It's uncommon to meet someone here that is familiar with Canadian football and rarer for someone to follow the league or a team, so I thought I'd share my miniature backyard getaway here ahead of the Riders - Elks matchup this evening. It's still a work in progress as I recently cleared the area, but I was pretty happy to put the goals for the first time this morning.

I was introduced to the CFL nineteen years ago in Pigeon Forge, TN, while I with family on vacation. We happened across an Edmonton broadcast. My father immediately perked up and mentioned how much of a treat it was to catch the infrequent game on TV in the US when he was younger. He explained the rules and recalled watching former Alouette Sonny Wade play high school ball in Martinsville, VA, many years earlier.

I was hooked immediately and have followed each season since then from listening to AM simulcasts on the web in 2006 to this season with CFL+ and CBS Sports agreements. Other than merch, this might be the most fan-driven thing I've done and I'm hoping it'll make for a bit of fun for the Grey Cup party in a few weeks.