The Manitoba Bisons football program starts their defence of the 2014 Canada West championship title by beginning the 2015 season with a new opponent during a pre-season home game.

The Bisons host the first-ever CIS pre-season football game at Investors Group Field in the 2015 season opener when they play the Guelph Gryphons on Saturday, August 22. This is the first of a back-to-back seasons of both teams playing in pre-season action as Manitoba will play at Guelph to start the 2016 season.   

Guelph was the 2014 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) finalist after a tough 20-14 loss at McMaster in the Yates Cup. 

Manitoba has not played a non-Canada West opponent in pre-season play since the 1990s. They played Guelph twice in pre-season back in 1991 (when Bison assistant coach Stan Pierre was in uniform) and 1973 (when Bison head coach Brian Dobie played).

"This is an important step to play non-conference opponents as there is a growing movement for a national schedule for CIS football teams to play across the country," said Bison football head coach Brian Dobie heading into his 20th season at the helm. "We are very happy to play Guelph in pre-season games over the next two seasons and see this as a great way to kick off our 2015 season and build on our conference winning season."

With the adoption of a new rule change that states training camp now starts two weeks prior to the first CIS football game, the Bisons will have training camp expanded to three weeks in length and begins on Saturday, August 15.  

The full Bison Football and Canada West football schedule will be officially released later in Spring 2015. More details in regards to the first CIS pre-season football game at Investors Group Field will also be announced at a further date.

Bison Football - 2015 Pre-Season Game at Investors Group Field

Saturday, August 22Bisons vs. Guelph

Game time: To Be Determined 

For more information, contact Bison Football Head Coach Brian Dobie at 204-474-9627.

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