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After a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of Saskatchewan Huskies Dogs’ Breakfast fundraiser was back and in a big way.
More than 1,400 people showed up Thursday morning in support of the program and to hear from Andy Fantuz, Jeremy O’Day, Tad Kornegay and Scott Schultz — all members of the 2007 Grey Cup-champion Saskatchewan Roughriders.
The 20th edition of the event featured Huskies recruits from the past two football seasons — who were unable to experience the event because of COVID restrictions — as well as the 2022 class.
Huskies head coach Scott Flory stressed how important this event is and how glad he is that it’s back.
“(It’s great to see) the level of community support that we have (and) just how important this program, this institution and our athletic department is to the city and province,” Flory said.
“You see it with the presence of (president) Craig Reynolds and (general manager) Jeremy O’Day here of the Riders and how instrumental they are in wanting to help and grow the game of football.”
Former Riders receiver Andy Fantuz, who attended Western University, was blown away by the facilities in Saskatoon, comparing them to those of NCAA Division I schools south of the border.
He said student-athletes are going to see the benefits from this event long afterward.
“It’s a destination to attract athletes from all over the country to play here and there’s no surprise they’re being successful,” Fantuz said of the Huskies.
“They’re getting the best coaching, they have the resources behind them — this breakfast is going to give players an opportunity to get scholarships and bring in the top athletes and give them all the tools they need,” added Fantuz, who was also impressed with the amount of support for the event.
Current Riders players were also in attendance, as quarterback Cody Fajardo and receiver Shaq Evans took in the festivities and connected with some of the Huskies players.
“I know when I was going through it, all of it was new to me,” said Fajardo, a product of the University of Nevada. “So having that experience (and) being able to pass it down when guys ask me questions and what to expect — and even not football questions, (but also) things off the field — I like being a part of that.
“It’s an incredible event. (It’s) my first time here. They do an awesome job of representing this university, representing this province and showing how football-crazy everyone is.”
Evans, a product of California, said his first Dogs’ Breakfast brought some nostalgic feelings from his UCLA days.
“It brings up those feelings of being anxious and excited at the same time and being nervous,” Evans said, adding he jumped at the opportunity to attend after being embraced by the community.
“It’s really cool to see guys get that opportunity and it’s definitely something I’m proud to be a part of and thankful to be a part of because they didn’t have to invite me. So once they invited me, it was a no-brainer to come up here and experience it.”
With the Huskies falling in the Vanier Cup last year to Western, Flory added they have a lot to work to do before the 2022 season.
“Now we’ve got to find a way to close that gap,” he said. “So now we have to work three, four, five times as hard to be able to get back and come out of our conference and get back to that game and win that game.
“That’s the vision we have for ourselves and it’s going to take a lot to get there.”
In the past two decades, the event has raised more than $1.8 million in scholarships for the Huskies football program.
