What’s it been like waiting to play your first game for the Stamps?

It’s been exciting and kind of frustrating because I’m a guy who — this is what I do, this is what I feel like I was born to do. I love competition. I love being able to go out there with my teammates and help my team to a victory. So it’s definitely been frustrating, but the excitement and the joy of being able to go out there on Friday night against a team that I played against several times in the past few years is a great thing.

I haven’t played a regular season game since the Grey Cup, so I’m looking forward to just being able to strap it up and get after people and just have fun again. Anybody who plays the sport, in their heart they love to compete, so for me not to be able to do that has been kind of depressing. But I look forward to going out there and knocking some people over.

What’s your favourite part about going out there on game day?

Just getting ready and going out with your team and seeing all your guys excited to play. And to know that you’re going to war with a group of great guys — guys who you know have your back and you have their back. That’s just a great feeling.

Do you get any butterflies before that first hit?

I actually hate it if the offence wins the toss and they receive the ball in the first quarter. I hate having to wait to get out there. I always get butterflies. I’ve got to talk to my family back home because they are the reason I play the game; they are the reason I’m up in Canada and they’re back home watching me. They make it exciting for me as well, so I talk to them to calm down. It’s always good to give them a good show and tell them I love them. Because in the game of football you never know what can happen so I always want to let them know I love them and care about them before I step on the field — and to hear that back from them also makes me feel good too.

Do you have any pre-game rituals?

I have to clean my ears and I don’t know why. I have to clean my ears before every game. I get Q-tips and I clean my ears thoroughly and I talk to my family.

You’ve been in Calgary for a couple of weeks now. What have you liked about being here so far?

The climates pretty good; it’s never too hot. But I also have heard that around mid-September it is drastically cold so I’m dreading that.  The people here are just hometown people, everybody says hi, it’s slow-paced. I love the atmosphere of the organization. Everybody here cares about you, they want the best for you and that’s always a great feeling to be a part of something like that. It’s definitely one of the things I’ve noticed since I’ve been out here.

What’s worst joke you’ve ever heard about your height?

That I’m the first one to know when it rains. That’s just corny.