Austin's presence remains with Riders
By Murray McCormick, Leader-PostJanuary 15, 2009
REGINA -- Kent Austin, a year removed from his position as head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders, has kept up on the happenings with the CFL team.
Austin, who spent one season as the Riders head coach before resigning to become the offensive co-ordinator with the University of Mississippi Rebels, was pleased to hear that Richie Hall had been hired as the head coach of the Edmonton Eskimos. Hall and Austin were teammates on the 1989 Grey Cup championship team. Hall was Austin’s defensive co-ordinator when the Riders won the 2007 Grey Cup.
“It’s a great opportunity for Richie because he has always wanted to be a head coach,’’ says Austin, who was named the CFL’s coach-of-the-year after his only season at the helm of the Riders. “He has such a great body of work and he’s such a great person. You always like to see good things happen to good people. Richie is one of the good ones.’’
Austin also had an opportunity to coach Darian Durant when he was a backup quarterback with the Riders in 2007. Durant, who was eligible to file for free agency on Feb. 15, re-signed with the Riders on Jan. 4. Riders head coach Ken Miller said recently that Durant would head into training camp on June 7 on top of the quarterback depth chart.
The Riders have four quarterbacks — Durant, Steven Jyles, Drew Tate and Dalton Bell — who are also expected to contend for the position.
Austin wasn’t around to see Durant start in 2008, but remembers that he exhibited most of the traits that he looks for in a quarterback. Austin says a quarterback has to make great decisions in regards to every aspect of the offence, needs to be accurate and make the throws which are required and to be mentally and physically tough.
Austin wasn’t around to see Durant start in 2008, but remembers that he exhibited most of the traits that he looks for in a quarterback. Austin says a quarterback has to make great decisions in regards to every aspect of the offence, needs to be accurate and make the throws which are required and to be mentally and physically tough.
“Though I didn’t work with him in 2008, I know that he was a great decision-maker and he’s accurate,’’ says Austin. “That’s why I was a fan of Darian’s, because you can work with those first two qualities. You just have to build a system, if he’s going to be your guy, that draws on his strengths and eliminates his weaknesses.
Austin says one of Durant’s strengths at quarterback is his intelligence.
“He also knows how to prepare,’’ says Austin. “A lot of quarterbacks don’t know how to prepare properly and he does.’’
Building that system is the responsibility of Miller and offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice. Austin feels that Durant gives them a good foundation.
“I know that they have modified the offence from what I was doing because everyone has their own beliefs in how to attack,’’ says Austin. “None are exactly the same and there are a lot of different ways to skin the cat.’’
The early development of Durant may be part of the legacy left from Austin’s year with the Roughriders. There are other carryovers and Riders general manager Eric Tillman says that Austin’s impact with the Riders is still being felt.
“Kent did so many positive things during his time here but none was greater than creating an environment with a genuine expectation of success,’’ says Tillman. “He was so confident, so positive, and our players, fans, and organization fed off of that energy. It was contagious and that mindset continues today.’’
Austin says one of Durant’s strengths at quarterback is his intelligence.
“He also knows how to prepare,’’ says Austin. “A lot of quarterbacks don’t know how to prepare properly and he does.’’
Building that system is the responsibility of Miller and offensive co-ordinator Paul LaPolice. Austin feels that Durant gives them a good foundation.
“I know that they have modified the offence from what I was doing because everyone has their own beliefs in how to attack,’’ says Austin. “None are exactly the same and there are a lot of different ways to skin the cat.’’
The early development of Durant may be part of the legacy left from Austin’s year with the Roughriders. There are other carryovers and Riders general manager Eric Tillman says that Austin’s impact with the Riders is still being felt.
“Kent did so many positive things during his time here but none was greater than creating an environment with a genuine expectation of success,’’ says Tillman. “He was so confident, so positive, and our players, fans, and organization fed off of that energy. It was contagious and that mindset continues today.’’
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