MILLER DESERVES A LOT OF CREDIT

Riders head coach Ken Miller drains the last drops of water from a Gatorade jug after offensive linemen Jeremy O’Day and Marc Parenteau doused the bench boss after defeating the Calgary Stampeders on Nov. 7 to clinch No. 1 in the CFL West.
Photograph by: Troy Fleece, Leader-Post files

REGINA — Ken Miller was placed in a no-win situation — and he won, anyway.

Early in 2008, Miller was presented with the unenviable task of succeeding the revered Kent Austin as head coach of the Saskatchewan Roughriders. If ever there was a tough act to follow, it was Austin.

In one storybook season as the CFL team's field boss, Austin delivered the third Grey Cup title in franchise history. Even before that, he qualified as Roughriders royalty, having quarterbacked the Green and White to its previous championship in 1989.

There was devastation in the Rider Nation on Jan. 16, 2008, when Austin announced he was leaving to become the offensive co-ordinator at his alma mater, the University of Mississippi. Miller — the Roughriders' offensive co-ordinator in 2007 — was introduced three weeks later as Austin's successor.

"Hopefully we achieve the same level of success,'' Miller said upon signing on as head coach for two years plus an option. "That's my goal, even though my personality is substantially different from the rock star we had.''
Whereas Austin has been likened to a rock star, Miller might be more comparable to the leader of a garage band in the opinion of his detractors.

Although the team has a 22-13-1 regular-season record with Miller at the helm, he is seldom lauded when victories are assessed. The reaction typically differs after a defeat, when the 68-year-old Miller faces criticism for being too old, too passive, too ineffectual when making halftime adjustments, or too unlike his predecessor.

As an orator, Miller is not going to leave anyone spellbound. Austin spoke in paragraphs and with eloquence. In Miller's case, a sentence or two will often suffice. Even while exercising brevity, he gets directly to the point.

As a coach, Austin received so much praise that he went to considerable lengths to deflect or downplay the accoloades. He frequently told reporters (especially this one) that "it's not about me,'' although his influence was immense and undeniable.

The case of Miller is drastically different. Despite an impressive record, few observers are inclined to commend Miller for the team's successes (such as a second straight home playoff game under his watch). Some people even struggle to identify him, as evidenced by one reader who in an e-mail referred to head coach "Glenn Miller.''

The time has arrived to give Miller — whatever his first name happens to be — some plaudits. After all, he is the first Roughriders' head coach since John Payne in 1976 to guide the team to first place in the West Division.

That does not happen by accident, especially in the West. Consider the fact that rival organizations employ reigning coach-of-the-year John Hufnagel (Calgary Stampeders) and future Hall of Famer Wally Buono (B.C. Lions). Also note that Miller's men are undefeated in this season's three meetings with the defending Grey Cup champs from Calgary.

The Roughriders have ascended to first place despite the annual rash of injuries and the presence of a quarterback — Darian Durant — who is in his first full season as a starter.

Miller could have deployed a more-experienced pivot if he had so desired. Roughriders general manager Eric Tillman would have wooed Winnipeg Blue Bombers castoff Kevin Glenn in the off-season if Miller had made such a request. Instead, Miller opted to develop Durant, Steven Jyles and Dalton Bell.

Entering this season, Miller's handling of quarterbacks was an issue. Last year, he was chiefly responsible for a quarterbacking carousel that created chaos at football's most key position.

Miller's approach has differed in 2009. Durant started all 18 games — becoming the first Roughriders quarterback since (here's that name again) Austin to go the distance — and quickly progressed. He was recently named the West's all-star quarterback.

In the case of the quarterbacks, Miller's most inspired move was to refrain from making one. Unlike last season, he exercised patience with Durant and is now reaping the benefits.

For that, and other reasons, Miller himself deserves a reward.

How about a contract extension?