Brian Dobie calls it the meat of the schedule and we're about to see if the Manitoba Bisons will bring their collective appetites to the table.
Without showing a lack of respect for the rest of the teams in an ultra-competitive Canada West football conference, the fourth-ranked Bisons can make a strong statement by playing well today against the ninth-ranked Alberta Golden Bears (2 p.m., University Stadium, 101.5 UMFM, SHAW-TV) and on Oct. 7 against the Saskatchewan Huskies.
STRONG MESSAGE
While the focus is clearly on facing Alberta, Bisons players would be lying if they said they hadn't look at the schedule and noticed the opportunity to send a strong message to the rest of Canada.
"Those are going to be two big games for us and show us where we're at," said Bisons linebacker Jeff Alamolhoda. "Saskatchewan has been ranked in the Top-5 and a lot of teams know about them, but not too many of them realize how much of a powerhouse Manitoba can be."
Dobie says the Bisons must limit the Golden Bears rushing game, which features tailback Tendayi Jozzy, who is tops in the nation with 88 rushes for 535 yards through three games (178.3 yards per game).
"Their offensive line is outstanding and their running game has been that good this year," said Dobie. "Our strength is our D-line and our front seven. There's no question we've got to control their run. They want to establish the run. That's their M.O. (modus operandi) and we'll deal with their M.O.
"On the other side of the ball, Alberta traditionally has great defences and this is a great defence."
That means the Bisons need to continue to show solid balance between the running and passing game.
To add fuel to the fire, the 2-1 Golden Bears have won the past four head-to-head meetings with the 3-0 Bisons, including a first-round playoff loss that ended last season.
Fourth-year fullback Neil Fulgueras believes the Bisons are showing improvement on a weekly basis.
"I wouldn't say we're at our peak but we're approaching our full potential," said Fulgueras.
HERD NOTES: Canada West special teams player of the week Andrew Patzer won't be in uniform today but his sore knee is improving dramatically. Patzer, a punter and linebacker, banged up his knee while rushing for a first down last week against the Calgary Dinos. Patzer, who is listed as day-to-day, was on crutches earlier this week but has since ditched them and hopes to be ready for the important tilt with Saskatchewan. Kicker Peter Scouras will also handle the punting chores this afternoon.
