A Silent Award

     Coach Kelly has gotten his share of post-season accolades - and they're well deserved.   But, one that won't show up in the media is for a project he started September 5th, 2009.   When Coach Kelly refused to bow to the outcries of an angry public and retained LeGarrette Blount as a Duck, he showed the care he had for the individual as well as the team.

Blount agreed to and followed through with the outline that Kelly laid down.   He finished the season as a member of the 2009 Pac-10 Champs - something he could take pride in and feel positive about.   Left undrafted, Blount looked like he made his NFL dreams come true as a free agent with Tennessee, only to be let loose after the final cut.  Tampa Bay decided to take a chance and signed him, returning LeGerrette to his home state of Florida.   What has he done?   He leads the Bucs in rushing with 777 yards, carrying a 4.7 yard per carry average and has been nominated for NFL Rookie of the Week 4 times.

I would call that a success story and he owes it, in part, 

to the man who didn't throw him out the door.