stan Schwartz is one of the most premier executives in the history of the CFL.

Schwartz and Vavra are alumni of the University of Calgary. Connellan was not only the Dinos head coach, but also a Faculty of Kinesiology member.

Schwartz played football in the infancy of the program in the 1960s, graduating with a Bachelor of Physical Education and teaching certificate before completing his Master's at Indiana State University. Stan was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2017. He is also a member of the Alberta Sports Hall of Fame and was named Calgary Sportsperson of the Year in 2004. Schwartz is on the Wall of Honor at McMahon Stadium for his dedication and work with the Calgary Stampeders and football in Calgary.

Connellan was the architect of four national championship teams during his tenure as head coach with the Dinos. In his 11 seasons as head coach, his teams won eight conference titles. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2012, and into the Alberta, University of Calgary and Canada West Halls of Fame. He is also a recipient of the Order of the University of Calgary.

Vavra is the only player to have a football jersey retired (number 17), and quarterbacked the Dinos to their first national championship in 1983. He was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in the class of 2022 with Burris. Vavra is in the Canada West and University of Calgary Halls of Fame. He was the school's first Hec Crighton Trophy winner as the Most Outstanding Player in U SPORTS football in 1983, and was a conference all-star quarterback from 1980 to 1983. Like Connellan, he is a recipient of the Order of the University of Calgary. He graduated with Business and Law degrees.

Henry's career highlights are numerous. Among his many accolades, he is a three-time Grey Cup champion, two-time Grey Cup Most Valuable Player, two-time CFL Most Valuable Player, and was twice named the league's top quarterback. He is also a member of the Temple University Hall of Fame.

The presence of the four Hall of Famers was not lost on Head Coach Ryan Sheahan.

"I have said this time and time again. Calgary is a special place! Monday's practice was special. To have four football legends like that at practice was a real treat that had a great impact on our team," stated Sheahan.

Henry Burris, Peter Connellan, Stan Schwartz, and Greg Vavra – Canadian Football Hall of Fame members and hall of fame individuals.