Justin Dunk
Ticats.ca
Ray Mariuz left the Ticats, retiring on May 26, just before the start of the 2011 season, but he was never far away – he always had an inkling he might return to the football field — living in Burlington and working as a real estate agent for Royal Lepage.
“They approached me, if they hadn’t I was comfortable with my decision to retire but having the decision to come back and with the fall football weather and for the playoff run, I didn’t have the will power to stay away,” Mariuz said after his first practice back at Ivor Wynne on Tuesday.
About a month ago the Tiger-Cats reached out to Mariuz, wondering if he had any interest in coming out of retirement to re-join the team for the stretch run. Immediately Mariuz began ramping up his workout routine, to get himself back into playing shape, so he could be physically ready if indeed he decided to make a return to the CFL.
“After they approached me, and got me thinking about coming back, I started training just in case the opportunity happened to arise. It did and here I am,” Mariuz, the eight year veteran, said.
Mariuz got blessings from his wife and boss, in his second career, at Royal Lepage and he made up his mind to return last week.
“I looked at the opportunity that the Ticats gave me, to join them for the playoff run and I thought I wouldn’t have this opportunity again,” he said. “I thought I’d probably regret it if I didn’t join them.”
“It came down to timing, he has a career so part of it was he had to have a desire – we definitely had a desire to get him back here – and the timing had to work for him,” Bellfeuille said.
The need for Mariuz was created because of injuries to key special teams contributors like Yannick Carter and Dylan Barker.
“It was a combination of a couple things,” head coach Marcel Bellefeuille said. “We’ve lost some Canadian depth, so it was important for us to try and replenish that depth with linebacker type bodies. Also, the way we drafted this year, drafting a lot of future players, we became a little bit thin.”
“We really never wanted Ray to retire in the first place, that was his decision and we respected it. We reached out to Ray and he obliged us. I’m excited to have him back, he’s a very good linebacker and special teams player.”
In just his first practice back, Bellefeuille liked what he saw out Mariuz, who is wearing his old number 44.
“He’s in great shape, he’s a fitness for life type guy so he’s always going to be running and working out,” he said. “He moved around well. It’s like riding a bike for guys who have played a long time. After a week or two back in it he will be the same old Ray.”
“ I feel great,” Mariuz added. “This is probably the healthiest I have ever been in a September since I was about 10.”
Mariuz, the 6-3 228-pound linebacker is excited to be back with his old team, but he is back for one reason and one reason only.
“The shot at one more Grey Cup is ultimately what I’m here for.”
