SASKATCHEWAN — Dave and Craig Dickenson will square off against each other Saturday night. The brothers meet for the first time in the regular season as opposing CFL head coaches, Dave with the Calgary Stampeders and Craig with the Saskatchewan Roughriders. (Update: Dave’s Stampeders earned a 37-10 win on Saturday.)
The Great Falls natives continue to have plenty of support from the Treasure State where Dave is still considered by many to be the greatest Montana Grizzly player of all time.
When the UM head coaching job has opened up a few times in the past decade, Dickenson’s name has often been mentioned by hopeful Griz fans as a possible candidate.
And although he’s never come close to taking the job, Dickenson admitted to MTN Sports his alma mater still has a strong pull.
“I’ve considered it,” Dickenson said. “But I really like Bobby Hauck, I think they have a great staff. I honestly think Craig would be just as qualified or more than me. He knows the recruiting game better than I do.”
Could a possible return stateside ever come about?
“I’m not going to say never, but it’s certainly a ways away, for sure,” he said. “I’m really excited for the Griz this year. I think that Bobby is kind of changing it back to the way I remember it, which is try to get as much homegrown talent as possible. Even (Montana State), I like their head coach, (Jeff) Choate is doing a great job. I think Montana football is well-represented, and that’s something I’m proud of.”
Dickenson recently entered the College Football Hall of Fame. He’s already in the Canadian Football Hall of Fame for his professional playing career. And now he’s proving to be equally successful as a head coach, after leading last year’s Stampeders to the Grey Cup title in his third season in charge.
The Stampeders (1-1) travel to Saskatchewan (1-2) Saturday with an 8 p.m. kickoff.
The brothers plan to have dinner Friday night, but football won’t be one of the topics of discussion.
