A Determined Run From Behind: Will Saints Chris Ivory Make Black & Gold?

They call you lady luck
But there is room for doubt
At times you have a very un-lady-like way
Of running out

It's August 2010 and lady luck has smiled on a long shot NFL running back. A kid named Ivory who wears black-n-gold.

And yet before the evening is over
You might give me the brush

It's Friday morning in a tiny town named Tiffin, Ohio and the local newspaper, The Advertiser-Tribune, is crowing about their hometown hero:

FOXBOROUGH, Mass. - Former Tiffin University running back Chris Ivory ran for a 2-yard touchdown in his NFL preseason debut, but his New Orleans Saints fell to the New England Patriots, 27-24.

Ivory, who signed as an undrafted free agent with New Orleans right after the NFL Draft in April, scored his TD in the third quarter. The running back finished with six carries for 30 yards, including a 10-yard run in the second half.

Ivory played with TU last season after spending his first three seasons at Washington State. He suffered a season-ending leg injury in the fourth game of the season.

Yeah, New Orleans Saints free agent running back Chris Ivory has to be feeling like a pretty lucky guy these days playing for a franchise that has a knack for discovering those diamonds in the rough and polishing them up into something special- Lance Moore and Pierre Thomas come to mind.

In 2005, the Saints signed Lance Moore, a man his critics once referred to as a "glorified walk-on', after the Cleveland Browns released the undrafted free agent. Moore had 79 catches for 928 yards and 10 touchdowns for New Orleans in 2008 and is having a stellar training camp this year.

In 2007, Pierre Thomas became one of only two rookie free agents to make the Saints opening day roster. Three years later, he is the starting tailback on the defending Super Bowl champions.

During last year's training camp, Saints head coach Sean Payton faced a daily barrage of questions from the local media about his shaky running back situation. He cooly answered that he he thought his solution may already be in the building and he proceeded to win a Super Bowl with a tailback combination of Thomas, Reggie Bush, Mike Bell and Lynell Hamilton.

After anguishing over the situation, the Saints let Bell depart for Philadelphia in the off-season. On Wednesday morning, New Orleans lost Hamilton,the man they were counting on to replace Bell, to a season-ending knee injury.

And,so, you're Chris Ivory and you are wondering if you will be the 2010 version of Pierre Thomas and Lance Moore?

You're wondering if Cinderella has finally arrived- a little late but better late than never.

While Ivory has impressed in camp,early indications are that Saints GM Mickey Loomis may be looking in a different direction.

And yet before the evening is over
You might give me the brush

Ivory has caught everyone's eye in pre-season with his combination of power and speed as he battles P.J. Hill for a roster spot behind Thomas and Bush. He knows he has know control over who Saints brass choose to bring in. He wouldn't have chosen to get his big chance this way- an injury to Hamilton- but he is making a very determined run from behind.

Chris Ivory's journey to the New Orleans Saints makes Gulliver's Travels look like a trip to the corner grocery. He played his high school football in Longview, Texas but after high school he wanted a change of a scenery and so he signed with Washington State of the Pac 10.

So how did Ivory go from the bright lights of the Pac 10 to the tiny Tiffin University Dragons of the Great Lakes Conference of Division II?

"I got a call from one of the coaches (Dave Walkosky) that used to coach at Washington State and he was there for a year or two and he happened to be the head coach at Tiffin and he (Walkosky) called me and once he called me I went ahead and went there (Tiffin)", Ivory told WWL Radio.

"It's quite a journey because I've been pretty much all across the states." said Ivory. "Being at Washington State for a couple of years and transferring to Tiffin...had a couple of setbacks with some injuries...and for me to make it through those injuries and make it at this level right now, I just think is a blessing to be out here and be given this opportunity."

Ivory admits that picking up the Saints complex offense has not been easy and he admits to making his share of mental mistakes but at least one Saints veteran says the kid has what it takes.

Saints offensive tackle Jon Stinchcomb told NFL.com,"He's got good vision and he's got a little extra gear that he can turn on when he needs it. Early impressions are that he's got some tools that'll catch your eye."

He's been pretty impressive," Payton told reporter Vic Carucci. "I'm anxious to see him in the preseason. He can run and he's physical."

Ivory says his mindset is to open some eyes everytime he touches the football.

He doesn't lack for confidence.

When asked to name his strengths, Ivory says, "I'll say my power and speed. I believe my hips are pretty good as well," Ivory said on WWL.

Maybe if this football thing doesn't work out, Ivory has a future on "Dancing With the Stars."

But for now, lady luck appears to be smiling upon Chris Ivory.

Yet, they say lady luck has a very unlady- like way of running out.