For Daryl Waud, it is a homecoming with a twist.
The defensive tackle grew up in Hamilton, Ont., cheering on the Tiger-Cats. He’d head to the old Ivor Wynne stadium with his father and brother jeering their much-hated rivals, the Toronto Argos.
That’s all changed now. Waud, who had a standout career at Western University in London, Ont., and briefly pondered a chance with the Washington Redskins, is thrilled to be back in Hamilton on Monday. But now Waud is representing the Argos, who drafted the big lineman, just as the team had done with his father decades earlier.
“I used to go to Ivor Wynne and cheer on the Ticats,” Waud says. “This time it’ll be different going to Tim Hortons Field. I remember just before I got drafted that one of my friends said that if the Argos call I shouldn’t pick up the phone. But I’m thrilled to be part of the team, which is a great bunch of guys, with the ultimate goal of bringing home the Grey Cup.”
A Geography major at Western, Waud, 22, even worked on a project in high school about the development of Tim Hortons Field. His roots in Hamilton run deep, as does his connection to the Argos. Waud’s father, David, had a sniff at the Argos in 1983, but was cut by the team after a single exhibition game. Instead of chasing professional football, David Waud went into education, teaching special education at secondary school in Hamilton. Daryl Waud says education is something he’d be interested in when his football career is over, but for the time being he’s entirely focused on helping the 6 and 2 Argos goes as far as they can.
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In the meantime, Waud says his father and brother have learned to appreciate the team that Daryl is playing for. That said, when the pair wander around Hamilton wearing Argos hats, some eyebrows are raised.
“Dad says he gets some funny looks when he wears his Argos hat,” says Waud, who called from his parent’s home in Hamilton on an off-day while celebrating his birthday. “But that’s all it is—some strange looks.”
They’ll be getting plenty of strange looks as the Argos take on the Ticats at the Labour Day Classic in Hamilton on Sept. 7, followed by the rematch game in Toronto on Sept. 11. Tickets for the rematch are on sale now.
“It is a great rivalry and the fans on both sides are so passionate,” says Waud. “It is great that my family has converted to Argos fans though.”
Argos fans invited to paint Ticats fan car blue
The Argos, Ticats rivalry will take on a new look at the Labour Day Classic rematch game. After snapping up a Ticats fans car on eBay for double the highest bid, the Argos have invited fans to paint the car Argo blue at the pre-game tailgate party outside of Gate 11 at Rogers Stadium for the Sept 11 home game.
The Ticats superfan auctioned his car on eBay with hopes of donating the proceeds to a local palliative care centre in his sister’s name. Those fans wishing to paint the car will be asked for a donation for the Canadian Safe School Network. Once the game is underway the vehicle will be towed away to benefit a local charity.
We want you there to cheer on your home town Toronto Argonauts, Global News is giving away 5 family packs of tickets. It’s a Labour Day Rematch that you won’t want to miss! Enter here now.
