The Saskatchewan Roughriders fell to 6-3 on Saturday with a 26-19 loss to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. Following the game, Riders coach Corey Mace didn’t exactly mince words when speaking with our Luc Mullinder.
Mace described Saskatchewan’s performance as “bad ball.”
That’s not necessarily a tongue-lashing, but it certainly qualifies as criticism from a head coach who expected more from his football team. And when it comes to coaches calling out their players, that’s nothing compared to what Plaza of Honour defensive lineman Scott Schultz experienced during his playing days.
Schultz says being publicly criticized by your boss is never easy, whether you’re working a traditional 9-to-5 job or playing professional football.
“It does get old fast. It’s mortifying, especially for anybody at a job when you get called out by the boss,” Schultz said.
However, Schultz believes there can be a time and place for it. Used sparingly, he says, being called out can provide the motivation a player needs. The key word is sparingly.
“If you start doing it and leaning on that, it gets old quick, and you lose the room,” Schultz explained.
Schultz remembers one particular example from his playing career involving former Roughriders general manager Roy Shivers. There had been a bit of a lull in the sack department for Schultz and fellow defensive tackle Nate Davis. Shivers responded by talking to the Regina Leader-Post about his two top-tier defensive tackles not getting the job done. Schultz clipped the article out of the newspaper and taped it inside his locker.
On game day, Shivers walked through the locker room, noticed the article and stopped. He looked at the clipping, looked at Schultz and simply said, “Well, hope that lights a fire under here.”
Then he kept walking. According to Schultz, it worked.
“I think I got a sack or two that game. And same with Nate,” he said.
Schultz believes calling players out can be an effective tool in a coach’s arsenal. But it should be one of many tools, not the primary method of motivation.
“That’s something that’s deep, deep in the management-slash-coaching bag,” Schultz said. “And you don’t want to go to the well too many times.”
For the Riders, there’s no time to dwell on Saturday’s loss. Saskatchewan gets right back at it Sunday when the Riders travel west to take on the B.C. Lions. After playing what Mace called “bad ball” in Hamilton, the Riders will be looking for a much better performance in Vancouver.
And that’s Between the Lines for Sheppard Realty in Regina, specializing in farm and ranch real estate in Saskatchewan. Call Harry, Justin or Devan at 352-1866.
