# Manitoba Bisons football

The Manitoba Bisons football team represents the University of Manitoba in the sport of Canadian football in U Sports. The program was the first of four U Sports football teams to have won back-to-back Vanier Cup championships, having won in 1969 and 1970. In total, the Bisons have won three Vanier Cup national championships and 11 Hardy Trophy conference championships.

## Notable history

In 2007, the Bisons' football team won the Vanier Cup as the national champions in Canadian Interuniversity football, the first for the school in 37 years. Pat Gill, the manager then, was the manager for 40 years and was with the team during the 1969 and 1970 Vanier Cup teams. A big factor in the 2007 Vanier Cup was the injury to running back Matt Henry, who suffered a broken femur in three places and severe muscle damage. However, in the end, kicker and punter Scott Dixon converted on all but one of his field goals and pinned the Saint Mary's Huskies deep several times. Dixon, in his rookie year, was tied for second all-time for most field goals in a game.
Maya Turner became the first woman to play in any U Sports regular season football game, on September 23, 2023, as a Manitoba Bisons kicker. She kicked the game winning field goal in overtime for the Bisons in their game against the Regina Rams.
The Bisons were led by head coach, Brian Dobie, who served as the team's head coach from 1996 to 2024. Stan Pierre, who served as the team's defensive coordinator since 1999, was named head coach on January 16, 2025.

## Recent season results

| Season | Games | Won | Lost | T/OTL | PCT | PF | PA | Standing | Playoffs |
| 2000 | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0.813 | 279 | 138 | 1st in CW | Defeated UBC Thunderbirds in semi-final 14–4 Lost to Regina Rams in Hardy Cup 25–22 |
| 2001 | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0.875 | 302 | 91 | 1st in CW | Defeated Calgary Dinos in semi-final 31–10 Defeated Regina Rams in Hardy Cup 23–17 Defeated McMaster Marauders in Churchill Bowl 27–6 Lost to Saint Mary's Huskies in 37th Vanier Cup 42–16 |
| 2002 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 271 | 119 | 1st in CW | Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in semi-final 37–18 |
| 2003 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0.375 | 172 | 249 | 6th in CW | Out of playoffs |
| 2004 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0.375 | 191 | 237 | 5th in CW | Out of playoffs |
| 2005 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0.563 | 228 | 172 | 3rd in CW | Lost to Alberta Golden Bears in semi-final 33–24 |
| 2006 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1.000 | 363 | 143 | 1st in CW | Defeated Regina Rams in semi-final 44–29 Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in Hardy Cup 32–15 |
| 2007 | 8 | 8 | 0 | - | 1.000 | 206 | 110 | 1st in CW | Defeated Calgary Dinos in semi-final 27–5 Defeated Regina Rams in Hardy Cup 48–5 Defeated Western Ontario Mustangs in Mitchell Bowl 52–20 Defeated Saint Mary's Huskies in 43rd Vanier Cup 28–14 |
| 2008 | 8 | 3 | 5 | - | 0.375 | 126 | 160 | 5th in CW | Out of playoffs |
| 2009 | 7 | 2 | 5 | - | 0.286 | 164 | 203 | 6th in CW | Out of playoffs |
| 2010 | 8 | 2 | 6 | - | 0.250 | 160 | 295 | 5th in CW | Out of playoffs |
| 2011 | 8 | 3 | 5 | - | 0.375 | 214 | 218 | 5th in CW | Out of playoffs |
| 2012 | 8 | 4 | 4 | - | 0.500 | 282 | 306 | 4th in CW | Lost to Calgary Dinos in semi-final 57–18 |
| 2013 | 8 | 5 | 3 | - | 0.625 | 335 | 274 | 2nd in CW | Defeated Saskatchewan Huskies in semi-final 37–36 Lost to Calgary Dinos in Hardy Cup 43–28 |
| 2014 | 8 | 4 | 4 | - | 0.500 | 290 | 247 | 3rd in CW | Defeated Saskatchewan Huskies in semi-final 47–39 Defeated Calgary Dinos in Hardy Cup 27–15 Lost to Montreal Carabins in Uteck Bowl 29–26 |
| 2015 | 8 | 5 | 3 | - | 0.625 | 284 | 253 | 3rd in CW | Lost to UBC Thunderbirds in semi-final 52–10 |
| 2016 | 8 | 3 | 5 | - | 0.375 | 276 | 323 | 5th in CW | Out of playoffs |
| 2017 | 8 | 2 | 6 | - | 0.250 | 180 | 289 | 6th in CW | Out of playoffs |
| 2018 | 8 | 3 | 5 | - | 0.375 | 195 | 225 | 4th in CW | Lost to Calgary Dinos in semi-final 37–13 |
| 2019 | 8 | 4 | 4 | - | 0.500 | 221 | 242 | 4th in CW | Lost to Calgary Dinos in semi-final 47–46 |
| 2020 | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic | Season cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic |
| 2021 | 6 | 4 | 2 | – | 0.667 | 138 | 124 | 2nd in CW | Defeated Alberta Golden Bears in semi-final 43–17 Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in Hardy Cup 45–17 |
| 2022 | 8 | 4 | 4 | – | 0.500 | 232 | 217 | 4th in CW | Lost to Saskatchewan Huskies in semi-final 37–9 |
| 2023 | 8 | 3 | 5 | – | 0.375 | 203 | 272 | 4th in CW | Lost to UBC Thunderbirds in semi-final 29–21 |
| 2024 | 8 | 7 | 1 | – | 0.875 | 251 | 204 | 1st in CW | Lost to Regina Rams in semi-final 28–25 |
^ A. Manitoba forfeited two wins for using an ineligible player. Simon Fraser also used an ineligible player in a Manitoba loss, so the game was declared "no contest".

## Head coaches

| Name | Years |
| Unknown | 1920–1967 |
| Henry Janzen | 1968–1970 |
| Unknown | 1971–1995 |
| Brian Dobie | 1996–2024 |
| Stan Pierre | 2025–present |

## National award winners

* J. P. Metras Trophy: Bart Evans (1974), Jason Rauhaus (1991), Israel Idonije (2002), David Onyemata (2015), Giordano Vaccaro (2024)
* Presidents' Trophy: Joey Mikawoz (2000), D. J. Lalama (2016)
* Peter Gorman Trophy: Domenic Zagari (1991)
* Russ Jackson Award: Thomas Hall (2009, 2010), Cameron Teschuk (2016), Mark Rauhaus (2023)
* Frank Tindall Trophy: Henry Janzen (1969), Brian Dobie (2001)
* Gino Fracas Award: Richard Urbanovich (2005), Vaughan Mitchell (2023)

## Manitoba Bisons in professional football

As of the end of the 2024 CFL season, four former Bisons players are on CFL teams' rosters:
* Gavin Cobb, Edmonton Elks
* Nic Demski, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
* Brock Gowanlock, Montreal Alouettes
* Landon Rice, Toronto Argonauts
* Zack Williams, Calgary Stampeders
In the 2016 NFL draft, David Onyemata became the first Bison to be drafted into the National Football League, being selected in the 4th round, 120th overall by the New Orleans Saints. As of the start of the 2024 NFL season, he is on the active roster of the Atlanta Falcons.