The Saskatchewan Roughriders are the CFL’s lone winless team but head coach Corey Chamblin has a message for the club’s rabid fans – relax.
“The only thing that’s been truly lost in this season is the ability right now to go 16-2 for the regular season,” Chamblin told reporters earlier this week. “We haven’t lost the Grey Cup, we haven’t lost first place, we haven’t lost home-field advantage, and we haven’t lost anything so no matter how you paint the picture at some point I knew we’d lose at least three games during the damn season.”
Chamblin guided the Riders to a Grey Cup title in 2013; a championship delivered on home soil no less. But Saskatchewan is 0-3 heading into a rematch at Mosaic Stadium against the B.C. LIons (1-1), who rallied for a 35-32 win last weekend at B.C. Place Stadium.
READ MORE: B.C. Lions beat Saskatchewan Roughriders 35-32 in overtime
In fact, the Riders have held fourth-quarter leads in all three of their losses, prompting some Saskatchewan fans to ask for Chamblin’s head.
“There’s two podiums waiting at the end of the year – a championship podium or a cross,” Chamblin said. “I’m prepared for either one of them.”
“If the fans want a new coach, they can get that. At the end of the day, I’ll still work and I’ll still be a great coach whether it’s here in Saskatchewan this year or somewhere else the next couple of years. So to be honest, I don’t give a damn about that.”
After winning the Grey Cup, Saskatchewan stormed out to an 8-2 record through its first 10 games in 2014 before losing starter Darian Durant to a season-ending elbow injury. The Riders finished the year dropping seven of their final nine contests, including an 18-10 decision to Edmonton in the West Division semifinal.
Optimism was high in Regina this year with Durant’s healthy return but the veteran quarterback suffered a season-ending Achilles injury in the season opener. And although veteran Kevin Glenn has been solid as Durant’s replacement – completing 56-of-69 passes for 748 yards with four TDs and two interceptions over his last two starts – it hasn’t translated into wins.
Chamblin isn’t fazed by the harsh criticism he’s facing.
“They (upset fans) can come and stand here and boo me every day,” he said. “At the end of the day I get a pay cheque and I am doing my job.”
“But the one thing about it is my body of work since I’ve been here has been commendable and that’s what they have to stand on. If they’re looking for more, they’re looking for different, hey, do what you’ve got to do.”
Pick – Saskatchewan.
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