Glen Coffee played at Alabama from 2005-08. He’s not often thought of among the great Tide players of the last decade, and he’s underrated in that regard. Coffee was the running back while the foundation of the Nick Saban dynasty was being built. His best year came in 2008, when he got his chance to be the featured back in the offense.
Coffee posted 1,383 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns that season, with another 118 yards receiving and a touchdown reception. That’s 1,501 yards from scrimmage and 11 total touchdowns. Pretty good season – it remains the 6th best in program history, actually. His 218 rushing yards against Kentucky that season still sit at 9th on the most rushing yards in a single game in Alabama history list as well.
It’s easy to think of Mark Ingram, Derrick Henry, and Trent Richardson when it comes to Tide backs, but Coffee deserves some credit, too. He really started that legendary run on running backs at Alabama back in 2008.
The San Francisco 49ers drafted Coffee in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft, but he only played one year before walking away from the game. He just didn’t love it. Instead, he joined the Army and served four years.
He’s a pretty special guy, and now, he’s come back to Alabama to help as a volunteer.
Courtesy of The Montgomery Advertiser:
The former Crimson Tide star who ran for 1,383 yards and 10 touchdowns in his final year in 2008 is now on Alabama’s staff helping with recruiting and player development after volunteering as a student assistant last season.
“I like it,” said Coffee at an Alabama Fellowship of Christian Athletes golf outing Monday at Wynlakes Golf and Country Club. “It’s something that I’ll hold dear the rest of my life because when you’re that age, you don’t realize you’re still a kid. You think, ‘Oh, I’m 18 and above. I’m 20. I’m grown.’”
Coffee shakes his head before continuing as he realizes adulthood isn’t based solely on age.
“As a 31-year old being around them, it’s kind of like, I’m trying to tell them that they’re young without telling them that they’re young,” Coffee continued. “I’m a guy who’s been there, seen that and done that. I can kind of steer them in the right path so you don’t make the same mistakes I made.”
It’s a pretty interesting story, and Coffee definitely seems like he’s accrued a wealth of wisdom over the years and can help give back to his alma mater. His story is one that plenty of kids can learn from, so it’s with nothing but strong, positive will that I write this post today. I highly recommend reading the full story beyond this simple little blog post. Just makes you feel good.
Roll Tide.
Stoney Keeley is the Editor in Chief of The SoBros Network. He is a strong supporter of Team GSD and #BeBetter. “Big Natural” covers the Tennessee Titans, Alabama Crimson Tide football, the WWE, and a whole wealth of nonsense. Follow on Twitter @StoneyKeeley
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