50TH VANIER CUP INTERVIEW SERIES: Ryan Jones, Saint Mary’s University (2001)

50^TH VANIER CUP INTERVIEW SERIES: 2001

A conversation with...

Ryan Jones, quarterback, Saint Mary’s University Huskies

In Vanier Cup XXXVII, the Saint Mary’s Huskies put an end to a 28-year drought and captured the second national title in program history thanks to a convincing 42-16 victory over the Manitoba Bisons at SkyDome in Toronto. With the win, the Huskies put an exclamation point on one of the most dominating seasons in CIS football history as they outscored their opponents by a 608-66 en route to an 11-0 overall record. In his second Vanier Cup appearance in three years, Saint Mary’s quarterback Ryan Jones was named game MVP after he completed 19 of 32 passes for 290 yards and three touchdowns. 

What is your major memory of the entire Vanier Cup week and the overall experience in 2001?

The entire week seemed like a whirlwind. With all the preparation, practices, events, dinners, family, friends, it was difficult to concentrate on the game itself. Our coaches tried their best to keep the team grounded and focused on the task at hand. Looking back, the week seemed to fly by and before you knew it, it was time to play. 

What is your one major lasting memory of the actual game?

One lasting memory has to be the acrobatic catch made by Dave Stala in the second quarter that eventually led to a touchdown. I threw a seam route to Dave and when the ball left my hands, I thought for sure it would sail over his head and possibly be intercepted. Out of nowhere, Dave stretched out his right arm and made a highlight-reel, one-handed catch. He laid his body on the line coming down with that catch and he paid the price for it as a defender hit him very hard as he came to the ground. That catch definitely breathed life into our offence as we eventually marched down the rest of the field and scored.

(Note: Stala, now a member of the Montreal Alouettes in his 12^th CFL season, finished the game with four receptions for 58 yards. He also handled kickoff duties and averaged 49 yards on five kicks)

What do you remember as the key play of the game?

Dave’s catch was definitely a key play, but another play that proved to be key was Kyl Morrison’s interception for a touchdown in the second half. At that point, we were leading but the game was definitely within reach for Manitoba. Kyl made his own acrobatic catch by tipping and then catching a swing pass that was intended for a running back out of the backfield. We had seen Kyl make plays like that throughout his career, but to see it on the big stage of the Vanier Cup was pretty remarkable. That catch basically sucked the life out of the Bisons and we cruised to victory after that play.

(Note: Morrison, who merited the Bruce Coulter Award as the game’s defensive MVP, scored his 18-yard touchdown 5:39 into the fourth quarter to increase the Huskies’ lead to 35-16. Saint Mary’s was leading by only nine points after three quarters but outscored Manitoba 17-0 in the final frame to run away with the win)

What was your personal greatest play or moment?

I feel my greatest moment was a second-and-long passing play in the second quarter. Manitoba had a very good front four, most notably Israel Idonije, who went on to have a long NFL career. They applied quite a bit of pressure throughout the game and it was no different on that play. I took the snap, dropped back to pass, and right away I felt pressure coming up the middle. Under duress, I was able to side-step a couple of pass rushers and threw a 40-yard completion to a wide-open Paul Flemming. We eventually scored on that drive.

Did anything unusual or out of the ordinary happen during the game or during Vanier week?

I was very nervous and tense throughout the week. It was my last year and I was very afraid to lose my final game on the big stage. I was concerned that my nerves would get the best of me on game day. As much as I tried to relax and get my nerves under control, it only seemed to intensify throughout the week.

On the day of the game, we all got on the bus for the stadium I felt my heart starting to pound. I was sitting beside Mathieu Demers, our all-Canadian linebacker. On the way to SkyDome, with my heart pounding, Matt, without saying anything, just handed me a picture of Larry Uteck, our former coach and then athletic director. Larry had ALS, a terrible disease that had been affecting him for five years and was in its final stages. I just stared at the picture and thought to myself, here is a guy who is going through something so unimaginable, a guy who is facing leaving behind his wife and two young children, but at the same time fighting it every step of the way with courage, determination and with a smile on his face. It was at that point that I had a moment of calm and the nerves seem to just fade away.

I can’t explain what really happened when Matt handed me that picture, perhaps I tried to harness just an ounce of Larry’s courage, or perhaps Larry’s struggles put things in perspective for me, I’m not exactly sure. But all I know is it had something to do with our victory that day.

Did the coaches do anything different from normal routine in the preparation for the game?

Not really. The coaching staff always did an amazing job preparing the team. Of course, there were things they prepared specifically for Manitoba, whether it be through scouting reports, strategy, situational practice segments. We were always very well prepared. But as far as our schedules and routines, our coaches really focused on treating the trip to Toronto as a business trip. They made sure we didn’t get caught up in the hype and continued to keep the same routines. This approached proved to be very beneficial.

How did you or the team react to the stadium and the crowd?

We had been to the Vanier Cup at SkyDome before, in 1999, so there wasn’t all that much of a reaction to the crowd. I strongly believe that being there in ’99 created a big advantage for us. It allowed us to focus on the game and not get caught up in the hype of the crowd. Fortunately, the Dome was closed and we didn’t have to deal with any weather, which played in to our high-powered offence and quick, high-pressure defence.

(Note: The Huskies’ 480 points scored in eight games during the 2001 regular season are an AUS record and are just one off the CIS mark set by Laval in 2003. Their 35 points allowed in conference play -- an average of 4.4 per game -- are the national standard).

What are your memories of the post-game celebrations on the field and/or in the dressing room?

There are a few memories that stick out for me. First was hearing “We are the Champions” playing right after the victory, as I was hugging and congratulating my teammates and coaches. Second was accepting the Vanier Cup trophy on the podium at midfield. I had envisioned these scenarios in my head so my times throughout my career, it was surreal to be actually living it out. After the trophy presentation, I remember going towards the stands and seeing my girlfriend, who is now my wife, as well as so many family members and friends. It was very special to share that moment with all of them.

But perhaps the greatest memory was carrying the Vanier Cup up the stands to present it to Larry Uteck. To have the opportunity to hand Larry the trophy is a memory I will cherish for the rest of my life.

What are your memories of the trip back home?

The trip back was very exhausting. We didn’t get much sleep the night before, for obvious reasons, and our flight home the next day was very early. That being said, the flight was filled with lots of laughs and jokes, just like any other bus ride home from a typical game would have been. When we arrived at the Halifax airport, we were greeted by lots of family, fans and media. It was a special feeling to be able to bring the Cup back to Halifax.

What was the reaction on campus when the team returned?

Honestly, I don’t remember. I was so exhausted that I walked home pretty quickly after the bus ride back to the campus to get some rest!

At the time, how did winning the Vanier Cup change your everyday life?

It changed immediately. The day after we got back, I went to a restaurant for brunch with my roommate, Mark Ferris, in downtown Halifax. When we asked for the bill, the waitress told us someone had already picked up the tab, and she said congrats on the win. Being broke students, we were pretty excited and hoped the trend would continue. We never found out who paid, but unfortunately that was the first and last time a mystery person picked up my bill! It was back to regular day-to-day life after that.

How often to you reminisce about your Vanier Cup win?

Definitely less and less as years go on, particularly now with a young family and a very busy career. Life is so busy, there’s not a lot of time to sit back and reminisce. That being said, whenever I get together with some of my former teammates, we always look back at our playing days and the Vanier Cup in particular. 

The Huskies had won their only previous Vanier Cup in 1973. How did it feel to bring fame back to the program 28 years later?

It felt great. I honestly feel that the success of the football team raised Saint Mary’s profile not only athletically, but also academically. I feel that people across the country knew about Saint Mary’s because of the national attention it got during the Vanier Cup.

There had also been such a long drought between AUS teams winning the Cup and our conference had built a reputation of being at an inferior level compared to the rest of the country. To win that game and to prove to the rest of the country that there is great football being played in the east was a great feeling. All the other teams in the AUS took a lot of ridicule that year because we rolled over them, but as it turned out we rolled over the best teams from the rest of the country as well. I think the win legitimized AUS football.

(Note: The last AUS team to win the Vanier Cup before Saint Mary’s triumph in 2001 was Acadia, in 1981. Prior to their 28-point victory over Manitoba in the Vanier Cup final, the Huskies had dominated Acadia 38-7 in the AUS championship game and Laval 48-8 in the Atlantic Bowl)

How did it feel to finally get a championship win for Larry Uteck?

It meant everything to be able to present the Vanier Cup to Larry. He was the one who brought me to Halifax and had so much to do with my development as a player and as an individual. He had poured his heart and soul into the program throughout his career and played an integral part in the success of the program, even after his coaching days were over.

What did you study at Saint Mary’s and what career path did you follow after graduation?

I graduated with a science degree and I currently work as a Regional Manager for Stryker, a surgical equipment manufacturer.