Solano Community College
Physical Education and Athletics Division
Press Release 5/04/06

Former Falcon Flies with the Eagles

What started out as an ordinary day in a Physical Education basketball class has finished as an extraordinary success story for former Solano College Falcon, Patrick McCoy, who signed with the NFL’s Philadelphia Eagles as an offensive lineman on Sunday, April 30th.

When McCoy, 6-6, 320 lbs., was first approached by head football coach, Floyd Burnsed, he’d never played football. In high school, he had lettered in basketball for three years and had been discussing the possibility of playing for then men’s basketball coach, Jerry Miller, here at Solano. The decision to give football a try led Patrick to a successful career at Solano and a scholarship to West Texas A & M University in Canyon, TX.

Some his accomplishments listed on the West Texas A & M Buffalo’s website include:
 

…being a starter on the No. 1 ranked passing offense in NCAA-II, anchoring a WTAMU offensive line that yielded only 13 sacks this season on 540 attempts (a whopping 41.5 attempts per sack). McCoy, a 6-6, 320, senior from Fairfield, Calif., was a national finalist for the Gene Upshaw Award, sponsored by the Manheim Touchdown Club and presented to the best lineman, offensive or defensive, in NCAA-II. McCoy was the leading vote getter from the Southwest Region. He also was a first-team AFCA Division II All-American. McCoy, who was a Daktronics first-team All-Southwest Region honoree (leading vote getter for offensive linemen), was also a first-team All-LSC South selection, as well as a first-team d2football.com All-Southwest Region honoree. Over the last two seasons, the WTAMU O-Line has yielded only 21 sacks on 1,071 pass attempts (one sack every 51.0 attempts), as last season the O-Line gave up only eight sacks in 531 attempts (one sack every 66.4 attempts). McCoy was a preseason Don Hansen's Football Gazette d2football.com and www.CollegeSportsReport.com NCAA-II All-American candidate.

Last season, McCoy was WTAMU's most decorated player, as he was named to the Don Hansen's Football Gazette honorable mention All-American list, only part of his collection of postseason awards. McCoy was also named to two other All-American lists, including first-team CollegeSportsReports.com All-Division II All-American team, as well as honorable mention d2football.com All-American list. McCoy collected two All-Region honors, being tabbed to the second-team Don Hansen Football Gazette All-Southwest Region list and the first-team Daktronics NCAA-II All-Southwest Region team. He was also named the Lone Star Conference South Division Offensive Lineman of the Year and first-team All-LSC South.

While at Solano, Patrick was a two-year starter at left tackle and led Solano to a victory in the East County Bowl. He was named All-Conference in 2003. Pat also started at left tackle in the Hula Bowl this year. After signing with the Eagles, Patrick contacted Coach Burnsed. Coach Burnsed says that Patrick is very excited and chose the Eagles over several other teams that were interested in him and looks forward to the move once he’s finished at WTAMU.

Coach Burnsed said, “Pat is a tremendous young man who will have a bright and long future in the NFL.”

Athletic Director, Bob Myers said, “Patrick is a true success story. It all shows what hard work and good, positive coaching can do for a student. Patrick had the physical tools for success, when he first came to Solano, but it was the coaching and positive reinforcement from Coach Burnsed that I feel made the difference in Patrick’s ascension to the elite level of football.”

Congratulations, Patrick!!!

Floyd Burnsed
Head Football Coach
Bob Myers
Dean of Physical Education and Athletics
Solano College

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