Disgruntled Ducks fan gets refund for disappointment

September 3, 2009 marked a start to a hopeful football season for the University of Oregon Ducks, coaches, and fans. After the star running back, LeGarrett Blount, decided to punch Boise State's Byron Hout and got himself suspended for the rest of the season, fans were clearly angry. Oregon lost the game 19-8, which was a disappointment to everyone who was hoping for a successful season and Bowl Champion Series win. It isn't just the game that has people's heads turning in the direction of the Duck's coach Chip Kelley though.

A fan and alumni of U of Oregon sent a letter to Kelley explaining his embarrassment for the way everything was handled on game day. In his letter, he attached an invoice listing his expenses for the trip he made to see it. Expenses turned out to be $434, and the alumni wanted all of it back. What is so impressive about the entire situation is that Kelley signed a check himself and sent it off to the angry fan. Needless to say, the furious fan then became a respectful one. Sending his check back in the mail, he enclosed a thank you note as well.

It's not very often you hear about the angry actions fans make after poor athletic efforts or surprising issues that arise at games, but this one differs from all the rest. Usually when a coach receives hate mail it's just thrown out never to be looked at again. It's Kelley's actions with this letter that show there is still hope in American football. We can't rely on every player to be at his best behavior each game, or every team to be at their best every play, but we can still have hope that the coaches know what they are doing. Kelley has showed fans that as a coach, he cares what people think of his team and he knows how important it is to other people that his team strives for greatness.

If anything, this brings back some prospective for fans who are clouded by their one main goal: to be victorious at every game. Stuff happens. It takes a humble and respectable man to be classy in his attempt to keep peoples' hope alive. Kelley still has no comment about what took place between the two, but he has inspired many in the football realm. Whether or not the Ducks win another game this season now depends on the rest of the team and the inspiration of this man. I can see what Kelley could be thinking at this point. Not only does he have a stadium full of people to entertain and make happy, but now he has a locker room full of uncertain athletes. It's up to him to inspire and lead them to greatness. Now all Oregon fans can hope that the team will pull it together and their coach can be as just as smooth on the field as off.