When UCLA introduced new football coach, Chip Kelly to a packed press conference last Monday, if you could package the smiles from boosters into victories, Kelly would be very successful already.

Expectations don’t translate into wins, though.

“When I came back into coaching I wanted to make sure this was the right fit,” said Kelly at the press conference on last Monday.

“Football is a great game. To be around the right people is the most important thing to me.

“When I talked to the UCLA people it just made sense to come here.”

Kelly returns to the Pac-12 where he was Oregon’s coach for four years. He went 46-7. In three of the four years, the Ducks were in the top four in national polls.

Kelly’s teams played in four major bowl games, two Rose Bowls.

“I get a chance to come back to a conference where I learned how to be a head coach,” said Kelly.

While Kelly is known for producing powerful offenses, the Bruins’ main problems have been on defense.

Kelly said he is proud of his defenses, and he sent several Oregon defenders ti the NFL.

Kelly said he was a follower of legendary basketball coach John Wooden. “Every coach who has put on tennis shoes and grabbed a whistle has learned something from John Wooden,” said Kelly.

Time will determine if the $23.4 million, four-year contract Kelly signed will be money well spent.

“My program will be about relations, friendships and championships,” he said.

Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com