Edmonton Eskimos
ESKS.com Staff
The Knothole Gang has been considered an Edmonton Eskimo institution over the last six decades. It’s where young kids cut their teeth as Eskimo fans and for season seat holder Shawn Wagar and his family, it’s something that is close to the heart.
Wagar holds many memories as a young kid going to games in the 70s with his parents and being part of the Knothole Gang. Now, he can relive and create some of those memories with his wife Alana, his 15-year-old son Ty and his 11-year-old daughter Colby.
“I remember my very first game, I was about five or six years old and the Eskimos were playing BC in the Western Final at Clarke Stadium, and it was bitterly cold in November. My mom continued to ask me if I wanted to go home, but I knew how big that game was and me wanting to stay far exceeded the cold that day,” recalled Wagar, who typically went to three or four games a year when he was young.
“That’s where I fell in love with the game as a kid and it’s continued to grow over the years.”
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| Colby outside the stadium before being the Kickoff Kid for the game. |
Wagar, who is an assistant principal at Lacombe Junior High School, has been a season seat holder since 1995 and their season seats are in the Knothole Gang section on the south side of Commonwealth Stadium beside section A.
“The Edmonton Eskimos have been amazing to us. Both of our kids have been kickoff kids and my son was a junior reporter for a game,” said Wagar.
“One thing I remember as a young kid was how accessible the players were, and that hasn’t changed. That can go a long way when you’re a young kid growing up.
“The game that my son was the junior reporter was when Ricky Ray injured his shoulder against Toronto and he was able to go down into the locker room and he had his Ricky Ray jersey on and he stood three feet away from Ricky while he talked about the injury. It was a big moment for him and something he’ll never forget.”
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| Ty got to be a junior reporter for a game and watched the post-game press conference with then-quarterback Ricky Ray |
The Wagars rarely miss a game, and it’s very much become a summer family tradition. Shawn and Alana have been bringing both Ty and Colby to Esks games since they were both just a few months old. Over the years, their trips have grown to include family friends, and close friends of their children.
When the Wagars arrive at Commonwealth Stadium, they try to make it in time for warm-up, and that’s when Ty will head down to the front row chat with some of the players before the game. It’s all part of the experience. The family also travels to Calgary every year to cheer on the Eskimos for the Labour Day Classic.
“It’s a very good experience for the young kids and it’s a family friendly area as well, and that’s important to us,” said Wagar.
“Having the Knothole Gang available to kids is important, because it may be their only opportunity to go to a game.”
Even though Ty is no longer eligible to be an official member of the club, the family still enjoys sitting in the section. The Eskimo memories the Wagars have built over the years because of the Knothole Gang have stuck with them, and they want the new fans to experience all that they did.
Now, if any of the Wagars catch the mini-footballs that are thrown into the crowd when the Eskimos score a touchdown, they make sure to give it to one of the young kids in the stands.
“I recognize kids and I talk to them from year to year and you start to build relationships. I’m at the age now where it’s nice to see the little kids go through the experiences that I did when I was younger,” said Ty.
“I’ve grown up around this team, I know the passion that my dad has for the Eskimos and I’ve gained that same passion. The Eskimos bring us closer as a family and when I grow up I want to pass that tradition on to my kids, just like he’s done with my sister and me.”
Wagar grew up in an era when he witnessed the likes of quarterback Tom Wilkinson, kicker Dave Cutler and wide receiver George McGowan strut their stuff. As a young kid, he collected newspaper articles from some of his favourite Eskimo moments, and still has them today.
The Wager’s basement is filled with Eskimo memorabilia.
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| Colby meets Punter before she heads to the field to be the Kickoff Kid. |
Wagar’s passion for the Eskimos runs deep and it has now passed on to his children. As the kids grow older, the Eskimos have become a regular topic of discussion for the family.
“When free agency opened up last week we talked about the Odell Willis signing and who else we thought the team should go after,” said Wagar.
“Having these season tickets with our family, you almost relive those memories of what you had when you were younger. Your kids grow up so fast. One minute you’re taking your kids and before we know it one day they may be taking theirs. It would be great to see a third generation of our family go to Eskimo games.
“One of the great things I love about the games is seeing the multi-generations walking around the concourse. I don’t believe kids are born Eskimo fans, but when they’re immersed in that culture, it becomes natural.”
The Knothole Gang is a kids club that gives children aged 6-12 the opportunity to enjoy the game from the end zone seats. As a Knothole Gang member, kids can win great prizes, take part in many activities like running for a touchdown after every home game and gain opportunities to meet their favourite Eskimo players.