U of S to pay tribute to Towriss

The University of Saskatchewan and Huskie Athletics will honour long-time former football coach Brian Towriss prior to kickoff when the Huskies face the Calgary Dinos on Friday, Sept. 14 at Griffiths Stadium in Nutrien Park. Towriss served as Huskies head coach for 33 years from 1984-2016, guiding the team to three Vanier Cup national championships and setting the U Sports record for most victories (196) and most games coached (315).

“We are excited to pay tribute to Coach Towriss and to show our appreciation for all that he did for Huskie Athletics and for the University of Saskatchewan,” said U of S President Peter Stoicheff. “His record of success helped raise the profile of our university across the country, but perhaps his most important contribution was his mentorship of superb student-athletes, and of individuals who have gone on to become outstanding leaders in the community as well. It is our great privilege to celebrate his legacy.”

Stoicheff will be joined by Shawn Burt, chief athletics officer of Huskie Athletics, and Rylan Hunter, president of the Huskies Football Alumni Club, in the homecoming game ceremony. The night will feature a special announcement and commemorative items for fans in attendance.

“We are extremely proud to honour Brian Towriss for his remarkable record of achievement and his contributions to Huskie Athletics that spanned more than three decades of excellence,” said Burt. “While Coach Towriss’ success preceded my time here on campus, his reputation was well-known across Canada for putting Huskies football into the national conversation year after year, and building the program into one of the most successful in the country. We’re forever grateful for his contributions to Huskies football.”

A nine-time Canada West conference coach of the year, Towriss was inducted into the Canadian Football Hall of Fame in 2017 and was awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit in 2007. A product of Moose Jaw, Sask., Towriss played four years for the Huskies while earning a commerce degree before moving into the coaching ranks. Towriss coached 71 All-Canadians, 154 league all-stars and 47 players who went on to play professionally in the Canadian Football League, including current Huskies head coach Scott Flory.

“BT was instrumental in not only my career, but many others, and not only in football in this city, but in the province and across the country,” said Flory, a former Huskies all-star who went on to play 15 seasons in the CFL with the Montreal Alouettes before returning to the U of S to coach. “He is a remarkable man and a trusted friend and mentor, and I am forever indebted.”

Unfortunately for Flory, he will miss Friday's game, but for a very good reason, as he is also inducted into the Football Hall of Fame in Hamilton, Ont. Flory will be back to take part in the Sept. 15 “Thanks to BT” celebration being hosted by Huskies football alumni at the Saskatoon Field House. Former Saskatchewan Premier Brad Wall will serve as the honorary chair and TSN sportscaster Darren Dutchyshen the master of ceremonies of that event, which will also honour the 20th anniversary of the Huskies’ 1998 Vanier Cup championship team.