cowboyjoe
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Inspiration for Central Washington QB Mike Reilly
6:10 AM Thu, Apr 16, 2009 | Permalink
Rick Gosselin E-mail News tips
Mike Reilly knows he's a longshot to make the NFL. It's a big step from college to the NFL -- but it's a gigantic step from a Division II program like Central Washington to the pros.
But Reilly doesn't have to look far for inspiration. All he has to do is pick up his school's football record book and look at the No. 2 name on all the passing records -- the name right below his own. Jon Kitna.
Kitna came out of Central Washington as an undrafted free agent in 1996 and 13 years later is still in the NFL playing. He has been a starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions, posting 3,000-yard passing seasons for the Seahawks and Bengals and a pair of 4,000-yard seasons with Detroit. The Lions traded him to the Cowboys this offseason.
"He's an example for me," Reilly said. "When I broke his career record for touchdowns I got an email from him congratulating me. I've never met him but I've seen his Hall of Fame induction speech and heard a lot of good things about him. I heard he's a great guy. But I'm still chasing him, trying to make it to the NFL. That's what he's done so far that I haven't."
Reilly threw for 12,448 yards and 118 touchdowns at Central Washington and finished as the runnerup for the Harlon Hill Award -- the Division II Heisman -- in 2008.
6:10 AM Thu, Apr 16, 2009 | Permalink
Rick Gosselin E-mail News tips
Mike Reilly knows he's a longshot to make the NFL. It's a big step from college to the NFL -- but it's a gigantic step from a Division II program like Central Washington to the pros.
But Reilly doesn't have to look far for inspiration. All he has to do is pick up his school's football record book and look at the No. 2 name on all the passing records -- the name right below his own. Jon Kitna.
Kitna came out of Central Washington as an undrafted free agent in 1996 and 13 years later is still in the NFL playing. He has been a starting quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Lions, posting 3,000-yard passing seasons for the Seahawks and Bengals and a pair of 4,000-yard seasons with Detroit. The Lions traded him to the Cowboys this offseason.
"He's an example for me," Reilly said. "When I broke his career record for touchdowns I got an email from him congratulating me. I've never met him but I've seen his Hall of Fame induction speech and heard a lot of good things about him. I heard he's a great guy. But I'm still chasing him, trying to make it to the NFL. That's what he's done so far that I haven't."
Reilly threw for 12,448 yards and 118 touchdowns at Central Washington and finished as the runnerup for the Harlon Hill Award -- the Division II Heisman -- in 2008.