Roughriders entertain crowd at Fan Fest Day in Saskatoon

Hundreds of football fans in Saskatoon were treated to a special day at Saskatchewan Roughriders training camp on Saturday.

The team held its annual Riders Fan Fest Day on Saturday. Fans got a chance to see newcomers and veterans take part in a 60-play scrimmage and fans got a chance to meet their favourite players.

While the day was all about the fans, it was also fun for defensive back Dwight Anderson.

I think they've finally welcomed me in- Dwight Anderson

"You come out and you execute and you do what you're supposed to do and (the fans) appreciate that," Anderson said. "The fans over here know football. That's what you love about them. They actually understand the game and know the passion of the game and I think they've finally welcomed me in."

Anderson, who knows what it's like to be both jeered and cheered by Rider fans, said it's nice to be embraced by Rider Nation.

"Before everybody used to walk past me like, 'Oh, D-A. I remember him (from his) Calgary days,'" Anderson said, adding a groan. "But you know, I came over, showed them the other side of D-A and they actually like it."

With the first full week of training camp done, head coach Corey Chamblin said he's seeing a lot of improvement.

"The receivers I'd really say have improved," Chamblin said. "Their waggles are a lot better. Early they were a little bit off. Now they're hitting it and it looks like a veteran group. And that's the good thing about it. And I'm talking about the twos to the threes. So there is a lot of improvement and I'm pleased with it."

The Riders will play their first pre-season game on Saturday in Regina. Anderson said he's excited to welcome Henry Burris and the Ottawa RedBlacks to Mosaic Stadium.

"It's going to be good, not just for us, but the league," Anderson said. "It's expansion. We got another team coming in. We got to bring them into the league nice and proper with an 'L' you know what I mean. So we invited them to our stadium. Show them what a championship stadium look like."

Anderson and the Roughriders have Sunday off, but will return to practice Monday at the SaskTel Sports Centre at 8:15 a.m. CST.