Why Doesn't Ken Miller Get Respect?

It is no secret that I am a fan of Riders coach Ken Miller. He is a good football coach, and he is a better man. He knows more about football than a lot of us put together. Ken Miller made what I believe to be a mistake Friday night. One that could have really set his football team back, but it didn't. Once again, the Riders came through. They won the football game over Calgary which is something a lot of people seem to have forgotten in wake of "The Punt". Miller's decision has been dissected every which way with some defending him and some condemning him. However, the worst treatment of Miller has come from TSN.
Being at Friday's game, I obviously didn't see what the esteemed panel had to say, but I did go back and watch. I didn't see "The Reporters" Sunday morning, but in reading Rod Pedersen's blog, it would seem as if they went a little overboard with Miller's decision.
Dave Hodge asked "At what point does Saskatchewan's coaching issue become a story?"
Dave Naylor claimed "There has to be legitimate reason for concern as to how decisions are being made on the sidelines."
Steve Simmons said "This is one of the most bone-headed things I've ever seen.
There was even a remark made about Miller's age which was certainly not called for. While I don't remember the fallout when Wally Buono tried the same move as Miller and failed a couple of years ago, I know the firestorm wasn't as fierce. Was this because it was Wally and who dares question Wally?

To answer Dave Hodge's question about when does Saskatchewan's coaching issue become a story. Well, how about the day Ken Miller was signed to replace Kent Austin.

No one outside of this province has given this man a chance and all this man has done is succeed. Every one said this football team would dry up and blow away after it was blown apart following the Grey Cup win in 2007. Miller took the team to a 12-6 record in 2008 and was rewarded for that with the national media saying the football team wouldn't do well in 2009 with some picking them for last, but low and behold, they finished first for the first time since 1976 and came within an agonizing play of winning the Grey Cup.

Once again this year, the Riders weren't given a chance at succeeding but they are 7-4 and are still nipping at Calgary's heels. Ken Miller is 29-17-1 since becoming the head coach of this team. I think that's a pretty damn good record. He gets the most out of his team, but many across the country don't notice that and some in this province don't either. The anti Ken Miller talk is sickening. Do you want Danny Barrett back? Lets go see if we can pry Marcel Bellefeuille away from Hamilton seeing you loved Marcel when he was here as offensive co-ordinator. Kent Austin isn't coming back so put away that pipedream. Would Bart Andrus maybe like a second shot in Canada? Seeing Matt Dominguez coaches high school ball, lets move him into a head-coaching role. Hell, lets put Jason Clermont, Chris Szarka or Stu Foord in there just because they are Jason Clermont, Chris Szarka or Stu Foord....OK, that's going a little overboard but still.

Ken Miller has had tremendous success as Riders head coach and unlike a lot of people, I still think this team is going to the Grey Cup and will make amends for what happened in Calgary last year. While they won't publicly admit, that veteran team wants to get back there and they can under Miller's guidance and leadership. That is perhaps the story that some should be researching instead of dumping dirt on the man every chance that they can.
Every coach makes a mistake and Miller made one on Friday. THEY STILL WON THOUGH!!
No one wants to talk about John Hufnagel not challenging on the Weston Dressler touchdown or taking a 10 yard penalty for challenging something he knew he couldn't. Where was TSN on that topic? If he had challenged on Dressler's TD (which wasn't), chances are a TD would have been scored, but you never know. Hufnagel's error was far more grievous than Miller's, but no one would dare raise an eyebrow at what John Hufnagel is doing. Perhaps that is the real story of Friday's game and its something that Hodge, Naylor and Simmons should look into instead of just spewing the crap that they did. Perhaps these three should come on next week and look at the state of the Lions and ask if the game has passed Wally by. That won't happen though because they respect Wally and wouldn't dare get on his case. Am I wrong?

Like I said while appearing on "The Sportscage" yesterday. Ken Miller has just taken all the criticism and he has shoved it right back up everyone's you know what. If and when he wins the Grey Cup this year, what will be said then? I'm guessing somehow he will continue to get disrespected and that is a shame because if there is anyone who doesn't deserve the constant negativism thrown towards him, it is someone as knowledgeable and as gracious as the Roughrider boss.