September 23, 2009

Oregon's Chip Kelly Puts Money Where Fan's Mouth Is

From EDSBS, an Oregon fan, decidedly unhappy after travelling all the way to Boise and watch his team fail to show up, jokingly sent first year Ducks coach Chip Kelly an unhappy fan letter (email) and attached an invoice seeking reimbursement for his ticket and travel costs. Wrote fan Tony Seminary to Kelly:

I was so angry with the game (even before the post-game melee) I am sending you an invoice for my trip to Boise. The product on the field Thursday night is not something I was at all proud of, and I feel as though I’m entitled to my money back for the trip. Please see my invoice attached in this email. I will happily send along receipts if need be.

Unlike most people who write out something in the heat of the moment, Seminary actually hit 'send' on his, and immediately felt better, but thought that was the end of it. Imagine his surprise when he got a return email from Kelly, asking his address.Not knowing that his bluff was about to be called, a few days later he received a check in the mail, from one coach Charles Kelly.

"As a sales guy, it’s really hard to shut me up. When I received that check, I was literally speechless," said Seminary, a Ducks season ticket holder and 1996 alumnus.

Seminary didn't cash the check, but instead copied it and returned the original to Chip Kelly along with a thank-you note.

"I think of Coach Kelly as a totally different person now, I have a different bond with him now thanks to what happened. Let’s just say he lost every game as an Oregon coach. You would never hear me calling for his head. It just wouldn’t happen. The guy showed an incredible amount of class."

Seminary also doesn't want to incite a rash of invoices being directed towards Kelly's way anytime a fan has a beef with the team and hopes that by publicizing the incident, he's putting it to bed once and for all.

"He could lose every game 50-0 and he’d still be my coach,our coach,through thick and thin", said Seminary, who sounds like he just started a new bromance.

And although the Oregon Athletic Department refuses to confirm or deny the incident, I think we can all say, Well played, coach!

Comments:

Oregon's Chip Kelly Puts Money Where Fan's Mouth Is
From EDSBS, an Oregon fan, decidedly unhappy after travelling all the way to Boise and watch his team fail to show up, jokingly sent first year Ducks coach Chip Kelly an unhappy fan letter (email) and attached an invoice seeking reimbursement for his ticket and travel costs. Wrote fan Tony Seminary to Kelly: I was so angry with the game (even before the post-game melee) I am sending you an invoice for my trip to Boise. The product on the field Thursday night is not something I was at all proud of, and I feel as though I’m entitled to my money back for the trip. Please see my invoice attached in this email. I will happily send along receipts if need be. Unlike most people who write out something in the heat of the moment, Seminary actually hit 'send' on his, and immediately felt better, but thought that was the end of it. Imagine his surprise when he got a return email from Kelly, asking his address.Not knowing that his bluff was about to be called, a few days later he received a check in the mail, from one coach Charles Kelly. "As a sales guy, it’s really hard to shut me up. When I received that check, I was literally speechless," said Seminary, a Ducks season ticket holder and 1996 alumnus. Seminary didn't cash the check, but instead copied it and returned the original to Chip Kelly along with a thank-you note. "I think of Coach Kelly as a totally different person now, I have a different bond with him now thanks to what happened. Let’s just say he lost every game as an Oregon coach. You would never hear me calling for his head. It just wouldn’t happen. The guy showed an incredible amount of class." Seminary also doesn't want to incite a rash of invoices being directed towards Kelly's way anytime a fan has a beef with the team and hopes that by publicizing the incident, he's putting it to bed once and for all. "He could lose every game 50-0 and he’d still be my coach,our coach,through thick and thin", said Seminary, who sounds like he just started a new bromance. And although the Oregon Athletic Department refuses to confirm or deny the incident, I think we can all say, Well played, coach!