Oregon Coach Pays Fan for Ducks' Flop

We've all been there, angry over the money we spent to follow a team that plays like absolute crap. Most of us hold our quiet rage inside, some of us head for the message boards, other, more practical fans, send a business invoice seeking a refund from their head football coach for the cost of their trip. Wait, what? Meet Oregon fan and graduate Tony Seminary, who sent Oregon head coach Chip Kelly an e-mail with an attached business invoice itemizing his expenses for his trip to go see Oregon play Boise State, a game they lost 19-8. Seminary's invoice totaled $439.

His e-mail to Chip Kelly, courtesy of Spencer Hall at EDSBS, read as follows:

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.

That's when the story gets interesting. Chip Kelly responded with a personal check made out to Seminary in the amount of the invoice, $439.

A dumbfounded Seminary has not cashed the check -- he plans on framing it and hanging it on his wall -- but Kelly has won his lasting respect. So much so that he's requesting other fans not send their own invoices. "He could lose every game 50-0 and he'd still be my coach, our coach, through thick and thin."

Since refunding Seminary's expenses from his personal checking account, Kelly's Ducks have won two consecutive games, victories over Purdue and Utah, respectively. So maybe karma really does play a role in college football.

In entirely unrelated news, Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis just opened up a brand new checking account.

Clay Travis is the author of three books. His latest, "On Rocky Top: A Front Row Seat to The End of an Era" chronicles the 2008 Tennessee football season and is on sale now.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

9-23-2009 @ 9:31AM

htc6600 said...

For a college coach, he's not too bright: he could be setting a really dangerous precedent for coaches in any sport. I'm sure there's more than a few right now who want to wring his neck and ask him "What the hell were you thinking?!!!!" Of course, maybe this kind of thing would be a kick in the butt for Tim Brewster to put his money where his mouth is and coach the Gophers to some wins over non-creampuff teams.

9-23-2009 @ 2:17PM

mrross019 said...

htc6600 if you think a coach voluntarily writing a check to an angry fan is somehow setting precedent,your the one who is not too bright

9-23-2009 @ 9:05PM

amkdwarren said...

He called the guys bluff...big deal!!! At least you know the coach wasn't pleased either.

9-23-2009 @ 10:49AM

L R Adams said...

There are *Boys* and there are *Men*. Men admit to their mistakes--Boys make excuses for their mistakes. Coach Chip Kelly *you*re the man

9-23-2009 @ 10:51AM

duncanstpt2 said...

Looking at his picture, $439 is probably only two days worth of doughnuts for him.

9-23-2009 @ 6:59PM

drunknhines said...

I like your comment! Not because its funny which it is but because its towards a male!!! Its time these huge shamu's are called on their huge asses as well! Great job!!!!!

9-24-2009 @ 7:30PM

Doug said...

Hey ongos4me, what does your comment have to do with coach Kelly or anything else?

jeff said...

the cleveland browns should refund there fans for paying there hard earned money to watch that garbage booooo

9-23-2009 @ 2:40PM

Jeff said...

Another fat slob like Andy Fat ass Reid, of the Eagles. With useless sons then they hire Michael Vic. Quit watching this crap!

9-23-2009 @ 3:05PM

chilly16 said...

its funny because in real life you are probably a fat slob too. But on the internet you can pretend to be skinny. You aren't fooling anyone but yourself sir.

9-23-2009 @ 3:00PM

Zoe Chastain said...

That's awesome! There's a coach who will have the fans behind him as he tries to get his feet on the ground. Kudos to Chip Kelley for not being too full of himself.

9-23-2009 @ 3:13PM

mislz7 said...

Tell us how you REALLY feel. Kinda sounds like you caught the clap in Portland.

9-23-2009 @ 3:23PM

GUS said...

Chip Kelly ; YOU HAVE GOT CLASS. SOMETHING THAT SEEMS TO SHOW UP VERY RARELY THESE DAYS. OREGON AND YOUR PLAYERS AND YOUR FANS.... YOU HAVE DONE THEM ALL PROUD AND SET A VERY GOOD EXAMPLE HERE.

GUS

9-23-2009 @ 4:02PM

pdgrovebaskets said...

This coach should have NEVER paid this idiot. Now every fruitcake fan out there will be sending every outrageous bill they can come up with to sports teams. A sports team is NOT a product. You are NOT entitled to a certain level of productivity. I think anyone who thinks they are "owed something" when they walk into a ballpart anywhere from the pee-wee league all the way up to the Olympics are nuts. This is a game. It's actually not even there for the "enjoyment" of the fans. It's there for the competetion between the players. I think this coach was a FOOL for wasting this money on this man. Now he will do this again and again to many poor unsuspecting souls anytime things don't go his way. The man's lucky he didn't send me that letter, he wouldn't know what hit him when he got back my reply.

9-23-2009 @ 8:06PM

jst2gr8@aol.com said...

Are you really that smart?! Did you read what was written in this article? He will most likely change his email address and other things because people most likely have already done this. But for him to do it to the first guy by cuting him a check is awesome. Shows a lot of class to actually follow up what was probably a joke to start off with.

9-23-2009 @ 4:08PM

Tom Weber said...

To everyone who pays to see a sports game, it's your choice to spend the money: Live with it. NO REFUNDS SORRY!!!

9-23-2009 @ 4:16PM

serzane said...

your a jack ass Oregon is one of the best places on earth and im not even from there...

9-23-2009 @ 4:28PM

jrnv56 said...

University of Nevada - Reno did something along the line of this story. Head coach stated if you weren't satisfied with the play on the field, bring your ticket back to the ticket sales office for a complete refund. One fan did and Coach Ault was quite upset. The fan got his money and the University dropped the promotion.

9-23-2009 @ 4:33PM

wijgt said...

Just because you are too fat and horses-ass ugly to get laid isn't the fault of those beautiful Oregon women, they just showed good taste and judgement. I would suggest that you get off the sofa, leave the ding-dongs behind and for heavens sake quit masturbating to pics of your sister.