Hi there,

This is Michael Petrie of the Calgary Stampeders. Some of you might know me as the Stamps beat writer for the Calgary Herald during the past eight years. Well, I’ve moved over to the other side now and I’m working closely with the folks I used to write about.

It has been interesting — to say the least — and we’re all excited that training camp is finally here.

A few observations from this side of the fence struck me quickly:

The coaching staff in here is first-rate; I’ve gained additional respect for the players and how hard they work in the community and getting ready for the season; the organization is rock solid and extremely committed; and the overall atmosphere is positive heading into the 2008 season. It should be a great year with plenty of twists and turns.

During my last year at the Herald, I developed the Stamps Insider blog, which gained quite a faithful following during the course of the season. I’ve basically brought that blog here to Stampeders.com — the Insider Blog — and will provide you with all the breaking news, info and insight you’ll need to follow your team. In addition, our players have the Locker-Room Blog, which will give you a perspective of the game from their vantage point.

As you’ve noticed, we’ve blown up the whole site and taken on a lot of initiatives with the fan in mind. We’re really excited about all the possibilities of 2008 — online and on-field — so please keep supporting your team and visiting Stampeders.com.

Cheers.

Michael Petrie

Director, Community and Media Relations