By Tim Switzer, Leader-PostDecember 1, 2009 6:00
REGINA — Darian Durant should have been on top of the world.
The Saskatchewan Roughriders quarterback seemed to be on his way to leading his team to a Grey Cup win in his first season as a starter on Sunday, throwing for one touchdown and rushing for another in the big game.
But the 27-year-old pivot ended up in the exact opposite spot after a too-many-men-on-the-field penalty — in addition to other Riders' mistakes — allowed the Montreal Alouettes to come all the way back from 16 points down and score a 28-27 victory in the CFL championship game.
But as down as Durant was a day after the loss, he was also hopeful.
"You have to go to the bottom to make it to the top," Durant told reporters after the Roughriders were welcomed back to Regina by 1,500 fans at Mosaic Stadium. "We're at rock bottom right now, but we'll be back up."
As players and other team officials addressed the gathering, they noted that, yes, it was difficult to be in front of the crowd so soon after the loss, but were also quick to point out the Roughriders- successes during the season. Many observers picked Saskatchewan to finish last in the West Division and when the Roughriders did reach the Grey Cup, they were 9 1/2-point underdogs.
"Someone told me once that success is a journey, not a destination ... and we're well on our way," Durant said. "We're going to be back next year and the year after and the year after. Get used to seeing the Green and White in the Grey Cup every year."
Head coach Ken Miller got choked up several times while discussing his players and the end of the game with the fans in the stands and the media.
"This group of men typifies the word 'team' more than any group I've been around," Miller said.
Miller also hoped to see the loss act as a "springboard" to better things ahead for the Roughriders, much as losing the 2008 Grey Cup did for the Alouettes.
Jeremy O'Day, Saskatchewan's veteran centre, had few doubts that that will happen.
"It's going to take time, but if anything is going to fuel this team, motivate this team to get back to where we were, it's a game like that," he said.
"I'm hoping to God they can keep everyone together to finish what we started."
Lines like that brought what few smiles came from Roughriders players during the homecoming rally. Long ovations for Miller and Durant also elicited a few grins from players on the stage while every single person associated with the team seemed touched by the crowd of supporters.
"These fans never let us down no matter where we go," said O'Day. "We're fortunate enough to have not just nine (home) games — we have 10 or 12 a year."
"On a work day for us to come back and the fans to show us their appreciation, it's huge," said Durant. "I didn't expect this at all. I remember how it was in '07 when we won and this is the same thing."
tswitzer@leaderpost.canwest.com
© Copyright (c) The Regina Leader-Post
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment