U of M football coach Brian Dobie fumbles, loses Vanier ring

Brian Dobie is always looking to recruit a ringer, but these days he's just trying to find his ring.

The head coach of the University of Manitoba Bisonsfootball team lost his 2007VanierCupchampionship ring Sunday at Winnipeg's James Richardson International Airport.

Dobie told CBC News he never takes the gold and diamond-encrusted ring off, except for thatone time. He was at the airport just after 12 a.m.Sundaywhen he went to the washroom, loaded down with Christmas parcels and his briefcase.

"When I washed my hands, for whatever reason this time, just fate, I don't know what I was thinking, I took it off and put it down, walked over to dry my hands," he said.

"I'd left my Christmas gifts and I was worried about them.So I turned right away and went, 'Yep, 1,2,3,4, they're all there, good.' I grabbed them, scurried out, wentback to the carousel and suddenly the weight felt different on my hand and I went, 'my ring!'"

When hewent back to the washroom the ring was gone. Dobie estimates he was gone for less than a minute.

Next to the birth of his daughter, Dobie saidthe Bison'sVanier Cup win is the biggest day of his life.

The U of M tweeted about itTuesday and urged anyone who finds it tocall 204-474-9627.

Dobie has coached the team since 1996, leading them to two Canadian university championship games, winning in2007.