Daily News
SHALIMAR — The last time Glen Coffee wore a football helmet in a game situation, it had the same San Francisco 49ers logo on the side of it that was worn by legendary players like Joe Montana, Steve Young and Jerry Rice. He played his home games at Candlestick Park and before that, wore one of the most historic uniforms in college football—the crimson and white of the University of Alabama.
On Friday, Coffee stretched and warmed up on a nondescript path of grass and dirt behind Shalimar Elementary School in preparation for today’s debut for his newest team, the Northwest Florida Falcons of the Premier South Football League. Coffee, a former star at Fort Walton Beach High School, will join his teammates for their season opener at Davidson Middle School against the Crestview Thunderbirds at 6 p.m. today.
For Coffee, his next game is a stark contrast from the bright lights of the NFL and the SEC. In August of last year, he walked away from pro football, citing a lack of passion for the game. He left behind a large contract and the fame of being a running back in the NFL, but he seemed at peace with his decision at Friday’s Falcons practice.
“I just enjoy recreational sports,” Coffee said. “I figured it would just be another fun thing to do.”
Coffee said a former high school teammate of his convinced him to join up with the Falcons, a semi-pro team based out of Fort Walton Beach. But fans shouldn’t show up to Falcons game expecting to see Coffee bowling over tacklers like when he was a 1,300-yard rusher at Alabama. Instead, they’ll see him lighting up ballcarriers as a safety/linebacker. He’ll still get to carry the ball at times, however, as he’ll also return kicks and punts.
The allure of playing defense for the first time since middle school was one of the things that drew Coffee back to the field.was a pretty nice defender,” Coffee said. “I think I could have been a better free safety than a running back, but running back was the glory position. I’m excited to be able to hit some people.”
Coffee’s return to the field shows that he still loves the game, if not the lifestyle that surrounds playing it professionally. While he insisted on discussing only his role with the Falcons and was careful not to broach the subject of why he left the NFL or how he has kept himself busy since his retirement, he did say he is still working toward his degree from Alabama by taking online classes.
And of course, as his presence on the field today shows, he still loves the game.
“A lot of people think that because I quit, I don’t like football or I have something against it,” Coffee said. “It’s not like that. As a recreational sport, I still dig it. It’s just not what I wanted to do with my life.”
Source: http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/coffee-39922-makes-nfl.html
On Friday, Coffee stretched and warmed up on a nondescript path of grass and dirt behind Shalimar Elementary School in preparation for today’s debut for his newest team, the Northwest Florida Falcons of the Premier South Football League. Coffee, a former star at Fort Walton Beach High School, will join his teammates for their season opener at Davidson Middle School against the Crestview Thunderbirds at 6 p.m. today.
For Coffee, his next game is a stark contrast from the bright lights of the NFL and the SEC. In August of last year, he walked away from pro football, citing a lack of passion for the game. He left behind a large contract and the fame of being a running back in the NFL, but he seemed at peace with his decision at Friday’s Falcons practice.
“I just enjoy recreational sports,” Coffee said. “I figured it would just be another fun thing to do.”
Coffee said a former high school teammate of his convinced him to join up with the Falcons, a semi-pro team based out of Fort Walton Beach. But fans shouldn’t show up to Falcons game expecting to see Coffee bowling over tacklers like when he was a 1,300-yard rusher at Alabama. Instead, they’ll see him lighting up ballcarriers as a safety/linebacker. He’ll still get to carry the ball at times, however, as he’ll also return kicks and punts.
The allure of playing defense for the first time since middle school was one of the things that drew Coffee back to the field.was a pretty nice defender,” Coffee said. “I think I could have been a better free safety than a running back, but running back was the glory position. I’m excited to be able to hit some people.”
Coffee’s return to the field shows that he still loves the game, if not the lifestyle that surrounds playing it professionally. While he insisted on discussing only his role with the Falcons and was careful not to broach the subject of why he left the NFL or how he has kept himself busy since his retirement, he did say he is still working toward his degree from Alabama by taking online classes.
And of course, as his presence on the field today shows, he still loves the game.
“A lot of people think that because I quit, I don’t like football or I have something against it,” Coffee said. “It’s not like that. As a recreational sport, I still dig it. It’s just not what I wanted to do with my life.”
Source: http://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/coffee-39922-makes-nfl.html
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