From Deseret News archives:
Staley stays connected
For the former Doak Walker Award winner, the nation's top college running back in 2001, Staley will get back in the game only if he coaches. His playing days ran into his scrapbook. Six knee surgeries will do that to a ball carrier. He has shifted his concentration to the Internet while he finishes his degree.
I caught up with Staley on a cell phone and talked about his new Internet gig. He was on his way to Las Vegas for a business presentation, driving with his wife Heather and child. When I called him to follow up, he was feeding the baby a bottle. The guy is far from the gridiron but close to a diploma and degree in sociology.
The marriage and father deal agrees with him. "It is awesome. It's like being around your best friend all the time. I can't complain."
Staley's new job is representing Cougar Connextions, a dialup and high speed Internet service. Those who subscribe actually pitch a portion about a third of their bill toward the Cougar Club and BYU athletics. "It's something I believe in and can get involved with and get excited about," Staley said.
Staley said he was well on his way to forgetting his last year with the Detroit Lions and taking 18 credits of school when a BYU associate athletic director, Peter Pilling, contacted him about this new job.
"He asked if I could use my name to do some good. I liked it, and I'm involved now. It kind of changes your focus, your priorities. I can't complain, it's fun."
Staley is three years removed from that 2001 season at BYU, his junior year, in which he scored more touchdowns than anyone in the country. That season ended with a broken foot in Starkville, Miss., in the 12th game of an undefeated season. Staley decided to go early to the NFL and get whatever he could.
"I don't regret it. If I had the decision to make over again, it was the right thing for me to do."
To understand how giant of a year Staley had in 2001, his numbers read: 196 carries for 1,596 yards and 24 touchdowns for an 8.14 yard per carry average. He scored four other touchdowns on pass catches while sitting out games at New Mexico, Hawaii and the Liberty Bowl.
Comments
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime 1:11 a.m.
- UVU beats SUU; USU wins big 12:57 a.m.
- BYU spikers end season with a loss 12:55 a.m.
- Iverson may be headed to 76ers 12:34 a.m.
- Credit Coug defense for win 12:33 a.m.
- Aggies blow away T-birds 12:32 a.m.
- Mo steals show in Cavaliers' victory 12:31 a.m.
- Editorial: Facilitate Big Brother? 12:22 a.m.
- Mom befriends wife of PTSD vet 12:21 a.m.
- Political clash over U.S. debt 12:21 a.m.
- Cave to be sealed with body inside
- Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
- Predicting the unpredictable: BYU wins
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
- BYU is champion of the state
- Vegas, Poinsettia bowls or bust
- Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
- BYU football: 5 keys to victory
- Glover gives Utes last-second upset
- Idaho woman dies after fall
- Cougars beat Utes in overtime
396 - Hall mouths off about hate of Utah
150 - Thunder rolls by Jazz
136 - Cave to be sealed with body inside
115 - Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies
115 - Editorial: Poor welcome for Palin
113 - Rivalry Week is highly profane
88 - Hall's legacy measured today
75 - Y. focused on 10-win season
73 - Letters: C02 causes warming
70
It's finally time for the game that everyone has been waiting for all...
Its finally here, the big game. No matter what the circumstances are, it...
watch out for next year for sure, the negatives are just closet (and...
And something else, I generally follow players from the state schools when...
I could care less that Max Hall said what he did. The feeling is mutual BYU...
Dear Max, probably could have done without that comment. Probably would've...
As a Utah fan, let me first say congratulations to Max Hall, the Cougars, and...
Geno's and Pat's are good.. but, they are mostly for tourists, the real...
(You even got a middle initial... how's that for 'ya Max) It's nice to see...
Even today, I still cannot get enough of this movie or Charles Gitonga Maina....
...disappointed with Max Hall's comments that he hates everything about UofU....
Over the last few days I read comments of people complaining about tasteless...
You can be the first to comment on this story.