When all else fails, go Greek, as in mythology. Ken Miller has. He's been talking to his Saskatchewan Roughriders, off and on this CFL season, about facing enormous challenges and never giving up.
"Like Sisyphus," the Riders head coach said, insisting it's been the theme for several of his team chats.
And honestly, it makes perfect sense. Like the Greek king who was punished for tricking the gods, the Roughriders have been pushing a giant boulder uphill all season.
At times, they were so close to the top of the mountain they could feel it. Always, though, the darn rock would roll downhill forcing them to start from deep in their own end with their melon-headed fans screaming for them to throw downfield.
Now come the CFL playoffs and Sunday's West Division semi-final against the visiting B.C. Lions; time for the really big push. Miller is spending this week reminding his players that all they went through this season, all they learned, could pay off this postseason. What they have to do is respond with passion and precision and put their nose to the rock.
"There's a quote I read: 'I didn't go where I wanted to go but I ended up where I wanted to be,' " Miller said. "There were times when we needed to be a little better here, a little better there but we're okay. We're in the playoffs."
"We're okay" is hardly the rallying cry for the ages, but it suits the Riders. For a team to lose the 2009 Grey Cup game on a too-many men penalty only to come back the following year, start fast, fade fast and lose some keynote players along the way, finishing second in the West was not so bad. It's a message the coach is using to rid any negative residue left by a late-season losing streak that lasted four weeks.
The streak dumped a load of wrath on the organization and Miller, too. Critics either complained of his sideline demeanour (too sleepy, they said) or his decision making, such as going for a game-winning punt single instead of a field goal ("appalling," fumed a TSN commentator).
But here are some facts worth observing: Among those who have coached the Riders for at least 32 games, Miller's winning percentage ranks third in team history, behind only Eagle Keys and John Payne. The Riders are also 20-6-1 at home in three seasons under Miller and have had a home playoff date three consecutive Novembers.
And as for being too sleepy, tell that to his players. They got an earful after a soulless 17-14 loss to the Eskimos in Edmonton in Week 9.
"We took that very seriously," quarterback Darian Durant said. "Whenever he raises his voice he means business."
"I got after the team," Miller said of his tirade. "I try not to do that very much because we have so much character and leadership in the locker room and I want to nurture them. I have a saying, 'Thoroughbreds love to run. You have to drive donkeys.' I try to keep myself out of the driving mode."
But he does drive and he cares deeply and the Riders are positioned to atone for a season that would have tried the strength of Hercules. What's needed now is for Miller and his men to establish a running game, not turn the ball over and go hard after B.C. quarterback Travis Lulay.
It won't be easy. The Lions, Miller assessed, are "a resurgent team. They're much more settled on offence than they were earlier in the season. They're formidable."
So is the Riders' task. The players say they understand that in classic terms, no less.
"The story of Sisyphus," running back Wes Cates said. "That was his job for eternity. So we've got to find a different way every week to get that task done."