| G.C. McCoy, Former Ottawa University Player Returns Home From Sweden and Shares His Experience |
My name is G.C. McCoy and I have been a client with WSS (World Sports Scouting) for a little over a year now. I play
linebacker and also running back. I have been playing professional football for the last three years, two in arena
football and one in Europe. I played arena ball for the Billings Outlaws (2006) and also for the New Mexico Wildcats
(2008). Both were a great experience, but not as great as the one that I just returned home from.
The great adventure I am talking about was my opportunity to play for the Tyreso Royal Crowns from Tyreso,
Sweden. Tyreso is a small town 10 miles south of Stockholm with a populous of around 50,000. They are in the
SuperSeries league that consists of 6 other Swedish teams ranging from Karlstad to Malmo in location in Sweden.
With me being from Oklahoma one of the biggest adjustments that I found difficult was the time change. I had to
move everything ahead 8 hours and get use to a different sleeping pattern. The first challenge that I faced when
arriving in Sweden was at the airport, I stood in the wrong passport line for a good 20 minutes, only to realize after
looking at other peoples passports in my line that I was in the Euro passport line. So I had to go over to the other
line 10 feet away and start all over, the wait, that was already exhausting, but yet humorous do to the lack of sleep
from the 9 hour plane ride. But all was good and I got through the line and grabbed my bags. After getting my bag,
even better news for me, my wheel had been snapped off. So when walking down the tunnel to meet Coach
Jenmert I had one good rolling bag and one that screeched and got stuck when pulling down the tunnel to meet
Coach Jenmert. At this point, I am thinking what have I gotten myself into and what can go wrong next?
When I arrived I thought life would be difficult and that change would be hard for me to bear. But as soon as I
arrived, everybody was welcoming. Everyone on the team had open and welcoming arms. Most of the team came
over that day or night to meet me and congratulate me on making the trip over. Some even said thank you!! The
team already knew me before I knew who they were. They had been watching video clips and reading articles that
World Sports Scouting had provided them. They were bringing up stats that I didn’t even remember I had. But
talking with the players was very easy and comforting. They all were fluent in English and Swedish. In school, it is
mandatory for them to learn Swedish and English when they reach the 2nd grade level. Many of the even know a
third language for when traveling in the summer on their semester trips. After arriving the next day a couple of
players took me into Stockholm where my teammates helped me exchange money, acquire my transportation
pass, and hook my pre-paid cell phone up from the team. The team also covered my living arrangements and also
my groceries. I was also able to receive two free meals and beverages from a local restaurant at anytime of my
choice during the day.
The football aspect was great too. I had an all access key to the weight room and facilities for my use and
whoever went with me only. As far as my daily schedule, it was kind of like this with some things changing
depending on the day. I would wake up around 10 a.m. and have breakfast, then go to the weight room and lift, walk
to Curres’ Corner (restaurant)and pick up my meals, walk back to the room and eat and watch ‘The Simpsons’. I
would then take a short walk to the practice facilities through the local mall detour and do my speed and agility
workouts before practice. We only practiced Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Then have practice for an hour and
half and go home and call it a night. Besides, just playing for the Crowns I was also able to coach the U-19 team,
or high school team in America. I was the D-Coordinator and Coach Jenmert was the Head Coach and O-
Coordinator. I had a blast doing this; I saw a potential outlet to a future for me after football. Coach Jenmert let me
coach the kids how I wanted to and let me teach them proper techniques that they weren’t taught while playing
there under other coaches. I was allowed to work with each position groups individually and also as a whole. While
Monday was a recovery day from Sunday games, Tuesday was my day for just defensive practice only, while Coach
Jenmert took Thursday for Offensive prep. We ran a 3-4 in the U-19 group as we also did for the senior team that I
played on. The kids were very easy to coach and were willing to learn, almost thirsting for the knowledge that an
American knew. And much to my amazement there were many college scouts there looking for the next best thing
to help them win a championship in the states.
As for playing, I had a blast. Like I said before we played a 3-4 defense that was fast and downhill. I played
outside linebacker and was a pass rushing D-End in certain situations. I was almost at free will to do what I
wanted to do. If I wanted to blitz, I could. If I wanted to play zone, I could. But for the most part I stayed within the
scheme of the defense. I was responsible for all the second level checks as far as changing up blitzes, and
coverage schemes. Our defense was sound, but as a whole we were not in very good shape. Our offense didn’t
help us out to much as they only put up 14 points through 8 quarters of play. Being as I was the only American
there, they asked me to if I would be willing to play offense and defense. I took the opportunity willing and from
week three on I started running the ball. I was able to earn three straight MVP awards in consecutive games and
also had a 150 yard two touchdown game. It was great to be playing running back again. But we lacked a passing
attack, and when running the spread offense, you have to be able to throw the ball. We didn’t have a quarterback
that was able to do that.
I really enjoyed playing football in Sweden. One of the things that stick out to me the most was the pre-game
national anthem. It wasn’t the national anthem I was use to hearing. Of course, it was Sweden’s, but after hearing
the U.S. national anthem it was hard to take in the first time. After all the games and all the sweat and tears. I will
always remember looking at my teammates in the huddle and thinking, we may live in different countries and we
may have different traditions and cultures, but we have one thing in common “Football”
After looking at my short career, I always thought I would see my name on the back of a Cowboys jersey, or
Chiefs jersey, or a Dolphins jersey. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that football would take me across
the world to a country, which I knew only had a blue flag with a yellow cross and beautiful blondes with blue eyes to
allow me to play professionally. It has been the greatest experience with many untold stories, that even if I did tell
you could never understand it unless you were there yourself. I will go back next spring and play ball again and
when I do I will bring back even more memories.
G.C. McCoy
linebacker and also running back. I have been playing professional football for the last three years, two in arena
football and one in Europe. I played arena ball for the Billings Outlaws (2006) and also for the New Mexico Wildcats
(2008). Both were a great experience, but not as great as the one that I just returned home from.
The great adventure I am talking about was my opportunity to play for the Tyreso Royal Crowns from Tyreso,
Sweden. Tyreso is a small town 10 miles south of Stockholm with a populous of around 50,000. They are in the
SuperSeries league that consists of 6 other Swedish teams ranging from Karlstad to Malmo in location in Sweden.
With me being from Oklahoma one of the biggest adjustments that I found difficult was the time change. I had to
move everything ahead 8 hours and get use to a different sleeping pattern. The first challenge that I faced when
arriving in Sweden was at the airport, I stood in the wrong passport line for a good 20 minutes, only to realize after
looking at other peoples passports in my line that I was in the Euro passport line. So I had to go over to the other
line 10 feet away and start all over, the wait, that was already exhausting, but yet humorous do to the lack of sleep
from the 9 hour plane ride. But all was good and I got through the line and grabbed my bags. After getting my bag,
even better news for me, my wheel had been snapped off. So when walking down the tunnel to meet Coach
Jenmert I had one good rolling bag and one that screeched and got stuck when pulling down the tunnel to meet
Coach Jenmert. At this point, I am thinking what have I gotten myself into and what can go wrong next?
When I arrived I thought life would be difficult and that change would be hard for me to bear. But as soon as I
arrived, everybody was welcoming. Everyone on the team had open and welcoming arms. Most of the team came
over that day or night to meet me and congratulate me on making the trip over. Some even said thank you!! The
team already knew me before I knew who they were. They had been watching video clips and reading articles that
World Sports Scouting had provided them. They were bringing up stats that I didn’t even remember I had. But
talking with the players was very easy and comforting. They all were fluent in English and Swedish. In school, it is
mandatory for them to learn Swedish and English when they reach the 2nd grade level. Many of the even know a
third language for when traveling in the summer on their semester trips. After arriving the next day a couple of
players took me into Stockholm where my teammates helped me exchange money, acquire my transportation
pass, and hook my pre-paid cell phone up from the team. The team also covered my living arrangements and also
my groceries. I was also able to receive two free meals and beverages from a local restaurant at anytime of my
choice during the day.
The football aspect was great too. I had an all access key to the weight room and facilities for my use and
whoever went with me only. As far as my daily schedule, it was kind of like this with some things changing
depending on the day. I would wake up around 10 a.m. and have breakfast, then go to the weight room and lift, walk
to Curres’ Corner (restaurant)and pick up my meals, walk back to the room and eat and watch ‘The Simpsons’. I
would then take a short walk to the practice facilities through the local mall detour and do my speed and agility
workouts before practice. We only practiced Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday. Then have practice for an hour and
half and go home and call it a night. Besides, just playing for the Crowns I was also able to coach the U-19 team,
or high school team in America. I was the D-Coordinator and Coach Jenmert was the Head Coach and O-
Coordinator. I had a blast doing this; I saw a potential outlet to a future for me after football. Coach Jenmert let me
coach the kids how I wanted to and let me teach them proper techniques that they weren’t taught while playing
there under other coaches. I was allowed to work with each position groups individually and also as a whole. While
Monday was a recovery day from Sunday games, Tuesday was my day for just defensive practice only, while Coach
Jenmert took Thursday for Offensive prep. We ran a 3-4 in the U-19 group as we also did for the senior team that I
played on. The kids were very easy to coach and were willing to learn, almost thirsting for the knowledge that an
American knew. And much to my amazement there were many college scouts there looking for the next best thing
to help them win a championship in the states.
As for playing, I had a blast. Like I said before we played a 3-4 defense that was fast and downhill. I played
outside linebacker and was a pass rushing D-End in certain situations. I was almost at free will to do what I
wanted to do. If I wanted to blitz, I could. If I wanted to play zone, I could. But for the most part I stayed within the
scheme of the defense. I was responsible for all the second level checks as far as changing up blitzes, and
coverage schemes. Our defense was sound, but as a whole we were not in very good shape. Our offense didn’t
help us out to much as they only put up 14 points through 8 quarters of play. Being as I was the only American
there, they asked me to if I would be willing to play offense and defense. I took the opportunity willing and from
week three on I started running the ball. I was able to earn three straight MVP awards in consecutive games and
also had a 150 yard two touchdown game. It was great to be playing running back again. But we lacked a passing
attack, and when running the spread offense, you have to be able to throw the ball. We didn’t have a quarterback
that was able to do that.
I really enjoyed playing football in Sweden. One of the things that stick out to me the most was the pre-game
national anthem. It wasn’t the national anthem I was use to hearing. Of course, it was Sweden’s, but after hearing
the U.S. national anthem it was hard to take in the first time. After all the games and all the sweat and tears. I will
always remember looking at my teammates in the huddle and thinking, we may live in different countries and we
may have different traditions and cultures, but we have one thing in common “Football”
After looking at my short career, I always thought I would see my name on the back of a Cowboys jersey, or
Chiefs jersey, or a Dolphins jersey. Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think that football would take me across
the world to a country, which I knew only had a blue flag with a yellow cross and beautiful blondes with blue eyes to
allow me to play professionally. It has been the greatest experience with many untold stories, that even if I did tell
you could never understand it unless you were there yourself. I will go back next spring and play ball again and
when I do I will bring back even more memories.
G.C. McCoy
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