By Murray McCormick,
Regina Leader-Post
Football, a game that has unified the province, has become a divisive element among some members of the Saskatchewan Roughriders.
Tonight’s Canada West semifinal between the University of Saskatchewan Huskies and the Regina Rams has fostered a friendly rivalry among the alumni of their respective institutions. Veteran offensive tackle Gene Makowsky and receiver Nathan Hoffart played for the Huskies before embarking on their CFL careers. Fullback Neal Hughes and rookie slotback Chris Getzlaf were members of the Rams before becoming Roughriders.
Hoffart struck the first blow in the battle when he started bringing his Huskies’ jersey to the Riders’ practice. Hoffart, a Regina product, has left the jersey hanging in his locker.
“I thought I would bring it in a week earlier so Neal could glance over at it,” said Hoffart, who spent four seasons with the Huskies before being selected in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2005 Canadian college draft by the Riders.
The Roughriders were encouraged by the coaching staff to wear their university jerseys during Thursday’s practice. It made for a colourful practice and an opportunity for Hoffart to show off his Huskies’ jersey. Hughes wore his Rams’ helmet, which still had scrapes from his playing days.
“I’ve received the most compliments for my Huskies’ jersey,” Hoffart said. “They said it was the nicest one they had seen out here.”
Hughes wasn’t among that group.
“I wouldn’t say it was the best jersey here,” said Hughes, a five-year member of the Rams who signed with the Riders as a free agent in 2004. “My helmet looks a lot better than the jersey.”
The Rams clinched their first home playoff game since 2002 with 34-31 victory over the Huskies on Saturday in Saskatoon. The win meant the provincial rivals would meet in a Canada West playoff game for the third time since the Rams joined the CIS in 1999. The Rams won in 2001 and the Huskies prevailed in 2002.
“It is definitely a rivalry,” said Hughes. “I remember our first game at Griffiths Field in Saskatoon and they played some Backstreet Boys for us when we were coming on to the field. From then on in, it has been a big rivalry.”
Hoffart said the rivalry between Regina and Saskatoon was his favourite.
“It doesn’t matter that the records of the teams where or anything,” Hoffart said. “You know that both teams are going to get up and be ready to play.”
Makowsky, who was picked in the second round (23rd overall) by the Roughriders in the 1995 Canadian college draft after four seasons with the Huskies, has contributed his share to the trash talking.
“He always has these Rams comments,” Hughes said. “He calls them the Lambs all of the time, yada, yada, yada … He cares but he doesn’t like to let it look that way.”
Hughes was sidelined with a broken leg in 2002, when the Rams last played host to a home playoff game. Hoffart caught two touchdown passes in the Huskies’ 44-28 victory.
“It was exciting game and it was for the Western championship,” Hoffart recalled. “The Rams had a good season and we were just coming together for the playoffs. We upset the unbeaten Manitoba Bisons the week before, so you knew that everyone would be fired up for the game.”
The Roughriders play host to the Toronto Argonauts on Saturday at 1 p.m. The start of the game may keep Makowsky, Hoffart and Hughes from attending tonight’s contest. But they will follow it.
“I’ll be listening on the radio,” said Makowsky. “I’ll definitely be cheering the Huskies.”
Hughes expects a Rams’ win. Hoffart, despite his Regina roots, picked the Huskies to emerge as the victors. There hasn’t been any wagering on the game other than bragging rights.
One aspect all the players agree on that having two elite university football programs playing in the playoffs is good for football throughout Saskatchewan.
“There are a lot of kids will grow up after watching the game and want to be even more involved in minor football,” Hughes said. “Football here and in Saskatoon is among the best in the country. It’s pretty cool.”
