How Saints' Darren Rizzi is making his head coaching case

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NEW ORLEANS -- Mike Kelleher has a lasting image of Darren Rizzi in his head.

Colgate University opened the 1993 season against Rutgers at Giants Stadium. Rutgers fumbled at midfield, then Colgate tailback Bill Sparacio ran 48 yards to set up a touchdown for a 6-0 lead.

As Sparacio sprinted down the field, Rizzi was matching him step-for-step on the sideline. The new kid, a 23-year-old graduate assistant who had been with the team for three weeks, was celebrating as if he'd scored, too.

"I looked down on the field, and there's Darren running side by side with our tailback, past the coaching box, just running," said Kelleher, Colgate's defensive coordinator at the time. "He's off the…