Three Fighting Bees to miss graduation to play football in Germany

April 21, 2005
By Dan Tomlin
Sports Editor

When the football season came to an end many of the Fighting Bees felt unfulfilled.  For three seniors though their careers received an unexpected jumpstart.

JT Bucy, Andy Ford, and Luke Perry have all been integral parts of the Fighting Bees success over the past four seasons, and after dropping three of their last four games they all agreed it was heartbreaking.

“Things definitely didn’t go as we had thought they would,” Perry said.  “When we were given another chance to play football there was no doubt in my mind.”

That chance came when St. Ambrose coach Todd Sturdy received a phone call from a German Football League recruiter asking the Bees coach for any talent at the wide receiver position.  Immediately coach thought of one man, his honorable mention wide out Andy Ford.

“The initial phone call I got was the recruiter asking me if I was interested, and I said yea because I’ve been looking for opportunities to play anywhere,” Ford said.

“What was cool was that after talking for a while I found out they needed a quarterback and I said well my best friends a quarterback.”

That’s how Bucy got involved.

“It was a no brainer for me,” Bucy said.  “I don’t think any of us even consulted our parents we just said yea we’re going to do it, no doubt.”

After agreeing to play in Germany, Bucy and Ford decided to let the Franken Knights know they also we’re friends with an ‘extremely talented’ defensive player, and when told of Perry’s prowess the Knights were eager to sign Perry as well.

“This is the greatest thing that could’ve happened for us,” Perry said.  “We had talked about going overseas anyway after graduation just to vacation, but this is better than we could’ve asked for.”

The three Bees will be compensated quite well for their roles as players and coaches for this up and coming league.

“Our role will be to play as well as coach the players and teach the game to the German people who want to learn American football,” Ford said of the League in which only two American players can be on the field at the same time, and only six Americans can be signed to each squad.

As well as getting a healthy stipend each month the men will also receive free housing, each will have a car as well as gas money, and each will receive one meal a day furnished by the team.

“It really is a dream come true,” Perry said.  “You don’t really realize how much you miss it until it’s gone and you’re done playing.”

The Franken Knights schedule doesn’t allow for much practice time, nor is their much time for preparation before the first game.

Due to the uniqueness of the situation these three men have been given some exemption on classes in their final semester.  Each will finish all of their coursework and finals before May 1 (the day they plan on traveling to Germany).

The Knights first game is on May 15, the day the men should be graduating.

“After traveling over there and getting over the jet lag and everything it should be about 10 days until our first game,” Ford said.  “Not a whole lot of time but you know what, that’s life and I’m not arguing.”

As for living in a small German town, despite not having the language to communicate none of the three have any worries.

“I think it would be a lot different if one of us was going alone, but since there are three of us it will be easier,” Perry said.

Ford’s look is similar with a little more emphasis put on national pride.

“I just hope I don’t do anything that would give German’s a bad impression of Americans,” Ford said.  “But we’re all gentlemen and we act accordingly so I think it should be a pretty good experience.”

So while the rest of us finish classes, tie up loose ends, and continue to look for the right summer job, these men will be eight time zones away bringing an American pastime to the German people and getting paid for it.

“We’re professional football players, and I thinks that speaks for itself, “Perry said with a smile on his face.  “I haven’t stopped smiling since I found out, it really is a dream come true.”

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