By MICK HOLIEN
Grizzly record setting All American running back Chase Reynolds will speak Wednesday night in Polson to Flathead and Lake County high school football players who have been selected to play in the prestigious Shrine All Star game, the oldest such game in the nation.
Chase remains unsigned during organized team activities (OTA) that traditionally are attended by about 95 percent of NFL players.
Reynolds feels good about his chances to be resigned to his seventh professional season but doesn’t expect to hear from anyone until after draft weekend.
And missing rigorous workouts isn’t all that bad and signing after the draft let’s a player know what he’s up against.
As far as I’m concerned anything Chase Reynolds has to say to area athletes are words of wisdom.
He redshirted his inaugural season at the University of Montana after an illustrious prep career at Drummond where Jim Oberhofer’s teams captured 35 straight games in winning a trio if state C titles.
His 5,261 rushing years were the most in high school history.
And there were few beats skipped in Missoula where as a sophomore he scored 22 times on the way to being named second-team all conference.
Just short of two dozen became the order of the day since before he was done he had scored 44 more TDs and feted as first-team all conference both as a junior and senior.
And his 241 yard rushing effort against Weber State is one of the top ball toting stats in Griz history.
All while establishing a home with wife Kila, the 2011 Miss Montana, and a couple of youngsters. A third has since been born.
After moving to special and defense, Chase signed a free agent deal with the Seahawks, then in 2011 caught on with Jeff Fisher’s St Louis team where Reynolds teammate Brandon Fisher was coaching.
But maybe more important than athletics Chase founded The Promise Line-A Project to Challenge Yourself.
It’s an effort to convince people to set and pursue their goals, no matter the obstacles.
Make a promise to yourself every day and let nothing defer your efforts, making a promise to yourself that you’re worth it.
Thursday I am headed to Anaconda to interview a relative of famed Missoulian sportswriter Ray (The Hat) Rocene possibly for a future story.
And I hope to see everyone at the Trade Show at Polson High from 9-4 Saturday and maybe I’ll have some thoughts about the scrimmage in Butte, in case you didn’t go.
Wow retirement..just sayin’
