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UCLA Football: The truth behind Chip Kelly’s offense

By James Puryear

WESTWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Chip Kelly speaks to the media during a press conference after being introduced as the new UCLA Football head coach on November 27, 2017 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images)
WESTWOOD, CA - NOVEMBER 27: Chip Kelly speaks to the media during a press conference after being introduced as the new UCLA Football head coach on November 27, 2017 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) /
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WESTWOOD, CA – NOVEMBER 27: UCLA Director of Athletics Dan Guerrero (L) and Chip Kelly hold up a jersey during a press conference introducing Kelly as the new UCLA Football head coach on November 27, 2017 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images)
WESTWOOD, CA – NOVEMBER 27: UCLA Director of Athletics Dan Guerrero (L) and Chip Kelly hold up a jersey during a press conference introducing Kelly as the new UCLA Football head coach on November 27, 2017 in Westwood, California. (Photo by Josh Lefkowitz/Getty Images) /

Final Thoughts

Legendary UCLA head coach John Wooden was dubbed the “Wizard of Westwood” due to his success as a coach. However Wooden famously decried the moniker, and to him there was nothing magical about what he did. In his eyes he won games based on glamourless hard work and attention to detail. The truth is, so did Kelly.

EUGENE, OR – DECEMBER 02: LaMichael James
EUGENE, OR – DECEMBER 02: LaMichael James /

This isn’t to say to say Chip Kelly isn’t a great play-caller, or that he isn’t a football mastermind: in fact he’s both of those things. But as Chip Kelly himself has said in an earlier quote his focus has never been to try and out-scheme his competition.

To me personally there’s a huge lesson to take away from the examples of Wooden and Kelly. Often times in sports we look at at the results, and focus in on what it is we can immediately observe; we gush over Wooden’s championships and Kelly’s touchdowns.

However, greatness is born from process.  If we ignore that process we fail to fully appreciate what it takes to be great, and consequently the accomplishments of those who have achieved it.

Again I’d like to mention that I didn’t discuss the Oregon’s defenses under Kelly, which is largely underrated, and deserves more credit than it gets.  I plan to discuss it soon.

Next: Team UCLA football should schedule

Furthermore, I hope this article made something that have seemed complicated seem simple to fellow Bruin fans and hopefully it gives people something to look for next fall.  We’ll get our first shot to see our Bruin’s against Cincinnati at the Rose Bowl on September 1st.

Go Bruins!