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By Wray Morrison

Marshall Faulk visits Saskatoon

2023 Huskie Football season begins with Dog’s Breakfast

May 4, 2023 | 4:35 PM

It’s the annual kick-off to spring camp for the University of Saskatchewan Huskie football team. The 21^st annual Dog’s Breakfast was held at Prairieland Park on Thursday morning with guest speaker Marshall Faulk. The 2000 Super Bowl champion and former NFL MVP spoke to the crowd of over 14 hundred about how, in high school, he played multiple positions before settling into the role of running back in college and in the NFL. He also shared stories about his time with the St. Louis Cardinals and hot the team became “The Greatest Show on Turf” Faulk went on to an illustrious career which included 7 Pro-Bowls and induction in the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

This year’s event raised over $100,000 for player scholarships. Over $2 million has been raised since the first Dog’s Breakfast back in 2001. “I have noticed that the breakfast has evolved”, said Huskie Football Foundation chair, John Hyshka. “The reason the foundation got started was because of some good friends of BT.” (Brian Towriss, Huskie head coach from 1984-2016) “He had mentioned that he was having trouble recruiting because other schools were offering full scholarships.” (Approximately 800 people attended the first breakfast and Towriss was the guest speaker.)

The Dog’s Breakfast has become one of Saskatoon’s great sports traditions. Prior to the pandemic some events reached nearly 2,000 in attendance. Over the years guest speakers have included Jeff Garcia, Warren Moon, D.D. Lewis, Russ Jackson, Ronnie Lott, George Reed and members of Roughrider Grey Cup teams from 1989 and 2007.

“My favourite speaker was Reuben Mayes, because I went to high school with him”, joked Hyshka. “I think one of the speakers that moved me the most was Ron Lancaster.” Lancaster spoke at the 2007 Dog’s Breakfast. The quarterback, who played for the Riders from 1963 to 1978, led Saskatchewan to the 1966 Grey Cup championship. Lancaster passed away in 2008.

21 recruits from across western Canada were introduced at Thursday’s breakfast. “It’s not just about the fundraising side of it”, said Hyshka. “When we introduce the recruits, it makes the families feel really good as the players are welcomed into the team. It’s not just about the money.” However, there was more money given to the team.

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The Roughriders donated $180,000 to the Huskie football team for operational costs, with the revenue coming from 50/50 sales at home games. The presentation was made by Cindy Fuchs who is the Executive Director of the Saskatchewan Roughrider Foundation. General Manager Jeremy O’Day and new quarterback Trevor Harris were among those from the Roughriders in attendance at Thursday’s breakfast.

The Griffiths Stadium turf will be busy in the month of May.

The Huskies opened their spring camp on Thursday evening following the breakfast. Camp concludes with a Green and White scrimmage on Sunday morning at 11am. Roughrider Rookie camp starts at the U of S campus on Wednesday, May 10^th with main camp beginning on Sunday, May 14^th.

The date of the 2024 Dog’s Breakfast is Thursday, May 2^nd.

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wray.morrison@pattisonmedia.com

Twitter: @wraymorrison