MILLER'S TIME TO SHINE

By Murray McCormick, Leader-PostNovember 10, 2009

REGINA — Ken Miller won't like this story.

That's because the head coach of the CFL's Saskatchewan Roughriders prefers to let the spotlight shine on his players and assistant coaches. But it's impossible to overlook Miller's role in what the Riders have accomplished in 2009.

The Riders finished first in the West Division for the first time in 33 years after Saturday's 30-14 victory over the Calgary Stampeders. Miller is the first Riders head coach to accomplish that feat since John Payne in 1976. Miller, Payne and Eagle Keys are the only Riders head coaches to win regular-season pennants since 1961 when the CFL split into East and West divisions.

Some members of the Riders marked that accomplishment by showering Miller with ice-cold water after Saturday's win. After the game, other players showered Miller with praise.

"Ken Miller is my man,'' said Wes Cates, the Riders' veteran running back. "He is cerebral and probably the smartest man I have ever met. He's not a loud guy but he knows how to get his guys motivated and how to get wins.''

Cates wasn't too concerned when the 68-year-old Miller was doused by the cold water.
"We're lucky that he didn't go into shock but he had mostly waterproof stuff on,'' Cates said with a chuckle. "I don't think he got too wet. It's surprising because he has a lot of energy in him. He saves it for the right time and I'm proud of the way that he's stuck through with things. A lot of things have happened to the organization since he's been the head coach and a lot of people have talked bad about him but all he has done is lead this team to victory.''

Miller's support of quarterback Darian Durant is one of those decisions that raised the ire of some followers. The two are now celebrating a West Division regular-season title.

"I wanted to do this for Coach Miller,'' said Durant, who is the Riders' nominee for the CFL's most-outstanding-player award. "He has stuck by my side when I'm pretty sure that a lot of people were calling for my head after a couple of games. I appreciate him sticking with me and we got rewarded with a Western title.''
The players also appreciate Miller's style when it comes to being the head coach.

"You don't need a drill sergeant (for a head coach),'' said Durant. "You need a guy who is an overseer and will make sure that things are run properly. He doesn't accept any nonsense and no one on this team wants to disappoint the head coach. That's the type of guy you want to play for and you want to respect.''

Miller developed that style as a life-long coach. He spent four decades as a high school and college coach before joining the Toronto Argonauts as a quarterbacks coach in 2002. He joined the Riders in 2007 as their offensive co-ordinator. That team led the CFL in touchdowns (54) and quarterback Kerry Joseph was named the CFL's most outstanding player en route to helping the team win the 2007 Grey Cup.

Miller was promoted to head coach after Kent Austin left during the off-season to return to his alma mater as the offensive co-ordinator with the University of Mississippi. The Riders were 12-6-0 in Miller's first season as a head coach, finished second in the division and were beaten 33-12 by the B.C. Lions in the West Division semifinal.

There have been highs and lows over the two seasons but one of the constants has been the respect Miller has earned.

"He's a very well-liked coach,'' said Eddie Davis, the Riders' veteran defensive halfback. "He's a players' coach. He leaves players alone and let's them find their own way. If you don't like him, then there is something wrong with you.''

mmccormick@leaderpost.canwest.com

SASKATCHEWAN BORN PLAYERS PROUD

Saskatoon-born Rider Gene Makowsky is happy with his team's No. 1 finish but he wishes it could have been done years earlier.
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leader-Post files

REGINA — If he plays 15 seasons in the CFL, a player likely will see just about everything during his career.
But Gene Makowsky wasn’t so sure he’d ever see his Saskatchewan Roughriders finish first in the West Division.

Asked after Saturday’s 30-14 victory over the visiting Calgary Stampeders — a win that gave the Roughriders top spot in the West for the first time since 1976 — if doubt about a first-place finish had ever set in, the veteran offensive lineman replied: “Oooooh, yeah.”

“My first five or six years, we averaged five wins,” continued Makowsky, a member of the teams that won 32 games over a six-season span from 1995 through 2000. “It seemed to be an uphill battle and against the wind all the time.

“You never know. I’ve been fortunate to be able to play a lot. I’ve finally seen it, so it’s a great deal. I just wish we could have done it years earlier!”

As a product of Saskatoon, Makowsky was well-versed in the Roughriders’ first-place futility long before he joined the team. While he may not have known what was going on during the ’76 season — “I wasn’t paying attention; I was three,” he said with a grin — he’s well aware of the meaning of this season’s accomplishment.
“Not just living here but playing through some lean years in the ’90s, it might hold a little more significance for me,” said Makowsky, 36. “I’m sure everyone has their own reasons, motivations and feelings (to celebrate Saturday’s victory). But for me and the fans, it might mean a little more.”

Makowsky isn’t the only Roughrider who feels that way.

There are 10 Saskatchewan-born players on the roster — Makowsky, offensive lineman Jordan Rempel of Caronport, and the Regina contingent of slotbacks Jason Clermont and Chris Getzlaf, running backs Stu Foord and Neal Hughes, defensive backs Tamon George and Joel Lipinski, offensive lineman Nick Hutchins and defensive lineman Mike Stadnyk — and they all shared in the province’s celebration.

“This is outstanding!” Hughes told the Leader-Post’s Rob Vanstone on Saturday. “To be a part of it is very special.

“We’ve got guys in this locker room like Geno and (fullback Chris) Szarka and (centre Jeremy) O’Day and a couple of others who have been playing forever and have never seen a first place ... I’ve been playing for six years and this is just an outstanding feeling. I’m just as happy for myself as I am for all those guys, and for the province, too.’’

“I’m not really big on (attaching significance to games) normally, but I think it means a little more to me,” added Getzlaf. “It probably means a lot to everybody right now. We got a bye, right?
“But I definitely think about it more being from here and having an opportunity to get that game in this city with these great fans who haven’t seen it for so long.”

Many of the current Roughriders used to be spectators when they were younger. Some of them flashed back to those moments Saturday as the fans celebrated the occasion.

“One of the Rider Pride songs came on and I was singing it,” Hughes said. “I looked over and Stu Foord was singing it, too. He and I used to sing this song in the stands. It kind of brought us down to earth ...

“It’s just cool to be able to play for the home team and to be a part of a successful organization is just an added bonus.’’

Being part of a team that has playoff success is attractive to Foord. The Roughriders play host to the West final on Nov. 22 and, with a win in that game, can reach the Grey Cup.
“When you play the game, you’re in the moment,” he said. “When you look back on it, you want to make some history — and that’s what we’re starting to do right now. We’re about to make some history coming up.”
For Makowsky, snapping a 33-year drought in a winner-take-all contest certainly held some historical significance.

“The big games are the reasons you play — and to get a big win, there’s no feeling like it,” he said. “You can’t replicate it in any other facet of life in my opinion. It’s a great deal for our franchise and our fans and we’ll savour it for a few days.”

ihamilton@leaderpost.canwest.com

CAM WARD IS A RIDER FAN

PICTURE OF CAM WARD, CELEBRATING THE STANLEY CUP WITH
HIS RIDER HAT ON !!! click on the picture to make it larger

FANTUZ IS FANTASTIC

Saskatchewan Roughriders slotback Andy Fantuz tries to shake off Calgary Stampeders linebacker Shannon James.
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leader-Post Files, Leader-Post

The Calgary Stampeders would like to see Andy Fantuz one more time this season -- even though they are unable to cover him.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders slotback has hit double digits in receptions in each of the CFL team's last two games against Calgary. Most recently, Fantuz had 12 receptions for 123 yards in Saturday's 30-14 victory on Taylor Field -- a conquest that gave Saskatchewan first place in the West and a bye into the division final.
On Nov. 22, Fantuz and the Roughriders will play host to the winner of Sunday's West semifinal between the Stampeders and the visiting Edmonton Eskimos.

"It's a great feeling,'' Fantuz said of Saturday's victory. "During the game, even when we're winning, you're so nervous. We just want to win so badly. When the final whistle blew, it's such a relief and guys are excited. We can use the bye. We're a little banged up and we're going to get healthy and be ready to go.''

Fantuz has put up healthy numbers against Calgary this season. On Oct. 17 at McMahon Stadium, he had 10 catches for a season-high 149 yards and one touchdown in a 44-44 overtime tie. Three weeks later, half of quarterback Darian Durant's 24 completions went to Fantuz. On the Riders' opening drive, culminating in a touchdown toss to Chris Getzlaf, Fantuz caught four passes for 48 yards.

"When our team plays well, everyone gets the stats,'' Fantuz said. "It's not about individual performances. When the team's playing well, we spread the ball around and we take what they give us.''

Fantuz's reception total on Saturday was the highest by a Roughrider since July 28, 2001, when Curtis Marsh caught 13 passes for 215 yards in a 50-24 loss to the visiting Toronto Argonauts.

Since that game, a Roughrider has reached double digits in receptions on only four occasions. Fantuz has twice accomplished that feat. Saskatchewan's other two games of that description were in 2005, when Jason French had 11 catches (July 23) and Elijah Thurmon caught 10 passes (Oct. 8).

Fantuz's 12-reception game elicited praise from his team's head coach, Ken Miller.

"Andy Fantuz is, I think, the best in the league at what he does,'' Miller said. "With his ability to make those clutch catches for those clutch first downs, you can't say enough about him and those catches.''
Fantuz's rapport with Durant is a contributing factor.

"We're pretty good friends off the field, so we're always talking about things,'' the fourth-year Roughriders slotback said. "We've always been getting close to jelling, and then we had a couple of unfortunate injuries. Last year we both got hurt in the same game, and then this year I hurt my hamstring.

"We've been really close to getting to that page and I think we're there right now. We're going to be ready to go in the playoffs and just try to give it our best.''

During the 2009 regular season, Fantuz posted career and team highs in receptions (67 for 882 yards) despite missing five games with a torn hamstring. His previous high was set two years ago, when he made 56 catches for a career-best 978 yards.

Extrapolated over a full regular-season schedule of 18 games, Fantuz caught passes in 2009 at a pace that would have resulted in 93 receptions for 1,221 yards.

© Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post

MILLER GETS SOAKED

Saskatchewan Roughriders head coach Ken Miller was doused with water by players after the team's victory on Saturday.
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leader-Post, The Leader-Post

Darian Durant's list of receivers included Darian Durant.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback was credited with one reception for a loss of five yards during Saturday's 30-14 CFL victory over the Calgary Stampeders on Taylor Field. He caught his own pass after it was deflected by a Stampeders lineman.

The unplanned catch left Durant four yards shy of 300 for the game.
"I'm going to bug him about that one later,'' Roughriders slotback Andy Fantuz said with a laugh. "He should have batted that one down and it would have been over 300, but what are you going to do?
"He had a great game. At the end of the day, a 300-yard game doesn't matter. We got a bye. We're playing in the Western final and we got a home game.''

Durant completed 24 of 36 passes, with two touchdowns and no interceptions, to help Saskatchewan clinch first place in the West Division and a bye to the Nov. 22 division final, to which the Roughriders will play host.

For the record, Durant's reception was his second of the season. In a similar situation, he was tackled for a six-yard loss Sept. 13 during a 55-10 victory over the host Winnipeg Blue Bombers.
The last Roughriders quarterback to catch a pass on a designed play was Kerry Joseph, who caught a 34-yard TD pass from receiver Jason Armstead on July 22, 2006 in a 26-23 home-field victory over the Toronto Argonauts.

- - -

Roughriders head coach Ken Miller was doused with water on the sideline to commemorate Saturday's victory.

Who were the perpetrators?

"I got one face,'' Miller said with a laugh. "I'm not sure I got the other one. Jeremy O'Day was one of the culprits.''

The other culprit was O'Day's offensive line cohort, Marc Parenteau.
Miller was a second-time victim. Roughriders players also emptied a water container on Miller on June 28, 2008, following a 34-13 conquest of the visiting Edmonton Eskimos. That was Miller's first victory as the Roughriders' field boss.

- - -

Miller does not expect slotback Weston Dressler to return for the West final.
Dressler missed the final four regular-season games with a broken right fibula and a dislocated right ankle. When he was hurt Oct. 10 during a 32-22 victory over the visiting Argonauts, the Riders cited Nov. 22 as the earliest possible return date.

"I think it's very, very slim,'' Miller said. "From a coaching perspective, we have to prepare as though we won't have him.''

Miller does expect defensive halfback Eddie Davis, who missed the final two regular-season games with a torn meniscus in his left knee, to be ready for the West final.

The news is not as good, or anything close, for wide receiver Johnny Quinn. He suffered a torn meniscus Saturday and is lost for the season. Surgery will likely be required.

- - -

EXTRA POINTS: Defensive end Stevie Baggs and Riders linebacker Mike McCullough are this year's recipients of the Mosaic Community Award. The award is presented annually to the Rider who contributes the most to their community. Mosaic made a $2,500 donation on McCullough's behalf to Jesse's Journey, a charity raising funds for research in gene- and cell-based therapies focusing on Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Mosaic also donated $2,500 on Baggs' behalf to Creating Empowerment Through Autonomy (CETA), a foundation directed towards assisting at-risk communities and children ... Approximately 500 pennants featuring Chick were sold before Saturday's game. Proceeds from the minimum donation of $10 were directed towards the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

© Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post

EMOTIONAL NIGHT FOR THE FANS

Fans celebrate the Saskatchewan Roughriders' victory on Saturday.
Photograph by: TROY FLEECE, Leader-Post, Leader-Post

Neal Hughes enjoyed two parties for the price of one.

As he walked from the sidelines to greet his teammates and celebrate on Taylor Field Saturday night, Hughes had to take a moment to turn around and take notice of the party going on the stands.
He loved what he saw. He loved it so much he said he had to choke down the lump in his throat.

"Even though I'm a player for this team now I'm still a fan. To see the way they reacted tonight was something very special to be a part of," said the Regina-born fullback. "It's been 33 years since they've had something like this to celebrate, so they deserve to have some fun with it."

A 30-14 victory over the visiting Calgary Stampeders assured the Riders a first-place finish in the CFL's West Division, an accomplishment that the organization or its fans have experienced since 1976.
Hughes wasn't alive back then, but Lori Sandoff was and she's excited to have a chance to see another West final in Regina.

"It's been a really long time for us, but we're finally here and it feels great," Sandoff said after she and 30,945 excited fans filed out of Mosaic Stadium. "We've been patient with (the Riders) and they've rewarded us with this. What a good feeling it must be for them and also the fans who have stood by them."
Loud chants of 'We're Number 1' echoed throughout the walk ramps following the win. Fans continued to wave their green and white flags as they spilled out on to the streets that surround the stadium, with the celebration carrying on to Albert Street.

"I just high-fived like five guys I don't even know," a hyper Dan O'Brien said while he stood on the street looking for his friends. "We're hugging and high-fiving everyone we see, everyone who's wearing green. It's a great night to be a Riders fan."

Meanwhile, the atmosphere inside the Riders' locker room was slightly less raucous, but vibrating nonetheless.

Gene Makowsky didn't want to dampen the high spirits of his teammates or the fans, but cautioned the team's work isn't finished yet.

The Riders will host the winner of the Calgary-Edmonton West semifinal on Nov. 22. One more win at home would send the team to their second Grey Cup in three seasons. Still, though, Makowsky understood the significance of Saturday's victory.

"Having home-field advantage is very important to us," he said. "We know how special it is for the fans, too.
"This is a big win for the whole province. We know we have fans driving four or five hours, maybe more, to come watch us play. And some of them have been doing that for years. My niece flies from Calgary for our home games. This is a special time for those people."

Doug Foster said the win over the Stampeders was the best Riders game he has seen all year.
"We deserve to be in this spot," he said. "We earned this. We've been patient over the years, never gave up."
Riders quarterback Darian Durant's name was a popular one among the fans who were celebrating in the streets. Durant threw for 296 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the win.

"He's going to lead us back to the Cup," O'Brien said.

Stu Foord, another Regina-born Rider, said having the 13th man on their side all season and again in the West final, is a difference-maker.

"I was talking to some of the Calgary players after the game and they told me they hate coming here to play,'' Foord said. "They said our fans are just crazy. I see that as a huge compliment. Good for our fans. They deserve this, too."

RIDERS !!!!