This is it!

The moment Rider Nation has been waiting for since the players walked off the field in Toronto hoisting the Grey Cup has finally arrived. In just about 2 hours the stadium in Regina will fill with anxious, raucous Rider fans. (Like when are we not raucous?).

This is fans first glimpse of the new Rider team. There are still a few of those that tasted champagne from the Grey Cup last year (or was it beer?), but so much has changed.

I've been keeping my eyes open for roster reports and I gotta say... the Green is in deep.

We've got new guys all over the place, including our quarterback, and a new headcoach. Such things would be considered difficult obstacles to be sure, but last report I heard had the following vets NOT suiting up tonight...

Henri Childs, receiver Matt Dominguez (Crap! Can't wait to see him back in action!), offensive linemen Jeremy O'Day (crap!) and Mike Abou-Mechrek (I like him!), linebacker Maurice Lloyd and defensive backs James Johnson and Eddie Davis (No ED? ACK!).

So... um... like there's still a team left to play right?

I checked. Congi is kicking. Crandell is tossing.

Basically, I'll be cheering for the guys wearing green and white. Albeit not by name... ("Yo, number 16! get that guy!").

So scream loud and scream hard Rider fans. I think the newbies are gonna need to hear us roar!

And in regards to B.C. I for one am excited to see Wally Buono back in Riderville. I'm a little low on my quota for trash talk, so I'm sure he'll oblige me. Here's hoping the big fat dish of revenge they've got ready to serve up to the Green and White gets shoved back in their face! Remember, this is the team that was supposed to win the Grey Cup last year, but lost to a hungry Rider team on their way to a storybook ending.

Anyone wanna call the first sack of the year? I say 97 John Chick.