Goal = Completed! It was made very clear this off-season to the entire organization top to bottom that the Grey Cup was in our house this year and there is no way we were gonna let anyone crash our party. Our Celebration in Ridernation. Before I get to the win I want to talk about Grey Cup Week and how awesome it was. I only went to the Parties at Evraz and had an absolute blast each time I went. This was my 1^st Grey Cup but apparently in other Grey Cup years you had to pay $10-20 to get in to each team party. Man am I glad they had them all in 1 place and the party pass got you access to them all otherwise I doubt I would have experienced more than 2 or 3. Had some great times and talked with some awesome people in the different team rooms. Loved talking to people that come every year, whether their team is in it or not, just because they love the CFL. Such a positive atmosphere in every room, negativity was non-existent. Everyone from the fans to volunteers to police did a great job making sure everything ran smoothly and was fun for all.

Now to the game. 100+ years of Saskatchewan Roughrider football and the pressure of millions in Ridernation across the globe expecting a championship would have defeated pretenders. That’s why Coach Chamblin wanted all coaches to report early to get ready and formulate a gameplan on how to accomplish this once impossible goal. That’s why he was willing to let go of a great coach in Craig Dickenson, this goal was a team goal and bigger than any 1 man. We needed everyone from coaches to players to be 100% committed to the goal. Pressure creates diamonds but being able to withstand the pressure until the diamond is forged is something not everyone can do. But Brenden Taman, Jeremy O’Day and the rest of the front office staff did a phenomenal job of bringing together the right mix of talent and leadership both on the field and off to accomplish this goal. The players bought into the coach’s gameplan and made the goal of winning this Grey Cup at home the number 1 priority above all personal goals. The Riders proved that not only were they contenders, but they were the best.

There was a very business-like atmosphere in the stands once the game started, almost like everyone knew we had a job to do and that was to make as much noise as humanly possible. Being there in person and watching it again on TV, I’m proud to say we held up our end of the bargain. Loudest game in the history of Taylor Field/Mosaic. I felt that seeing it live and it was confirmed watching it on TV. At times the noise sounded almost sharp. And the Riders more than held up their end, they were ready to go despite Hamilton opening the scoring. When the ball popped out of Darian’s grasp and landed right in Sheets hands I started to think this might actually happen b/c 99% of the time the Riders don’t get that bounce. But I know the history of the Riders all too well so my optimism was very cautious haha then came a play I won’t ever forget b/c we had a perfect view of it from our seats. I saw the ball go up and soon Geroy came into my line of sight, he started to make his adjustment and we got the first ever Grey Cup Superman. This is why we got Geroy, so that he could shine on the biggest stage and help us bring home the Grey Cup.

Darian Durant stepped out of the shadows and into the spotlight, he is now and forever a Riders legend. He already had an amazing playoff run going before he threw 3 TDs and no INTs in the Grey Cup. Only a record setting performance from Kory Sheets could have stopped DD from winning the GC MOP. After losing twice, you saw in his eyes after we clinched last week that he was not going to be denied. Throws to Getzlaf and Dressler were right on the money all day including an absolute beauty to Dress for a TD to seal the deal. Both TD passes to Geroy were sweet and he was able to use his legs again to get key first downs and positive yards. DD had calm, focused energy to him that I felt the team fed off, exactly what you want/need in a leader. Darian Durant has long deserved a Grey Cup ring and he definitely was not given one, he earned it with an awesome performance.

Speaking of awesome, KORY FN SHEETS! Haha he is the Gamechanger and now the Recordbreaker. 197 yards rushing to set a Riders record and a CFL Grey Cup record. You can’t put into words how important he is to this team. Not only does he eat up yards and time on the clock but his high level of skill requires key defenders to stay with him leaving DD room to work. But both Sheets and Durant know it’s all about the Big FN Beef aka the O-Line.  They struggled at times this year without Chris Best but we were able to get him back and they played phenomenal in the playoffs and Grey Cup. But 1 play in particular stands out and will go down in Riders history. 2^nd and 19, a stop could have let Hamilton back into it but with great blocking from the O-Line and Taj Smith, Sheets was able to break out a legendary 21 yard run to get a 1^st down. With the way the game was going and could have gone that was 1 of the biggest, most important plays in Riders history. The sheer will of Sheets to succeed and become a Champion got that 1^st down, that was Rider Pride right there.

But there definitely is a chance it may not have mattered if we punted it back because our defence was HUNTIN! 1 of the things that was calming my nerves leading into this game was the fact that our D was so damn good. All season long and then continued into the playoffs. Every aspect of it was rock solid and they proved it on the field with results. They put big-time pressure on Burris all day and other than a few short passes our secondary had their WR on lockdown. Can’t say enough good things about how dominant they were, caused some big turnovers that gave our Offence a chance to put them away. This might be the best defence to ever take the field for the Riders and if they aren’t they are definitely in the conversation.

As the last 10 seconds counted down on the clock and the excitement kept building, I could truly say at that moment there is no other place I would’ve rather been in the world than right there at Taylor Field with my brother. The clock hit zero, Durant took a knee and we are GREY CUP CHAMPIONS! Successfully defended our house and brought home a Grey Cup that was a long time coming. “Heroes get remembered but legends never die.” By winning the Grey Cup in Saskatchewan the 2013 Riders stepped above greatness and became legends. And they didn’t just squeak out some lucky victories, they won a tough game vs. BC. Gave the Stamps a whoopin in Calgary and dominated the Tiger Cats to win the Grey Cup. With the expansion draft coming up it is literally impossible for this team to completely stay together. We are going to lose some good players and there isn’t anything we can do about it. But rest assured this team and the people that are a part of it will get special treatment from Ridernation because their contribution brought us the greatest moment in 100+ years of Saskatchewan Roughriders football. We will remember this team forever; they accomplished something special and earned every accolade that comes their way.

People don’t really understand what not just a home Grey Cup win but any GC win means to Rider fans, not even the team. Fans are out on the front lines and nobody takes more shots than Riderfans. We are despised by 3 big, vocal fanbases (CGY,EDM,WPG) and disliked by the rest. Insults don’t stop when the season does, it’s an all year around thing. We have to put up with the worst shit being hurled our way like it’s normal trashtalk. And you don’t have to look long at the Riders history to see why it’s not easy being a Riderfan, not exactly short of ammo. But winning the Grey Cup means they all have to shut their mouths for at least the offseason. They all have to recognize that the Riders are the best whether they like it or not. This Grey Cup win is especially huge because it continues the run of pretty much every “greatest Rider” getting a ring. We might only have 4 Cups but at least all the “greatest Riders” have rings. This win gives rings to so many of those guys. Both being a Riderfan and living in Saskatchewan isn’t easy sometimes but the Riders winning Grey Cups sure helps a hell of a lot haha

I want to say a bit about the team before I finish this up:

 

Darian Durant – FINALLY! This Grey Cup didn’t sink in until I got home and saw DD hoist the Cup and see the look on his face. Must have been really dusty in my house haha for so long we had to put up with DD haters always pulling out the “he has no ring he can’t win the big game” card every time you try to defend him. But that’s all over baby because Darian Durant is a Grey Cup Champion! Feels so damn good to type that. I’m so thankful that he loved this team and the fans enough to endure the tough times and lead us to the top of the mountain. I’d get worried after losing skids when these morons would get vocal and start piling on DD that he would finally just have enough one day and say ‘F you guys I’ll go to another team.’ But that’s all in the past because we’re the Champs now babay! Durant will be our QB into the 2020s if he stays healthy and I don’t see why we can’t win at least 3 more Grey Cups in that time. Not only is he great and a leader on the field but he has really been good in the community as well. And in Saskatchewan that is just as important as performing on the field, we live by a certain standard and expect our Riders to do the same. He has put himself in the ranks with the elite QB’s in CFL history and is now #2 in Riders history behind Ron Lancaster. If he keeps up this level of play and can bring home another Grey Cup he will go down as the greatest QB in Riders history and maybe CFL if he really hits a stride. Thanks Doubles! Enjoy your championship offseason because before ya know it we’ll have a Championship to defend.

Kory Sheets – HOLY SHEETS! The Gamechanger, The Recordbreaker, The Touchdownmaker. I could go all day haha but seriously without Kory Sheets we probably do not have the Grey Cup. He is the player that put this team over the top. I can’t express my thanks or gratitude for all the hard work he gave this team and Ridernation. He put himself through tough off-season training to try and get the team a Grey Cup ring through his personal achievements. He had personal goals like 2000 yards and Mike Pringle’s yards record but he always made sure that everyone knew it was team first. And he always made sure everyone knew he was nothing without his awesome O-line and made sure they were taken care of. He wanted 2000 yards because he knew getting that would help the Riders achieve their team goal. If not for injuries he would have most likely achieved both. But in the end with regular season and playoffs combined he did get 2000 yards and we won the Grey Cup. I’d say mission accomplished on all fronts. Sounds like he will test the NFL waters but unless they make him a millionaire I hope he comes back. He will make more than enough money overall with the Riders and will continue the legendary legacy he has started here. No matter what he will go down in Riders history as an all-time legend but I hope he stays a Rider for life.

O-Line: Chris Best/Dan Clark/Xavier Fulton/Ben Heenan/Brendon LaBatte/Dominic Picard/Devin Tyler/Corey Watman – BIG FN BEEF! Haha these guys struggled at times without Chris Best but when it mattered most they Manned Up got the job done. Best came back and then there was no stopping these guys. The performance of the O-line in the playoffs both opening lanes for Sheets and protecting Durant was just awesome. When your line gives the kind of blocking we saw it is so easy to execute your game plan and that is the key between winning a Grey Cup and watching somebody else win it. I hope these guys are able to stay together long term because I still don’t think we have seen the best out of this group. Not even close. But they also live up to Rider Pride off the field too, these are all guys you can use as a role model for your kids. They show up ready to go, they work hard and are good people off the field. Can’t ask for more than that.

Weston Dressler – Might have to start calling him Mr. Wonderful because he is just too damn good haha one of the biggest offensive x-factors in the CFL. He can turn the tables on a defence in the blink of an eye and did so many times for us leading up to and in the Grey Cup. If we had him on the field healthy in 2009 I believe we win that game and it doesn’t even come down to a FG but it is what it is. Ever since he stepped foot on the field for us he has worked his ass off and never taken a play off. He isn’t perfect and makes mistakes but always picks himself up and comes back better and stronger. I witnessed first-hand his commitment to the community when he gave a speech and signed autographs at the KofC Sports Breakfast my Dad helps put on every year. Having a guy like Dressler is so important to the continued success of this team. He is everything that we look for in a player and I’m so glad he finally got his ring.

Chris Getzlaf – The Great Getzby haha for a while there he was struggling to consistently catch the ball and it was pretty frustrating to watch a guy with his talent go through that. He is also a huge part of our success, especially in close games when we need to rely on him to make the big catch. Thankfully through hard work and determination he was able to shake it off and be the great, clutch player he is. Earned the Outstanding Canadian award in the Grey Cup, very happy about that nobody more deserving than him. He also had to fight through what looked like it could have been a pretty bad injury. Took a nasty hit and if he had stayed out nobody would have blamed him but he fought back and made some key contributions for us. Another guy that is a big part of the community which is no surprise considering that he is a hometown Saskatchewan boy. The fact that we get to watch him catch Touchdowns and win Grey Cups with us is such a treat. I couldn’t picture him wearing any other jersey and I hope/don’t think I’ll ever have to.

Geroy Simon – SUPERMAN! How ironic that the Superman pose I used to despise brought me so much joy and was a key factor in winning a hometown Grey Cup haha Geroy was always the player I loved to hate, I knew he was an all-time great but wished he was catching TDs in Green n White. And he always seem to drive the dagger into us with a TD then that damn Superman haha but thankfully Wally Buono thought Superman’s days of posing were over and let us have him. With a 2 TD performance, his first ever in the Grey Cup, you have to think he was feeling like he made a mistake. I know his defining years were in BC but sorry he is a Riders legend now haha His Coats 4 Kids initiative is one of those things that makes you smile and happy there are people like Geroy around to do this. It’s a very important cause especially in the unforgiving cold the prairies can dish out. And the players all talked about how his leadership in the locker-room was un-measurable, how his total commitment to blocking assignments led to big plays and was inspiring for teammates. He could have easily kicked up dirt at his role and cause a distraction but that’s not who Geroy is. He’s a champion and champions do what needs to be done, even if it doesn’t satisfy their pride or ego. I really hope we get at least a few more but I’ll never forget our season with Superman, it was definitely something special.

Taj Smith – Definitely one of the most underrated players on the team but he is most certainly not underappreciated. Over 1000 yards this season and most of them were bigtime plays. 2 absolutely huge highlight reel catches in the WSF. Tons of big 1^st down catches and some bigtime TDs. I love when DBs sleep on his speed because if he gets a step 9 times out of 10 he is gone. Had some off field issues that could have derailed his season but he let everything take its course and focused on football and really contributed to us getting to the Grey Cup. From everything I know there shouldn’t be much coming out of the off field issues and we can get back to just worrying about football. He has a good chemistry with Durant so I hope we can keep him around for years to come. Clutch guys like Taj with his speed are not easy to find.

Rob Bagg – What more can you say about Bagg that hasn’t already been said. It speaks to what a great, humble player he is that he immediately downplays his journey and talks about how many players have gone through similar obstacles. That’s part of the reason he is such a fan favourite in Ridernation, that and kicking ass on the field. He can be humble but we don’t have to be haha Man there were definitely voices that said Bagg would never be able to come back and contribute at a high level ever again. I thought he could do it but it wouldn’t have shocked me if it didn’t happen. For him to have the injuries he did and come back to play at this level and help us win a Grey Cup solidifies his position as 1 of the greatest Riders of all time. Was hoping he would catch a TD in the Grey Cup but I guess we’ll have to wait for next time 😀

Jock Sanders – Been a fan of Jock from day 1, he always seems to get positive yards whether its 2, 20, or a TD. I felt that’s what we were missing before he arrived, too many guys trying to dance instead of focusing on getting as many yards as possible. And being able to utilize him in the Offense as a dual threat and a backup to Sheets is a big reason why we won the Grey Cup. Was very happy to see him score a Grey Cup TD, just too bad it wasn’t a return TD. He had been so close to breaking 1 this year it hurt haha but I know he will get 1 soon. Hope he is a Rider for life.

Neal Hughes – Quietly put together another good season. He is a great blocker but can really be a great change of pace option for the offence. I’d love to see him utilized a bit more but you would never hear him complain, class act 100%. He gives as much effort in the community as he does on the field and we really appreciate it. I was really happy to see him get the opportunity to close out the Grey Cup. Hometown boy closing out a Riders Grey Cup victory at home, doesn’t get much better than that.

Drew Willy – It is a huge asset to have a backup that you know you can rely on to win games for you if called upon. But to have a guy that is starter talented and embraces the backup role all the way for the good of the team is so huge in creating a winning atmosphere. It’s big for DD mentally to know that he is backed up by a guy that supports him and isn’t trying to steal his job. Don’t get me wrong I know Willy wants to be a starter but because of the kind of pro he is he can check his ego and support DD 100%. Selfishly I’d love to have him backing up DD long term but I’m sure some team will eventually offer him a chance if Ottawa doesn’t select him in the expansion draft.

D-Line: John Chick/Zack Evans/Rickey Foley/Tearrius George/Alex Hall/Jermaine McElveen/Keith Shologan/Levi Steinhauer – Damn this lineup is so fn siiiiiick haha they deserved so many more sacks then they got but it seemed QBs really hurried their release to account for these beasts. Too many ‘1/2 second away from a sack’ plays to count. I          still can’t believe that the Argos let us have a guy like Rickey Foley. Not only was his leadership and experience huge after winning a home Grey Cup with the Argos but he can still fn play! I don’t get it but I’m thankful he is wearing Green n White now. Key fumble recovery in the Grey Cup too. JOHN CHICK BABY! Haha I cannot express how great it is to have Chick back. 1 of my all-time favourite players, finally has the ring he has long deserved. Sholo, Tea, Hall, McElveen, you just can’t F with that. These guys dished out some punishing hits on Burris and the Ticats in the Grey Cup. They are definitely a big reason why we won, kept Hamilton off balance all day.

Linebackers: Tristan Black/Weldon Brown/Craig Butler/Diamond Ferri/Cory HucLack/Sam Hurl/Abe Kromah/Mike McCullough/Brian Peters/Rey Williams – Sure glad I don’t have to come across the middle against these guys haha heavy hitters across the board. Not just heavy hitters but playmakers, always getting big turnovers and tackles when we need them the most. Really played well against the run this year but especially in the playoffs. I think I saw a stat the Riders only gave up 4 yards combined in the 1^st half of the Western Final and Grey Cup. If the Ticats were going to win the Grey Cup, CJ Gable was going to be a big reason but they helped shut him right down. Taking out Gable meant that they had Burris where they wanted him and proved it by shutting their offence down including a big Weldon Brown INT. Hope to see this crew HUNTIN for years to come.

Wolfpack aka Safety/DBs: Dwight Anderson/Tyron Brackenridge/Macho Harris/Tristan Jackson/Terrell Maze/Graig Newman/Carlos Thomas/Woodny Turenne/Rod Williams/Paul Woldu – Might be the best secondary in Riders history. They were on absolute lockdown all fn year but especially in the last 2 weeks. Go into Calgary and shut down their high potent offense, then dominate the best team in the East. That’s impressive no matter who you cheer for. So happy for Tristan Jackson, out of football only to come back for 1 more shot and step the F up as a DB and become a Grey Cup champion. That punch out in Calgary was a beauty. Never thought that Dwight Anderson would ever be a Rider but I’m so glad he did. He was an x-factor on defence with his play and leadership. His hit on Arceneaux that caused an incompletion was huge in its effect on the game and physical impact. Fought through off field issues to play some of the best ball of his career, big reason why we are the Champs. RELEASE THE BRACKEN! Haha Tyrone Brackenridge is quickly becoming 1 of the all-time great hitters in the CFL. Always throws clean, hard hits. Produces turnovers and tackles, he does it all. Having a great secondary is crucial to becoming/staying a champion so we really need to do what it takes to keep this group together while they are playing at this level.

Chris Milo – Looks like we have found another great kicker in Milo. Went through his struggles but came back this year a different player. Nothing but money this year except he couldn’t seem to miss those damn uprights for a bit there haha came close to the record for consecutive FGs, I think that will belong to him 1 day. Didn’t have to make a winning kick in the Grey Cup but in the championship game every point is big and he came through with 3 points. It’s big to have a kicker that you expect to make FGs instead of hoping he won’t miss or even being scared to watch. When Milo steps up to kick I expect him to hit it every time out of respect for how good he is.

Ricky Schmitt – In the CFL having good punter is another crucial aspect to success and we have a great one. Hammered a 50 yarder in the Grey Cup. Kicking the football in some of these cold temperatures is like trying to punt a brick but he still manages to unleash some great punts. He has the skills to pin em deep if he has to and turn the tables in the field position battle just like that with his strong leg. I don’t see why he won’t be a Rider longterm, a good young punter is worth every penny.

Coach Chamblin – I have to admit I didn’t think Coach Chamblin would be this good of a leader and coach this quickly. The Riders are his first head coaching job and it’s safe to say he was meant to be one. Heartbreaking loss in the WSF year 1 and in year 2 wins a Grey Cup at home in front of Ridernation, who knows what he has in store for year 3 haha I’m just glad that it worked out we could give him an opportunity because we have found the man to lead our team as HC for the foreseeable future. He has stepped out of the shadows of some great names in Riders HC history and established himself as a Rider legend. Like Darian, if he can keep this going and bring home more Cups he will go down as the greatest HC in Riders history and maybe even the CFL.

George Cortez – I was shocked when he was let go after only 1 year in Hamilton and even more shocked when he was announced as our new OC. With his knowledge and experience, I thought it would be the perfect fit for this veteran team and exactly what DD needed in an OC. He crafted an excellent gameplan throughout the season but clearly was saving the best stuff for the playoff run. Risky play but it clearly paid off as we seemed to catch teams off guard, they had no clue what to expect. Gotta re-sign him, DD deserves some consistency and Cortez is a great OC.

Richie Hall – This Grey Cup win put Richie on an island by himself in terms of greatness as he is the only person to have a hand in the Riders winning 3 of their 4 cups, 1 as a player 2 as a coach. At times his D can be frustrating but this year was different. Bend but don’t break has been the law of the land for years but this year they didn’t even really bend all that much. They really dominated for a majority of the season and never let up. Sometimes a coach gets the players that fit his system the best come through all at once and we see something special like we saw this year. Richie doesn’t get enough credit for the success of the D considering how much criticism he gets when the team struggles. It’s hard to imagine anybody else running the D. Ridernation loves you Richie!

Bob Dyce – After Craig D left us in the off season it would have been easy for Special Teams to fall apart but thankfully we had a guy like Bobby Dyce to step up and lead the charge. It is very inspiring to see how he checked his ego after being “demoted” from OC and embraced his new role of STs coach 100%. What could have been a distraction ended up being a strength in part because of the leadership of Coach Dyce. The players obviously gotta make the plays and it really helped getting strong play from everyone on STs but it was great to see it come from 1^st year guys like Spencer Moore too. Seemed like every game somebody else would step up and make a big play on STs. I was beyond happy with their play this year, lockdown on coverage and usually gave Jock and the guys a chance to break one. We were 1 missed tackle away on many occasions. Eventually Coach Dyce will get another opportunity to lead an offence as OC but for now I will enjoy the solid STs play.

Khari Jones – I was living in Winnipeg when Khari Jones exploded on the scene in 2000(there was still 1 second on the clock dammit!) and ever since then he has been 1 of my favourite non-Riders. I was crushed in 2001 when he didn’t win, it wasn’t until 2002 that it seemed everyone was suddenly a Bummer fan and hated the Riders so I could still cheer for both without issue. But because of that, this Grey Cup win didn’t really hit home until I saw Khari finally get to lift the Grey Cup. After too many years, he was finally a Grey Cup Champion. I can’t express how great it is to see 1 of my favourite players help bring home a Grey Cup for the Riders, especially one that I didn’t think would ever be in Green n White. Having a guy with the skill and knowledge of Khari was so huge for DD, there were definitely multiple factors leading to his success but you can’t argue that DD had his best year with Khari as QB coach. He is justifiably getting calls from other teams and as much as it will suck to see him go if he chooses to, he deserves it. At least I got my moment and Khari got his ring!

Baron Miles – Another Rider killer that I am so thankful to see wearing Green n White haha when I heard we were bringing in Coach Miles to work with the DBs I knew that he would immediately make us better. 1 of the best DBs in CFL history is proving himself to be a great coach too. I’m really hoping he will stay with us and take over the D when Richie is ready to put his feet up haha but seriously as good a DB coach as he has been I think he will be an even better DC. With Coach Miles and the players that have been brought together, this is 1 of the best secondary’s the Riders and even the CFL has ever seen.

Doug Malone – O-Line is your lifeblood and you need a good man to lead them and make sure they are doing the right things. Coach Malone did a great job leading these guys especially after losing Chris Best. Had to go through some struggles at times but they never quit working and always knew what they were capable of. And they really showed it in the playoffs, dominating and giving DD and the RBs lots of room to work.

Jason Tucker – 3 WR over 1000 yards, I think Coach Tucker is doing something right haha saw a definite improvement in the quality of the WR play this year and some of that is because of the hard work the guys put in but having a guy like Jason Tucker to give you another set of eyes and help break down the game is so valuable. Would have loved to have watched JT play for the Riders but I think I can live with Coach Tucker haha definitely is on the list of guys I’m glad are wearing Green n White.

Brendan Taman and Jeremy O’Day – This Grey Cup win has been a long time coming for Mr. Taman. He was right there with Khari in 2001 and us in 2009 & 2010, had to watch the Riders win it in 2007 so I think he has had enough Grey Cup heartbreak for 1 career haha Mr. O’Day was there and was a big part of the 2007 Grey Cup win, I’m really happy that he is able to start the next chapter of his career with a ring. This Grey Cup was not an easy 1 if any ever could be, they had to go all in and trust that the players they brought in would buy in to what the coaches were saying and put in the work required to achieve our goal. In the end Taman and O’Day put together 1 of the best Riders teams to ever take the field, can’t argue with a Grey Cup baby!

Riders Cheer Team & Gainer – The roles of cheerleaders and mascots have been greatly reduced in sports but the Riders Cheerleaders and Gainer do a great job of keeping the crowd into the game. I definitely appreciate the entertainment from the cheer team in between plays, especially when it’s cold. They do a great job and put in a lot of hard work, these routines aren’t just rah-rah stuff. The Riders and the rest of the CFL cheer teams put on a hell of a show in the Stamp House during Grey Cup week, they aren’t just nice to look it that’s for sure haha and for Gainer to be still around and kicking ass proves that he is King of Mascots. His ‘GO RIDERS GO’ stuff he does with the signs is 1 of the best parts of Rider games. Kids just love Gainer, helps to have something else to look at if they get bored of the game. Both are a big presence off the field as well, great to have them active in the community. They don’t get enough credit for what they do, as evidenced by me having to edit to include this haha but I wanted them to know they are appreciated by Ridernation!

I know there are going to be key people that I haven’t named but please blame the head and not the heart. I have love and appreciation for every single person that contributed to the Riders 2013 Grey Cup, from players to coaches to stadium workers to front office staff to everyone in Ridernation. Riderfans don’t just cheer for the team, we are all in with our heart and soul. Because of the environment that we live and grow up in, the Riders are part of us. Everyone tries to keep Saskatchewan small and under their boot but the Riders give us all a chance to rise and declare in a loud voice “WE ARE RIDERNATION AND WE ARE CHAMPIONS!” And there isn’t anything anyone can do about that. People frown upon using terms like “we” when talking about sports teams but attend 1 game in Saskatchewan and you will see why that is more than appropriate.

It was a Grey Cup for the ages. The Saskatchewan Roughriders winning a Grey Cup at home in front of Ridernation, 44,000+ in the house and millions watching around the world. It just does not get better than that. It truly was a Celebration in Ridernation. Getting a ring is such a huge part of a sports legacy so it makes me so damn happy looking up and down the roster seeing all these great players that will get the ring they so deserve. And when I read all the comments and hear the stories from fans about what this Grey Cup and the experience means to them, I couldn’t be more proud to say that I am a part of Ridernation. No matter what kind of dirt people try to throw on us, they all have to accept that they couldn’t crash our party. Everyone had a bullseye on us from day 1, more-so than usual. They all wanted to be the team that sent Ridernation home in tears and despair. But they just couldn’t get the job done, so we finished it.

What a week, what a game, what a team! The win didn’t sink in until DD lifted the Cup but it really hit home seeing Khari. I’ll never forget those 2 moments. I could watch Dress, Bagg, Getz, DA, Brack, and all the guys hoist the Cup every day haha I had so much fun during Grey Cup week and then watching the game live with my Bro, Pops and Uncle. A memory that will last a lifetime. Rider Pride runs deep in the Pachkowski family, I know there was a full house in front of the TV in Heaven and if I know my family a few snuck down to watch haha I just want to send Thanks and Love to the 2013 Riders for giving us this special season and Grey Cup that will last forever. With free agency and the expansion draft, it is literally impossible to keep this team fully intact but no matter where our paths take us, in 2013 we were Ridernation and became Grey Cup champions. No amount of money or distance is gonna change that. I meant it when I said if this team won they would live forever, live forever in the hearts and minds of Riderfans for 1000 years…and then some haha

We Roughrider together, we die together. Ridernation 4 life!