From the moment the Roughriders beat the Stampeders in the western final, I was in a panic. I couldn't sleep. I couldn't eat. I couldn't think about anything but football. I think I lost 20 pounds.
I wore green all week. In fact, I realized I could probably wear Rider gear every single day for two weeks without running out, although some of it is rather ill fitting. Still.
I hung my 100 Years of Pride flag up at work. I felt awkward doing that. In 2009, I hung a Rider sign on my classroom door. We know how that turned out. Monday when I arrived at work the sign had been ripped off and tossed in the garbage. I promptly retrieved it and put it back on the door. I told people, "The Riders need us more now than ever."
Wednesday I watched the opening of Riderville streamed live on the Riderville.com website.
Thursday I started seeing pictures of the Coaches press conference. Corey Chamblin wore a suit. Kent Austin was wearing a track suit. Chamblin looked like the coach of a championship team. Austin looked like the coach of a college team. That might sound mean, but I expected more of him. It doesn't matter that he had to go out to the field right after and hold practice because Chamblin had to get on a bus and drive to Moose Jaw for practice.
I could not wait for the week to be finished. In all honesty, anything that wasn't football related is a complete and utter blur. I just felt like it was time. It was time to get the game going.
Sunday, game day, Grey Cup day was an incredibly beautiful day. Man oh man, I felt such regret. Why the heck didn't I try harder to get tickets? Oh yeah, I know there weren't hotels available and we'd have to get a dog sitter. But man. We should have been there. We went to the Co-Op for groceries instead. I bought 3 bags of Geroy Simon Super Onion & Sour Cream chips. They were 3 for $4.98. Secretly I hoped Geroy would be a huge factor in the game. I hoped that maybe he'd get 3 TD's. Little did I know that Superman had not scored a touchdown in a Grey Cup game in his career. Wow.
I wore the same outfit I'd worn for the Western Semi and the Western Final. My Celebration in Ridernation tank top which I had worn to Watrous and met Dwight Anderson, Macho Harris and Jock Sanders. I wore my grey bunnyhug. I had to wear my hair down and my watermelon earrings. Pants didn't seem to matter....as in colour/style etc. I try hard not to be superstitious, but I guess I am after all.
Finally. It was game time. BRING EM OUT. BRING EM OUT. BRING EM OUT. The Riders skipped the formality of player introductions and rushed out onto the field sending TSN into a frenzy. It was hilarious on tv because for once, Rod Black aka Skater Dude was silenced! It was exhilarating to watch the players gather and dance.
The sky shots of Taylor Field were breath taking. Seeing the Snowbirds flyby was purely amazing.
Why the heck wasn't I there?!
I don't think I actually started breathing until the 3rd quarter. It felt like Hamilton was going to make a comeback. They started to see something or get something working in the 3rd quarter. Hubby said "oh don't worry we've got this." But I'd seen it before. Then something miraculous happened. Everytime the Riders offence was on the field they scored. Let's face it. The Riders played the way we have always wanted them too. The way we have dreamt they could.
The Roughriders broke a record for points scored in the first half of a Grey Cup game. Kory Sheets broke the rushing record for a Grey Cup game. Geroy Simon got his first and second touchdowns in a Grey Cup game. Everyone got to touch the ball. The offense was spread around. George Cortez was freaking amazing with his play calling.
Then we won.
The Riders won their 4th Grey Cup in 103 years of the football club. The 101st Grey Cup held right in historic Mosaic Stadium at Taylor Field. 2013. The year of the 13th man. Vindication. Redemption. What happened in 2009? I can't remember. It's been erased. Once Darian Durant grasped that cup and held it over his head in celebration.....it was all true.
That. Just. Happened.
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