It’s been a really hectic past few weeks. It’s been really busy with training and work and everything that’s been going on with the Stamps. It’s sunk in a little bit but I think it’ll really hit me once I get to camp and realize that I’m here to make the team. It should be pretty interesting and I’m really excited.
As a Calgarian who’s getting this chance to try and make the team, it’s a sense of pride. I love this city and getting a chance to represent it on a professional football scale and do what I love is extremely rewarding. I love football and I get to represent my home city. What better combination could there be?
I can’t count how many Stampeders games I went and saw growing up. My dad, my brother and myself would go to every game we could, with obviously my favourites being the Labour Day games. Those were always awesome to go to. I’ve been really close to the Stamps from a fan perspective since I was a kid, so having a chance to make the team is a dream come true.
Joffrey Reynolds was definitely my favourite player. I love the way he runs and he’s so tough and so consistent. It’s great to have a chance to be his teammate now. I haven’t had a chance to meet him yet but I’m excited for it. I think I could learn so much from him. He’s an incredible running back and from what I’ve heard, he’s a really good guy and open to helping the rookies. So I’m going to follow him around and anything I can learn from him, I will.
In regards to my other favourite players, I really like Trey Young and Brandon Browner also. Timmy O — Tim O’Neill — is a really good friend of mine and I just think the world of that guy. He’s awesome.
I got to play with Timmy a year at the U of C and I remember going through the holes and seeing guys flying by because Timmy was taking guys out with his blocking. He’s a monster and it’s going to be awesome playing with him again.
The other day, I had a chance to meet with Mark Kilam to go over some special teams stuff. I took a bunch of notes and I got my playbook and then when I got home, I was just staring at these things and I realized, “This is going to me my job if I make the team.” That’s when it sunk in that this is a serious business. I’m here to compete and this is what I’ve got to do. I’ve got my work cut out for me and I know what’s expected of me.
It’s been almost overwhelming all the support and good wishes I’ve received over the past few weeks. On draft day, after I was picked by the Stamps, I had hundreds of messages via Facebook, I had a lot of calls from family members I haven’t heard from in years and a lot and friends I hadn’t heard form in years were congratulating me. Everyone is just really stoked that it’s Calgary and I couldn’t be happier.
It’s been an amazing experience and the only way to make it better is to make the team and find a place I can contribute on the Stamps.
I’m so anxious for the start of camp. The waiting is killing me. I just want to get out there and start working. There’s so much going through my mind wondering what it’s going to be like, so I’m looking forward to getting out there and just doing it.
Matt Walter, #30
>> Walter bio