By Jamie Nye

Roughriders Luc Mullinder challenges teammates

Jul 21, 2011 | 6:58 AM

If the team wasn't going to get a Knute Rockne style speech from their head coach, they definitely got one from veteran defensive lineman Luc Mullinder.

The Saskatchewan Roughriders coaches looked on, waiting for the players to break huddle so practice could begin on Wednesday.

The delay: Mullinder was in the middle vocalizing his frustration over the release of Tad Kornegay, the 0-3 start to the season but more importantly how to turn this season around.

“I'm tired of it,” Mullinder proclaimed after practice, “I'm tired of (the media) asking us questions that are negative, I'm tired of the fans saying negative things and the good thing about it is, if we're tired of it do something about it. I'm not saying that (the media) has to shut up and the fans need to close their mouths, no. What I'm saying is I'm not the only one feeling tired about it and I'm tired of losing … and we've got to do something about it because nobody is going to feel sorry for us.”

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Not only was Mullinder annoyed one of his best friends on the team, Kornegay, was going to be released later that day but he is also seeing a negative trend.

“When I got here, we were terrible and I saw it evolve and I saw it climb and it's climbing still but it's starting to dip. (The speech) wasn't anything I (was asked to do) I just wanted to make sure that collectively we don't take that dip that a lot of people think we're going to take.”

Mullinder has never seen the Roughriders suffer through a losing season, although in his first three years, the team finished at .500 with a 9-9 record before their current run of four straight years hosting a home playoff game.

Turning up the heat

The Roughriders followed up Mullinder's speech with the most energized and physical practices since training camp. At one point veteran receiver Jason Clermont literally ran over rookie defensive back Graig Newman in a one on one drill.

The physical practice is one thing some felt was needed after the coaching staff was clear the team has been out muscled in their first three games.

“There's got to be a different mindset because the mindset we've had is a losing one. When (the coaches) called the d-linemen and the defence soft a couple of weeks ago, I said we got to bite, scratch and claw all the way back and we've got the guys in there to do it. There's no body soft in that dressing room, I know that.”

Taking the good with the 'Tad'

One of the things Mullinder addressed is whether or not they're upset the team releasing Tad Kornegay they can't have that impact the team.

It became apparent in interviews that there was a disconnect between management, coaches and the players previous to Kornegay's release but defensive captain Lance Frazier says the team has to come together.

“We really have to hammer that home to all the guys is that we can't let this affect us. We're in a bad enough situation as is and we can't let this pull us further apart.”

The first glimpse of whether all this adversity has re-energized the Roughriders will be on Sunday when they take on the undefeated Montreal Alouettes, in another Grey Cup rematch.

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