It’s at this point – in a season that has featured countless injuries, heart-stomping losses and an absolute butt-kicking just last week – that University of Manitoba Bisons head coach Brian Dobie probably doesn’t know whether to laugh, cry or shake his fist at the heavens.

Dobie’s Bisons, now 2-4, are still very much in the Canada West playoff picture with games this Saturday in Edmonton against the University of Alberta Golden Bears and the following week against the Regina Rams.

But a recent health issue which has swept through his team – privacy laws prevent Dobie from going into detail – now means his squad heads into a critical contest this weekend uncertain not only of who will play where, but just how many healthy bodies they will have for the trip.

“It’s a new one. In 42 years of coaching this is a new experience,” began Dobie in the weekly Canada West coaches conference call.

“We’re going through a medical – I don’t want to call it a crisis, but it is – on our team and potentially on our campus.”

Coach Dobie

“When you add it all up, there were an additional nine players who weren’t at practice and cannot practice or play until we go through a particular protocol. It’s crazy. It’s nothing life-threatening, but it’s serious.”

Dobie said officials at Canada West and the Golden Bears have been notified of the health issue and that Tuesday night’s practice featured just 20-something players. Many of those players, including those who were supposed to red-shirt this season were practicing in different positions just in case the regular starters can’t go on Saturday.

Dobie said the issue has also affected other Bisons Sports teams on campus, including the men’s hockey team.

“It started last week in Calgary, (where the Bisons were playing),” said Dobie. “And it’s carried through since.

“We’re just not sure as we go through this week where we stand and where the players stand. I know none of this stuff, but all of these players have gone through swabs, tests and they’re trying to fast-track things to determine what it is and who will be involved… I don’t want to make this into something, but right now it’s major in our team.”

And so in a week in which Dobie is trying to get morale back up after a 63-6 loss in Calgary last week – the third worst in the program’s history – he’s now been dealt this health-scare curveball.

“It’s unique,” said Dobie. “People get the flu at this time of year… maybe that’s all it’s going to be, but I don’t know. I’ve certainly never experienced anything like this before.

“We’ve had to improvise at practice, taking players from other areas of the field and put them in some areas that are weakened in terms of running scout team. You’ve got to find silver linings and, for what it’s worth, I think some of the guys had fun at practice last night doing that. They were playing positions they haven’t played since they were in high school or in Grade 10 or had never played at all. They were enthusiastic and we actually had a really good practice despite missing all these players.”

The Bisons will need to win both their remaining games to have a shot at the playoffs and will be facing an Alberta team that is coming off a dramatic 19-18 victory over Regina courtesy a 26-yard Brent Arthur field goal with 18 seconds remaining.

And even at 1-5, they are also still in the playoff hunt – although they will need help to advance.

“We continue to work, we continue move forward as a team and figure out the right way to play football where we’re not making mistakes and we’re not giving people things,” said Alberta head coach Chris Morris. “If we keep doing that, we’ll keep making progress as a team this last part of the year.

“(Manitoba) still has a really talented team. I know they’re down a bunch of guys, but they’ve got athletes at every position.”

BISONS (2-4) at ALBERTA (1-5)

When: Saturday, 1 p.m.

TV/Radio: Live webcast (canadawest.org – fee required).

Recent meetings: The Bisons have won four of their last five against Alberta, including a 42-12 victory on Sept. 16 in Winnipeg… Manitoba QB Theo Deezar is second in the conference in passing yards per game at 339.2 (Regina’s Noah Picton is first at 399.7)… D.J. Lalama leads the conference in tackles, averaging 9.4 per game while defensive lineman Evan Foster is tied for the Canada West lead in sacks with four.