Alums Pursue Football Around the World

The call of the football field has kept life in a cubicle at bay for a few recent Harvard graduates.

While some, like Collin Zych ’11—who made it all the way to the Dallas Cowboys' final cut—had their pro dreams recently put on hold, a few others have taken up pro careers at varying levels around the world.

Former Crimson offensive guard Brent Osborne ’11 has been working out with the Seattle Seahawks’ practice squad for the 2011 season. After initially being cut in training camp, Osborne was recently resigned by the Seahawks.

The seven-man practice squad of an NFL team is essentially a scout team that runs plays for the starters to practice against. For example, Osborne and his offensive teammates prep the Seattle defense for their upcoming offensive opponent.

“I’m doing everything in practice all the other guys are doing, just with fewer reps,” Osborne said.

Current quarterback Collier Winters ’12 attributes Osborne’s success to his dedication and gusto.

“He really led by example,” Winters said. “Every day he would show up and put everything into it.”

Over the summer, Osborne stayed in Cambridge to work out with Crimson strength coaches to prepare for the NFL, along with former players such as Zych and Marco Iannuzzi ’11.

The offensive lineman hopes in the future to move beyond the practice squad and earn a place on the team.

“I’m trying to get better every day, and in the future compete for a spot on the roster,” he said.

Iannuzzi has pursued his football dreams farther north, in the Canadian Football League. The former Harvard wideout was drafted sixth overall by the BC Lions in the CFL draft this summer. He began the season on the practice roster, but has made his way onto the special teams unit.

In an Aug. 16 36-1 rout of the Edmonton Eskimos—yes, that’s a possible score in Canadian football—Iannuzzi returned six punts for 49 yards.

While Iannuzzi has had little statistical impact since, he continues to battle for playing time, both on special teams and offense.

Another former wide receiver, Mike Cook ’10, made the jump across the water for football, and is playing for the Herlev Rebels, a team based outside of Copenhagen, Denmark.

Cook’s situation is unique. While he is the team’s starting quarterback, he also takes reps at wide receiver and is the offensive coordinator.

“I think it’s safe to say that very few players have been given the responsibility to formulate their own team's philosophy and call the plays,” Cook wrote in an email. “I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenge.”

The oft-injured Crimson standout led the Rebels to a 7-4 record and a playoff victory, helping turn around a 1-9 doormat.

Competition in Denmark varies by club, Cook said, and different organizations have varying levels of commitment. While some have full weight programs and workouts, others treat the sport as a recreational hobby. Cook’s team practices 2-3 times per week and plays a game every other week, on average.

The former Crimson standout said he plans on finishing this season before pursing an MBA at business school in Copenhagen.