Eastern Michigan Athletics
Photo by: Scott Olmstead
Former Eagle Ryan Downard Blogs from Germany
6/29/2011 11:41:00 PM | Football, E-Gridiron Group
Courtesy of the Lima News
Ryan Downard column: Welcome to Germany
Follow along at http://varsity.limaohio.com/articles/play-6717-lima-football.html
We always hear about how different life is overseas in Europe. I have been blessed to have an opportunity to explore this idea.
I was born and raised in Lima, and I am so proud to call it my hometown. Ever since I was a little boy, I had a dream to play in the National Football League. By eating, dreaming, and breathing football, I have taken many steps towards my dream but I am still on a long journey.
I played my high school ball at Shawnee and went on to play Division I college ball at Eastern Michigan University. I have many great career memories but there is plenty of time to reflect after my playing days are over.
After our Pro Day at EMU, I signed with an agent and the long wait began. The lockout has affected my chance to sign with a team in camp as a free agent, so many of us college players are waiting and hoping.
Meanwhile, there are other leagues in America, Canada and across the world which are in full force. I happened to be contacted by a few teams in Europe that were trying to sign me to their team. Two weeks ago, I felt that the right team surfaced and I signed my first professional contract to play safety and receiver for the Dresden Monarchs in Dresden, Germany. The Monarchs play in one of the top leagues in Europe, the GFL and their season is right at the halfway point.
It has always been my nature to want to share my story, struggles and path towards success with whoever wants to know and grow using it. When The Lima News contacted for me a story, I decided to ask them if Lima and surrounding areas would be interested in the chance to communicate with someone overseas and to enjoy my journey playing professional football with me. This is my chance to give back to the city that was so great to me as a child and for you to ask anything, offer advice or ask for it, and feel what I feel while I'm over here.
After 3 plane trips and 12 hours of flight time, I finally arrived here in Dresden last Tuesday and worked my way into the starting line up for Saturday's game. Until then, I had to adjust to the jet lag and meet my new teammates including the other three Americans. Our quarterback played at the University of Hawaii (Tyler Graunke), our running back at UNLV (Larry Croom) and our defensive end at University of Cincinnati (Angelo Craig). I have become the fourth American to join the crew which is the maximum number teams are allowed to have.
Needless to say, the move into the "flat" (apartment) here has been eye opening and exciting. Almost anything you can think of is different here. So far, I have discovered new doors in every room, bagless grocery stores, reverse light switches, 10 Euro grocery trips, and much more. However, life seems much simpler here.
Saturday's game was a great experience. The Dresden Monarchs defeated the Plattling Blackhawks 72 – 6 and will face them again in four weeks. Game speed was different than college ball, but our team seems to mesh well as both sides of the ball dominated. The fan base here in Dresden is great. Although we play at two different locations, our main stadium was the one in which the American women's soccer team played its first World Cup game, a 2-0 win over North Korea.
Hopefully, you will take this journey with me over the coming weeks and explore interesting issues that Europe and professional football present.
For more on Ryan's journey, follow him on Twitter at @rmdownard10
Follow along at http://varsity.limaohio.com/articles/play-6717-lima-football.html
We always hear about how different life is overseas in Europe. I have been blessed to have an opportunity to explore this idea.
I was born and raised in Lima, and I am so proud to call it my hometown. Ever since I was a little boy, I had a dream to play in the National Football League. By eating, dreaming, and breathing football, I have taken many steps towards my dream but I am still on a long journey.
I played my high school ball at Shawnee and went on to play Division I college ball at Eastern Michigan University. I have many great career memories but there is plenty of time to reflect after my playing days are over.
After our Pro Day at EMU, I signed with an agent and the long wait began. The lockout has affected my chance to sign with a team in camp as a free agent, so many of us college players are waiting and hoping.
Meanwhile, there are other leagues in America, Canada and across the world which are in full force. I happened to be contacted by a few teams in Europe that were trying to sign me to their team. Two weeks ago, I felt that the right team surfaced and I signed my first professional contract to play safety and receiver for the Dresden Monarchs in Dresden, Germany. The Monarchs play in one of the top leagues in Europe, the GFL and their season is right at the halfway point.
It has always been my nature to want to share my story, struggles and path towards success with whoever wants to know and grow using it. When The Lima News contacted for me a story, I decided to ask them if Lima and surrounding areas would be interested in the chance to communicate with someone overseas and to enjoy my journey playing professional football with me. This is my chance to give back to the city that was so great to me as a child and for you to ask anything, offer advice or ask for it, and feel what I feel while I'm over here.
After 3 plane trips and 12 hours of flight time, I finally arrived here in Dresden last Tuesday and worked my way into the starting line up for Saturday's game. Until then, I had to adjust to the jet lag and meet my new teammates including the other three Americans. Our quarterback played at the University of Hawaii (Tyler Graunke), our running back at UNLV (Larry Croom) and our defensive end at University of Cincinnati (Angelo Craig). I have become the fourth American to join the crew which is the maximum number teams are allowed to have.
Needless to say, the move into the "flat" (apartment) here has been eye opening and exciting. Almost anything you can think of is different here. So far, I have discovered new doors in every room, bagless grocery stores, reverse light switches, 10 Euro grocery trips, and much more. However, life seems much simpler here.
Saturday's game was a great experience. The Dresden Monarchs defeated the Plattling Blackhawks 72 – 6 and will face them again in four weeks. Game speed was different than college ball, but our team seems to mesh well as both sides of the ball dominated. The fan base here in Dresden is great. Although we play at two different locations, our main stadium was the one in which the American women's soccer team played its first World Cup game, a 2-0 win over North Korea.
Hopefully, you will take this journey with me over the coming weeks and explore interesting issues that Europe and professional football present.
For more on Ryan's journey, follow him on Twitter at @rmdownard10
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