It’s obvious that American football is growing rapidly around the world. This season the New York Giants played the Miami Dolphins in London, England in week eight of the 2007 NFL season. An enormous crowd of 81,176 fans showed the general interest and the love of the sport but Scotland also has American football fans. The Jamoja member of the week, Kieran Phillips loves the sport as much, if not more than the 81,176 fans that were at the game.

“I loved the speed of the game, the brutality, the power and the feeling of you get when you line up and face that defense its like no other game in the world,” says Phillips. He plays for the Glasgow Tigers in Scotland in the United Kingdom. He is the starting tailback for team. In 2006 he was the offensive MVP, team captain in 2007 and started for Team Scotland at tailback. His teams have made it to the playoffs every year he has been playing and placed third in the entire UK league, last season.

Growing up in Scotland, American football was not a popular sport at all or even well known for that matter so Kieran did not know much about American football. “I didn’t even know football existed until my friend’s big brother, who played, got me interested. I went to a training sessions and I’ve loved (football) ever since.” At the start, Kieran has been really successful, while learned the game from scratch.

During his rookie season in the British Semi-Final game against the eventual winners, Kieran ran a dive straight up the A gap and came head on with two linebackers. Both defenders hit Phillips but he kept his legs moving and powered through the two defenders and broke up the field for a 40 yard run. He was hauled down on the 1 yard line and didn’t get the score but his run lifted the team in a game where they were being overpowered.

He was also the first running back for the Scotland team who gained over 100 years rushing against the London Warriors, who had 30 more players than the Scotland team. The London Warriors had many advantages over Kieran’s team, including professional coaches and useful faculties.

Phillips’ love for American football is obvious from the dedication he puts into being on a team in Europe. Playing for the Glasgow Tigers, Kieran must travel about 2 ½ hours from his house. It is the same for most of the players who play for the Tigers. The team can only train once a week as many of the players live all around the country yet they still find a way to be a flourishing product.

“We have made the playoffs each of my seasons with them. Winning the northern conference in 2005-06, making the British third place playoff in 2006 and making the British Championship game in 2005. But more than that, we give guys who would normally never have had a chance to experience this amazing sport. A chance to do that and we all have to thank Coach Alan Wilson for that.”

Although the team can only practice once a week, Phillips continues to workout at least four times per week, doing mostly weight and sprints. Kieran loves everything about the game. “I love to run with the football and make guys miss me or just go through them. I love to catch the ball and also blocking. There is nothing more satisfying than blocking a guy off his feet during a play.”

Kieran admits that he used to get nervous and over think the plays in his head. “Now it’s just a rush! I just feel excited and anticipate it. I just want to run over somebody, or put a big block on someone or just catch the football. All that really goes through my head now is a desire to succeed.” Kieran hopes the success he has on the field transforms into football scholarship possibilities in the United States. “It’s difficult because we have to hire scouting agencies which cost a couple thousand dollars. It’s not impossible but it is very very hard. I hope to get a scholarship, as at least a punter, but I’m not going to get my hopes up.”

The exposure is what Kieran feels will help him the most at receiving interest of schools in him as a football player, which is why he likes the Jamoja community. “Jamoja's awesome because it gives me a chance to relate to athletes who have had more opportunities to play the sport I love and give me an insight to the enormity of football in the United States. It lets me make new friends who have a common interest in football and talk to new interesting people.”

Phillips is currently studying Sports and Exercise Science in college, but his ultimate dream is to coach at the high school level in the United States. “I just want football to be my day-to-day life. Personally I’m training 4 times a week (just in case I do get that scholarship). I study the game through books, watching games, etc. and whenever I have spare time. I love the game and want to stay involved, so anybody that can help, please get in touch!”

Many players on the Scotland team have not played in the US, including Kieran. But his team has planned a trip to North Carolina, where one of the teams former defensive tackles was an all-conference player year’s back. The team hopes to play two or three high school teams. Until then, the team is training now to integrate the new rookies and build team chemistry which is vital for next year as they have a good enough team to win the British Championship.

As we watch American football expand throughout the world, we can only expect the sport to grow more and more. The NFL game that was played in London had over 81,000 fans. The Glasgow Tigers may not get any fans at their games, but that is not why they play. They do it for the love, and no one loves American football in the UK more than Kieran Phillips. The Jamoja member of the week.

Courtesy of Jamoja Magazine