Regina coaches see Jon Ryan’s influence grow
Only hours remain until Regina’s Jon Ryan and the Seattle Seahawks go for their second-straight Super Bowl on Sunday against the New England Patriots.
The punter has the backing of his old high school, Sheldon-Williams Collegiate, with a marquee sign outside the school displaying words of support. His old coaches are recalling their first impression of Ryan.
“I saw this little, skinny, red-headed kid and apparently he was a good athlete. (I thought) this kid potentially might get hurt or something and quite the contrary, probably one of the toughest kids I’ve ever coached,” said Tim McFadden, who was Jon’s offensive co-coordinator with the Spartans and also taught him history.
“In the back of my mind I’m thinking ‘Oh god is he small,’” echoed Ron Cherkas, who was Jon’s head coach with the football team.