This week, the Varsity Letters welcomes an enduring friend of the podcast!
TSN’s Farhan Lalji, a 31-year high school football coach in the province of B.C. stops by to chat with host Howard Tsumura about a whole host of topics.
This coming Saturday at B.C. Place Stadium would have been the 2020 Subway Bowl provincial championship finals, so we chat about everything in and around the high school and university football scene, and how COVID-19 has cut a swath straight through its heart.
In an episode taped just as Wednesday’s Pittsburgh-Baltimore game was set to kick off, Lalji and Tsumura also talk about the silver lining in a tough season: The emergence of Abbotsford Panthers grad Chase Claypool over his rookie season with the Steelers.
The pair also examine the re-emergence of the ‘big’ receiver in the NFL through a discussion of the impact both Claypool and Seattle’s DK Metcalf are having despite being drafted outside of the opening round the past two drafts.
Lalji also reflects on his time at Simon Fraser University in the early 1990s when he served as the school’s sports information director. He also talks about three special mentors in Alex Reid, Allison McNeill and Wally Buono.
Varsity Letters, Canada’s only podcast dedicated solely to provincial university and high school sports coverage, is produced by Gabriel Lynn, and available at Apple Music, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
If you’re listening to us on Apple Music, please take the time time to give us a rating. The more stars (five) the better, and it helps potential listeners find our weekly podcast! It would be hugely appreciated!
Our theme music, Generation Next, is written and performed exclusively for Varsity Letters by Chad Joiner and the MEI Screaming Eagles marching band.
If you’re reading this story or viewing these photos on any website other than one belonging to a university athletic department, it has been taken without appropriate permission. In these challenging times, true journalism will survive only through your dedicated support and loyalty. VarsityLetters.ca and all of its exclusive content has been created to serve B.C.’s high school and university sports community with hard work, integrity and respect. Feel free to drop us a line any time at howardtsumura@gmail.com.
