Riders bracing for sonic assault

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 10/09/2011 (5453 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

REGINA — Mosaic Stadium was filled with the sounds of Winnipeg on Friday.

In an attempt to simulate the crowd noise in Sunday’s Banjo Bowl rematch against the Blue Bombers, the Saskatchewan Roughriders piped in crowd noise during Friday’s practice. The sound blasted from four large speakers on the sidelines, which seemed to serve their purpose.

“It gave us a chance to work under the same kind of conditions we’ll see on Sunday,” said Riders quarterback Darian Durant. “We know that those guys and their crowd are going to be pretty fired up. Instead of getting caught off guard, it was better to practise it in case we needed it.”

Crowd noise isn’t the only thing the Riders would like simulate in the Banjo Bowl at a sold-out Canad Inns Stadium. They would also like to replicate the emotional high that took place before Sunday’s Labour Day Classic. The Riders responded to the return of Ken Miller as head coach with their most spirited outing of the CFL season. Saskatchewan beat the Blue Bombers 27-7, ending Winnipeg’s five-game winning streak and snapping a four-game home losing streak.

“We have to come out with the same energy we had when we were here,” said Durant, whose Riders are 2-7 while the Bombers are 7-2. “We have to do everything the right way and prepare the way we did last week. We have to remember that feeling and the preparation that went into getting that feeling. If we do that, there shouldn’t be any reason why we won’t come out with a win.”

The return of Miller is a key reason for optimism around the Roughriders. He took the reins on Aug. 19 when head coach Greg Marshall and offensive co-ordinator Doug Berry were fired. The move came a day after the Riders were beaten 24-18 by the Toronto Argonauts.

Miller was an emotional catalyst last week for the Riders, but still feels the team has a long way to go before it turns the corner.

“We’ve bounced off the bottom and perhaps got the ship turned,” Miller said with a chuckle. “We’re going to face adversity during football games and this season. Adversity is going to stand right in front of us boldly. We have to overcome that adversity, whatever it is.”

— Postmedia News