Colorado University Athletics
Former Buffs Barrett, Harrington Building Football In Europe
June 17, 2019 | General, Alumni C Club, Neill Woelk
Like a long list of former Colorado football players, ex-Buffs defensive lineman Alonzo Barrett (2004-07) has pursued a career in player development.
But unlike most of his fellow former Buffs, Barrett isn't coaching and teaching in the United States. Instead, Barrett is teaching his game in Europe — specifically Vienna, Austria — where he played professionally after leaving CU and where he now makes his home.
Barrett is a founder of Go4it Sports, a Vienna-based non-profit group that helps youth and communities through sports. Along with another former Buff, Evan Harrington, Barrett also helped found the Level Up Camp, an annual football camp for elite European players that features a staff of several former Buffs players and coaches as well as current and former NFL players and coaches.
"Football has really exploded throughout Europe over the last five years," Barrett said recently. "There's a lot more talent here than you would think and American colleges are starting to seriously recruit here."
Level Up camps have been held in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Spain and Switzerland. This year's camp, July 15-20, will be held in Vienna. The staff has included Harrington (a camp co-founder who is now with the Washington Redskins front office) and Brian Iwuh (who played six years with the Jacksonville Jaguars), as well as former CU assistants Chris Wilson (now with the Philadelphia Eagles) and Rip Scherer (now with the Chargers).
This year, Barrett said, they expect more than 400 camp participants for a sport that is enjoying steady growth in numbers, experience and skill level.
"You are now starting to see some kids who have played football their whole lives," Barrett said. "We are getting the first generation of kids whose dads played football. It's not something that is new to them when they get to high school. The skill level and knowledge is growing at a rapid rate."
One thing Barrett said that is noticeable with coaching European players is that American coaches are viewed as experts because of their backgrounds playing and coaching.
"Here, the information from the coaches is seen as almost sacred," Barrett said. "The players listen to everything you tell them the first time. They're really eager to learn. They all don't have dads and uncles who played who are telling them all kinds of different stuff and they listen to what you have to say."
Barrett said there are some similarities to the rapid growth of basketball in Europe. Years ago, European players were a rarity in the college and pro ranks in the United States. Now they are commonplace.
"With football, you need a lot more infrastructure, but I do think it's going to continue to grow," Barrett said. "It won't grow as fast, but you can see the steady growth happening right now. There are more and more leagues, and a lot of adult recreational leagues. There are even women's tackle and flag football leagues."
Also as is the case with basketball, European pro leagues are offering more and more opportunities for U.S. players to continue their careers after college.
"They don't have all the bells and whistles that a lot of college kids are used to," Barrett said. "But if you can get past that, it's a really great experience. A lot of guys just love the game of football and the people here are appreciative of Americans who can come here and help them learn."
After playing for several years in Austria after graduating from CU, Barrett and his wife — who he met in Austria — briefly moved back to the United States. But they soon returned to Vienna, where they now make their permanent home.
Now, he's helping build a generation of European players who could find their way to American college campuses.
"We're really excited about the way the game is growing," he said. "There's a lot of talent here. They're getting introduced to the sport at a young age and it's 'natural' for them. They are growing up playing the game and more and more of them are going to have the ability and opportunity to play at the next level."
