Regina Rams

The Regina Rams represent the University of Regina, located in Regina, Saskatchewan, in the sport of Canadian football in U Sports. The Rams joined U Sports in 1999 and have competed in the Canada West Conference since then.^[1] The program has won two U Sports football conference championships, in 2000 and 2024, and the team has made one appearance in the Vanier Cup championship game.

The Rams nickname is used by the university's football team only; all of the other teams at the school are named the Regina Cougars.

History

The Regina Rams were formed in 1954 when two junior football teams, the Bombers and the Dales, merged into one football club. The Rams participated in the Man-Sask Junior Football League until 1976, when they joined with junior teams from Alberta to form the Prairie Football Conference. The club would participate in the CJFL until 1998, winning ten Canadian Junior Football Championships along the way.^[1]

In 1999, after competing for 45 years in junior football (Canadian Junior Football League), the Regina Rams became a member of the Canada West Conference of the Canadian Intercollegiate Athletic Union (CIAU), later Canadian Interuniversity Sport (CIS) and now U Sports. The University of Regina came to community partnership agreement with the CJFL team that made the transfer possible. Rather than change their name to Regina Cougars, the football team continued to use the moniker "Rams." In only their second year of playing in the CIAU, the Rams won the Canada West Conference championship and then the Atlantic Bowl. They then went on their way to the Vanier Cup where they lost 42–39 to Marcel Bellefeuille's Ottawa Gee-Gees in the 36th Vanier Cup.^[1][2]

Frank McCrystal was the head coach of the Rams from their inception in the CIS until 2014. He took the reins of the team in 1984, making 2014 his 31st season as head coach of the Rams and his 16th in the CIS. In 2007, after leading his team to a 6–2 regular season record and an appearance in the Hardy Cup game, McCrystal was named Canadian Interuniversity Sport Coach of the Year and received the 2007 Frank Tindall Trophy.^[3][4]

The Rams played the inaugural sporting event at Mosaic Stadium on October 1, 2016, hosting the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.^[5][6] At the end of the 2016 season, quarterback Noah Picton became the first Rams player to win the Hec Crighton Trophy after completing 224 passes out of 323 attempts for 3,186 yards with 25 touchdowns and nine interceptions.^[7][8] That was also the first season that the Rams finished in first place in the Canada West regular season.

CIAU/CIS/U Sports Regular Season Results

^[9][10]

• (*)The Rams forfeited three wins in 2018 due to use of an ineligible player. Those games were then awarded as 1–0 wins to Alberta, UBC, and Manitoba.^[11]

National U Sports Postseason Results

Regina is 1–1 in national semi-final games and 0–1 in the Vanier Cup.

Head coaches

National award winners

• Hec Crighton Trophy: Noah Picton (2016)
• Presidents' Trophy: Mat Nesbitt (2007)
• Frank Tindall Trophy: Frank McCrystal (2007)
• Gino Fracas Award: Dwayne Masson (2025)

Regina Rams in the professional ranks

As of the end of the 2025 CFL season, ten former Rams players were on CFL teams' rosters:

• Anthony Bennett, BC Lions
• Tevaughn Campbell, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• Jaxon Ford, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• Jorgen Hus, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• D'Sean Mimbs, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• Mitchell Picton, Saskatchewan Roughriders
• Dolani Robinson, Calgary Stampeders
• Tanner Schmekel, Winnipeg Blue Bombers
• Jackson Sombach, Calgary Stampeders
• Ryder Varga, Toronto Argonauts

^[12]

References

1. ^ "About the Rams". Regina Rams. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
2. ^ http://english.cis-sic.ca/championships/fball/2010-11/files/vanier_cup_history Vanier Cup History
3. ^ "C.I.S. & CJFL Update". 2007. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013.
4. ^ http://www.reginacougars.com/coaches.aspx?rc=180&path=football 2010 Football Coaching Staff, Frank McCrystal
5. ^ "Three events to test out new Mosaic Stadium". Regina Leader-Post. Postmedia Network. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
6. ^ "It's like a 'major league' venue: Test run of new Mosaic Stadium wins praise". CBC News. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
7. ^ "Regina Rams QB Noah Picton wins Hec Crighton Award". CBC News. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
8. ^ "Regina Rams career leaders". Regina Rams. Retrieved May 31, 2020.
9. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved 2011-03-01. Canada West Football History
10. ^ "Football Standings". Canada West. Retrieved November 11, 2022.
11. ^ 2018 U Sports Regina schedule
12. ^ "Players". Canadian Football League. Retrieved November 15, 2025.