June 22, 2011
Esks.com
Rose Mary Phillip
Meet Susie Meyer: an 18-year season ticket holder who drives four-and-a-half hours for 60 minutes of Eskimo football.
“I bleed green and gold,” says the Grande Prairie resident.
Her daughter bleeds only green. Rider green. She was born on the Saskatchewan side of Lloydminster but she’s only nine-years-old so she gets a pass.
Enter the Empire
In 1986, Susie moved to Edmonton from Nova Scotia. “My new employer gave me two tickets to a game. It was the day before my birthday, pouring rain and we beat BC,” Susie says. “I’ve always watched sports on T.V. but never realized how different it is to go and participate as a fan.”
She was hooked.
Closet freak
The Eskimos are in her heart and she wears her heart on her sleeve … and on her back, her head and anywhere else a logo will fit. She competes with her best friend Harvey to own the most Eskimo clothing and collectibles.
Susie’s stockpile includes a custom-made jean jacket (one sleeve gold, the other green), an apron, blanket, flags, jewellery, key tags, pom poms, horns, hats, coats, sweatshirts and a cheer team uniform for her daughter who supports the Esks when the Riders are not in town.
On game day, she’ll select an outfit from the extensive collection. Her husband Nick wears his Warren Moon jersey. If it’s cold, he’ll add the Grey Cup jacket Susie bought for his last birthday.
“You name it. We own it,” says Susie.
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| Sun, rain or snow, win or lose, Susie Meyer cheers for the Esks with her husband Nick and their daughter. |
I do. Let’s play.
When Susie and Nick got married, the venue was a no-brainer: Commonwealth Stadium. They wanted to wed in front of 60,000 friends, family and fans during half time.
“My husband is catholic and his mother would have had a heart attack. So, a church wedding it was,” says Susie.
Green and gold were the obvious choices for wedding colours, but plans changed when she found a deal on purple dresses.
Harvey flew in from Nova Scotia to emcee the wedding and present Susie with a gift she’ll never forget: a custom-made green and gold bra embroidered with “Go Esks.” She’ll hang it from the antenna of her new car.
Eskimo allegiance
When the Eskimos host the Stampeders this Friday, Susie expects a win. If they don’t, that’s okay too. The scoreboard doesn’t dictate her level of team pride.
“They’ll never win all of the time, but you don’t abandon your team when they’re losing. That’s just how it goes. If you boo, I’m calling you out.”
Fumble
Unable to watch the game in person, Susie planned to share her tickets with friends in Calgary. Unfortunately, she mailed them the day before the postal strike. (Editor’s Note: Eskimo season seat holders can forward their tickets through email by logging into My Eskimo Account on esks.com)
Her three season tickets would have been matched with three free tickets for New Fan Day. Instead, they’ll watch the game on TSN sans the new and improved tailgate party and giant inflatable defenders. Oh well. There’s always next game.
Can you feel it?
Susie’s excitement is building as training camp comes to a close. “They’re going to be a force to be reckoned with. The past five years will be just a memory.”
Last week’s game was “pretty promising.” Likely even more so this week because Head Coach Kaivs Reed says the anticipated starters “will play and play extensively.”
Fred Stamps? Check.
Greg Peach? Check.
Patrick Kabongo? T.J. Hill? Chris Thompson? Check! Check! Check!
And Susie’s roster favourite, Ricky Ray? Check!
“I like that it’s a community-owned team – owned by the people of Edmonton,” says Susie. “They’re a part of Edmonton.”