Doug Flutie made his big Dancing with the Stars debut on March 21, and his New England roots were at the forefront. Doug and partner Karina Smirnoff hit the floor, foxtrotting to a familiar Boston anthem.
The former Patriot and Boston College legend dedicated his "Sweet Caroline" performance to his fans in New England.
"We're dancing to a Boston themed song, and Boston means a lot to me," Doug said before the performance. "The people of New England are my support group. I dedicate this song to the entire Boston-New England area."Â
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Host Tom Bergeron called the dance a "Foxborough, Fenway, Hollywood hybrid." With a few hiccups, judge Carrie Ann Inaba said she could tell the foxtrot was a challenge for the footballer.Â
"I love your sense of commitment because I could tell you were struggling with that dance, but you didn't give up," Carrie Ann said. "You almost fumbled Karina once but you got her back. You had a few stumbles but you never really lost your place in the dance. It can see it doesn't come naturally for you, but people love underdogs on this show. That's the name of the game here."
Behind the scenes footage played before the dance, and Doug showed his determination and, at times, frustration with nailing his moves. Doug said that he is used to having something to prove, and this competition is no different than any other.
"I've always been the underdog. In high school, they were afraid to put me in because I was too light," he said. "In college, I was too small, so I've always been in a position where I had to prove people wrong."
And Doug's fans are hoping he continues to prove people wrong here, too.Â
Voting for "Team Kutie," as they have been dubbed, is open until 8 p.m. EST on March 22. To vote for Doug and Karina,visit ABC's website. Watch Doug and Karina move it in the video below.
