Former Sacramento State quarterback Ricky Ray is in his 10
th season in the Canadian Football League, where he is one of the premier quarterbacks in the league. After two seasons at Shasta College in Redding, Calif., Ray joined the Hornet football program. In 1999, he threw for 2,422 yards and 20 touchdowns. In 2000, he completed 62.2 percent of his passes for 13 touchdowns and six interceptions. The native of Happy Camp, Calif., is married to Allyson and they have one daughter, Chloe Samantha. The Toronto Argonauts are currently 6-6. They play Winnipeg on Saturday night. During his career in the CFL, he has completed 66.9 percent of his passes for 43,900 yards with 222 touchdowns and an efficiency rating of 95.8. He led Edmonton to two Grey Cups. Ray took time out of his schedule to answer a few questions for the Big Sky Conference. Let’s catch up with Ricky Ray:
Q: Ricky, after spending nine seasons with Edmonton, you were traded to the Toronto Argonauts. How do you feel the transition has been from a football perspective, and also in terms of your off-the-field life?
A: The transition has been pretty smooth considering all the changes on and off the field. Toronto is a very vibrant city with lots to do, so my family is enjoying all the new activities and areas it has to offer. We mostly enjoy taking our daughter to all the great parks they have along Lake Ontario. As far as on the field the biggest challenge has been getting used to all my new teammates and coaches. Trying to develop good timing with my new receivers is a process that takes time and game experience, but so far it has been going well.
Q: When you finished your career at Sacramento State, you weren’t drafted. You signed with the San Francisco 49ers, and then played in Arena League 2. You also spent time working for Frito Lay. How close where you to giving up football, and do you think how your name is now among the all-time greats in CFL history?
A: After graduating from Sacramento State, I thought I was done playing football until out of the blue I got an opportunity to attend the San Francisco 49er training camp. It was a great experience and it gave me the motivation to try and keep playing. Eventually I made it to the CFL and got an opportunity to play. There have been a lot of great quarterbacks who have played in the CFL and to pass some of them in some of the statistical categories has been pretty awesome.
Q: Quarterbacks, or pivots as they are referred to in the CFL, with Big Sky roots have had a lot of success. Guys like Dave Dickenson, and now Travis Lulay have shined in the CFL. Matt Nichols and Bo Levi Mitchell are also playing up North. Why do you think Big Sky quarterbacks have had success in the CFL?
A: I think there are a lot of good offenses in the Big Sky and they help quarterbacks develop into good passers. With only three downs and a bigger field the passing game is a major part of what offenses do in the CFL, so you have to be a good passer to succeed up here.
Q: For many years, your former Hornet teammate Charles Roberts was a star in the CFL. Roberts is one of five players in CFL history to rush for 10,000 yards. You are in the top five all-time in career passing yards. Not bad for a couple of former Hornets. Did you maintain a relationship with Charles when he was playing in the CFL? Despite his size how was he able to excel in the CFL?
A: Although we played a lot of games against each other Charles and I didn't stay connected other than seeing each other after the games. He was a great player up here because he was very good in space. With the big field he had more room to use his abilities which made it hard to tackle him.
Q: The last two years, Sacramento State has stunned the college football world with victories over Pac-12 teams. How closely do you following the Hornets these days, and do you swell with pride when they’ve made national headlines with wins over Oregon State and Colorado?
A: There is a good group of Big Sky alums in the CFL and we all take pride in keeping up with our old teams. We also have a lot of good bets against each other when our teams play. It's has been awesome to see Sacramento State have big wins against Oregon State and Colorado. It just proves that the Big Sky is a very good conference.
Q: Looking back at your two-year career at Sacramento State, what kinds of memories – good and bad – do you have from those days?
A: I have some great memories from my days at Sacramento State like when Charles Roberts rushed for over 400 yards in one game against Idaho State. Also beating UC Davis our biggest rival my junior year. The two games I wish we could have won are the two against Montana. We lost one in overtime and one in the last few minutes of the game.
Q: Coming from California, I’m sure there have been some games where the weather has been brutal playing outdoors in Edmonton all of those years. Did playing games in cold-weather places in the Big Sky help prepare you for dealing with Canadian weather?
A: Not really. I had never experienced any kind of cold weather like I experienced playing in Edmonton. You stay fairly warm while you are playing, but the biggest challenge is keeping yourself warm on the sidelines. Thank God for those heaters.
Q: You’ve been a member of two Grey Cup teams, and clamed the MVP Award in 2005. What was it like to win the Grey Cup, and on top of it be named the MVP?
A: Winning a championship is the best feeling you can have as an athlete. You put so much time and effort into a season and you go through so much as a team. To be able win and celebrate all that hard work makes so gratifying.
Q: What does the future hold for Ricky Ray and his family?
A; I feel so lucky to have been able to play professional football let alone 10 years in the CFL. It has given my family so many great memories and experiences. I always try to take it one year at a time, but hopefully I have a few more years left in me.