Roughriders coach 'makes you believe' By Kirk Penton, QMI Agency

Miller celebrates with Dario Romero after the Riders defeated the Bombers in the Labour Day Classic Sunday in Regina. (FRED GREENSLADE/Reuters files)

Is Ken Miller Harry Potter’s grandfather?

Perhaps, because “magic” was a word being tossed around on a Regina radio station Monday morning about the return of the Riders head coach.

The man who guided the Green and White to the last two Grey Cup games is getting a boatload of the credit for Sunday’s 27-7 win over the Bombers. Some feel Miller, who replaced the fired Greg Marshall, has special powers when it comes to getting his “men” to play football.

“He makes you believe, because he believes everything he says,” linebacker Barrin Simpson told reporters after the Labour Day Classic. “His enthusiasm brings about enthusiasm in us. Attitude reflects leadership and, man, he brought a great presence to this room.”

Bombers head coach Paul LaPolice spent three years with Miller in Saskatchewan, so he knows the effect he can have in the locker-room.

“He’s a good character guy,” LaPolice said. “He doesn’t berate people. He’s a positive person, and people want to work for him. He treats people fairly.

“They respond to that very well. I don’t know how you respond when someone’s negative to you all day.”

SICK BAY: Canadian receiver Aaron Hargreaves on Sunday suffered a sprained right ankle, which is the same injury that forced him to miss all of training camp.

Hargreaves’ status for the Banjo Bowl is questionable, as are those of defensive tackle Dorian Smith (ankle) and weak-side linebacker Marcellus Bowman (turf toe), LaPolice said.

GIVING CREDIT: Riders quarterback Darian Durant called all but five of his team’s offensive plays on Sunday, and he threw three touchdowns passes. He also ran six times for 39 yards.

“He did enough for his team to win,” Bombers defensive end Odell Willis said. “He’s a great quarterback, been to two Grey Cups back to back. He knows how to win. He proved it out there.”

LATE HITS: The Bombers lost for the first time this season when trailing after the first, second and third quarters … Winnipeg’s average starting point on Sunday was its own 30-yard line. Saskatchewan’s drives began, on average, on its own 47 … LaPolice said the Bombers had trouble throwing deep balls because of the Riders’ zone defence … The Bombers had 178 yards in penalties, which matched their total from Sept. 26, 2009, against Toronto.