Monday Morning Sentimonies: All Systems Go

Everything has fallen into place perfectly since last Monday for football starved fans on the prairies. The league voted to proceed with the season, a 14 game schedule was released and Saskatchewan announced that as of July 11 there are no more restrictions. It’s the real world equivalent of the “Do What You Feel Festival” replacing the less popular “Do As We Say Festival”

So August 6^th is circled on the calendar. That’s when Rider football returns. Gonna have to dust off my robe, freshen up my beard and prime up my liver. Mosaic will be rocking. I expect this to be the loudest that new Mosaic will ever be in its short history. The 2 loudest games I can remember at Taylor field were the home playoff game in 2007 and the Grey Cup in 2013. Both involved a bit of pent up emotion. You could say that after a year plus of being locked down, there is just a pit of pent up emotion ready to be blown off. In fact I dare not repeat some of the things that people would say they would blow over these past 16 months just to get football back.

It’ll be weird, I won’t lie. I’m looking as forward to this as anyone but after systematically avoiding people for over a year it won’t be easy to just turn around and literally embrace the unwashed masses at Mosaic stadium (present company included).

Here are a list of things I expect come that first game day:

·        People openly weeping (and it not having to do with a play on the field for once)

·        Awkward moments where you instinctively go to high 5 a neighbour but you both pause part way into it not quite sure whether that’s ok anymore.

·        Prophet being drunk

·        A, not even subtle, “we desperately need to make money again” surcharge on beer and food

·        Prophet yelling “Get Off the field Wally” despite Buono being long retired.

·        So many waves

·        Prophet loudly cursing at all the waves since they will inevitably occur on offense

·        The timeless tradition of the fans cursing the refs after they call a super correct and obvious penalty on the Riders

·        The stands to literally be shaking when Bring Em Out hits

 Buckle up Saskatchewan, you have a little over a month to warm up your vocal chords, get your liver ready and hone your melon carving skills. It’s game time!