Senior made his moment shine in 2025
By KevinTaylor
Alma Schools
There are no fancy lockers inside Farmington’s visitors' locker room. And that’s fine with Owen McCoy.
The Alma senior linebacker isn’t about flash and dash.
Dressed one final time last week at Farmington, finishing the season with 57 tackles, eight tackles for loss, eight pass breakups, and one interception. At 5-foot-8 and 140 pounds, Owen McCoy’s football life is now over.
But what a ride.
“It means a lot to be out here,” McCoy said. “It’s not just football for me, it’s kind of like a lifestyle … it’s a second family to me. Sports, in general, are really fun to be out here. I wish I could continue playing football. I love the sport. The same is true with basketball. Sadly, it’s coming to an end; I love putting my pads on and being out there.
“Football is easily the best sport in high school.”
McCoy finished his career with 12 tackles and a couple of TFLs in last week’s loss to Farmington. This week, he’ll trade his football cleats for basketball sneakers.
Being in athletics has numerous meanings, McCoy said. But for him, it’s made him learn the value of responsibility.
“I would say that it represents the quality of a good leader on and off the field. It’s made me a better man, personally, as I see it,” McCoy said. “It’s a way to come out here and do something that I enjoy. They might not pay me, but it’s not for the money; it’s been for the joy. It gives me a chance to be with my friends and my family around here.”
In addition to football and basketball, McCoy plays the barre sax in the school band, runs track, and is involved in TSA (Technology Student Association).
McCoy is the type of athlete coaches would love to clone.
Hard-working, dependable, and smart.
But it wasn’t always that way, shrugs McCoy.
“I used to show up late almost every day,” he said. “I didn’t expect to play, so I was being kind of dismissive about it. I still loved the sport, but I knew I wouldn’t start on varsity.”
Fast-forward to 2025, and it’s a different story.
“Now, I’m getting out here with some of the sophomores on how to become better football players,” McCoy explained. “I didn’t understand when I was a sophomore. As a kid, I looked up to the kids who were on the football field and the basketball court. Seeing the greatness that they could achieve inspired me to do something about it and be something other kids could look forward to.”
“Anytime that you can stick with something, even in the hard times and obstacles you have to overcome, it’s a great example of life,” Alma head coach Rusty Bush said. “It’s a coaching cliche, but it’s true - football can teach you all sorts of life lessons, and that’s (waiting to get on the field) part of it. Being here, being on time, fighting through the hard times.
“When you’re a young kid and you’re out there with 17 and 18-year-olds, that can be uncomfortable sometimes, but life can be uncomfortable, too.”
McCoy earned a spot on the special teams as a junior, and his coaches took notice.
“Owen McCoy had a tremendous year. He’s one of those who stuck around and worked and waited for their time. That’s part of the game, and that’s part of life.”
“My sophomore year, I didn’t get to play much, and my junior year I got to play on special teams, and that’s where I wanted to make my statement,” he said. “It’s carried over and gotten me a defensive starting spot (striker) for outside backer.”
The third youngest of Joe and Alysia McCoy’s four boys (Zachary and Clay are older, and Eli is in Intermediate School), Owen’s perseverance paid off.
“I look up to both my parents,” McCoy said. “They’ve provided for me phenomenally and allowed me to do this.”
Owen believes Eli will become a solid player in a few years.
“Every time he comes to my games, he’s so excited,” McCoy said. “That’s another thing that keeps me going. Not just the students and family I’ve had here, but my younger brother is Eli – he’s a pretty good ball player.”
“We’ve had a few before him, and it really doesn’t happen that often when they (players) stick it out,” added Bush. “In our day and time, people want to go do other things. We live in such a microwave society. The kids and their parents want things that a 10th grader has that an 11th grader has.
“But if you stay the course, especially in this game, things can happen. Jacob Dollard from last year comes to mind.”