Barney Shynkaruk’s Behind the Face Mask takes a closer look at your favourite Saskatchewan Roughriders. This week, he chats with linebacker Ryder Varga.
Barney Shynkaruk: Here we go: Behind the Face Mask, Labour Day Classic edition. Ryder Varga with us, who, if you haven't heard, was named after a moving truck — not the Roughriders. I love that story. All right, Regina guy. Labour Day memory, just as a fan, that sticks out for you?
Ryder Varga: I mean, I forget what year it was, but it was late in the game, and Darian Durant just took off and had like a 30-yard run right up the middle. That's just electrifying. I forget what year that was, but that's just one that pops out immediately.
Barney Shynkaruk: So, do you remember more of the Labour Day games going as a kid, or later when you were maybe with the fellas during your college years?
Ryder Varga: Definitely more as a kid, I feel like. Just that old Mosaic, too. A lot of memories there, like sometimes getting rained out in there and just hiding from all the hail. But it was a different atmosphere. The field was so angled that if you were on one sideline, you couldn't see the other side. It was pretty special. The new stadium's not too bad.
Barney Shynkaruk: OK, let's go back to old Taylor Field. As a fan or as a player, if you could teleport yourself back to one game at old Taylor Field, which one would it be?
Ryder Varga: I'd go back to the one where S.J. Green caught that one-handed catch in the back of the end zone. I'd probably deflect it. I'd run on the field and break it up. It just felt like something that shouldn't happen on the field, so I'd go back and alter history.
Barney Shynkaruk: What about your high school days? Which one stands out there the most?
Ryder Varga: I played for LeBoldus. We played a lot of games there. Probably just winning against Campbell in a semifinal or a final. Those were some tough years, battling with them and Riffel in my later years. But we didn't really lose much in high school, so pick a game. It was probably pretty good for us.
Barney Shynkaruk: LeBoldus — they were away again. Still, shout out to the NOD guys at Riffel. In high school, what teacher do you go back to? Maybe the one who taught you the most, or the one you were closest with?
Ryder Varga: That's a good question. Let me go back and think. think my coach, John Ford. He was a head coach there. I think he was the first head coach who really taught me a lot about football, but also how football builds you as a person for life. Not just teaching skills, but teaching you how football can translate into the real world. Yeah, I love John Ford.
Barney Shynkaruk: What other sports did you play as a kid?
Ryder Varga: Hockey was probably my first big love. My dad was a big hockey guy, and my uncle played on the Pats, so that was my first big love. Then football slowly took over, and now here we are.
Barney Shynkaruk: Do you still skate? Maybe some pickup, a men's league, or anything?
Ryder Varga: I did in university, but I haven't in a while. I've just got to stay off it. I'd hate to break my ankle playing in some men's league game.
Barney Shynkaruk: OK, I want to go back to football for a second. In high school, who were the studs? Maybe they were at LeBoldus, maybe they were up in Saskatoon. Who were the guys you remember playing against?
Ryder Varga: Playing with, I've got to say Chan De Ciman. He was probably the most insane athletic quarterback. Him, Jamal Hooker, Cade Belick. We had Nick Dheilly. Nick Ross played too. He was probably one of the best high school linebackers I've ever seen. I probably had like five tackles the whole year. He made like 60. Pretty much anyone down the roster — they're all good. There are too many to name.
Barney Shynkaruk: What was Ryder Varga's first car?
Ryder Varga: A little yellow 2003 Dodge Neon. Really small car. I love that thing. If I ever get really rich, I'm going to get it hanging from the roof or something like that.
Barney Shynkaruk: Golden Suns, yellow car. I get it.
Ryder Varga: Yeah, I don't know. It probably didn't suit me, but I made it suit me. It's me now.
Barney Shynkaruk: What's your go-to at Western Pizza?
Ryder Varga: I mean, I've got to get the pizza. Maybe some dry ribs, too. Love me some dry ribs. But yeah, whatever flavour I'm feeling that day, whatever everybody wants. It's pretty good pizza no matter what you get.
Barney Shynkaruk: Are you going to the Foo Fighters here?
Ryder Varga: I'm not. I'm not a big Foo Fighters guy, actually, believe it or not.
Barney Shynkaruk: OK, so if you could pull one concert into this stadium, who would it be?
Ryder Varga: I mean, I'm a big Drake guy. I'd go Drake. I think Drake at the stadium would be crazy. I saw him once in Vancouver. Really good. That's my favourite artist.
Barney Shynkaruk: What do you listen to before the games to get pumped up?
Ryder Varga: Kind of whatever the locker room is feeling. If I have my headphones in, I kind of like upbeat, pre-game rap. But earlier in the day, I'm listening to whatever. It could be some girly music; I don't even know. Whatever's on is on until before the game. Then I've got to get locked in.
Barney Shynkaruk: He's ready for the Labour Day Classic. Regina boy, Ryder Varga, thanks for doing this.
Ryder Varga: Thank you very much for having me.
