ALVA, Okla. – Northwestern Oklahoma State head coach Alan Hall had a strong rooting interest in Sunday's AFC Championship Game. One of his former charges – running back LeGarrette Blount – has been a key weapon this season for the New England Patriots.

Hall served as offensive coordinator at East Mississippi Community College in 2006 – the same year Blount arrived as a relatively unknown freshman.

Hall recounted some of those memories as part of a feature piece on Blount that appeared in Sunday's New York Times.

It didn't take long for Blount to make a name for himself. In Hall's system, he rushed for 1,000 yards in each of his two seasons, earning JUCO All-American status. Blount was the top-rated junior college running back in the country at the close of his sophomore season, signing with Oregon. He's been creating headlines ever since.

The Times compares that rise at EMCC to Blount's resurgence in New England this year.

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