SDFC (Senior Deputy First Class) David Corcoran is a real man that plays real football for the Washington, DC Generals. Corcoran is a deputy sheriff for St. Mary’s County to earn a living, and has been doing so for 10 years. However, his passion is football.

	Corcoran, going to work in both uniforms

When the DC Generals team started three years ago, it was a dream come true for the strapping young police officer. “I had been looking to play football ever since I left Great Mills High School, but when it came to fall and football season, I could never find a league,” Corcoran said in a recent interview with The Bay Net. He admitted that he never thought of looking in the spring when most non-professional football leagues play their games.

The Bay Net asked him why he didn’t pursue football in college and he stated that he decided raising his newborn child was his first priority.

The DC Generals are a non-profit, semi-pro team playing hard-nose tackle football across the nation.

“We are a part of the National Public Safety Football League,” Corcoran said. He explained further that the league is made up of professional police and firefighters. “You have to be a professional to play in the league.”

The DC Generals have as their primary focus two charities for which they raise money. The first, and closest to Corcoran’s heart is the COPS charity – COPS stands for Concerns for Police Survivors. Corcoran stated that the charity raises money to help survivors for police officers that have lost their lives in the line of duty. “We help do what insurance and normal benefits don’t do,” Corcoran said.

The other charity is the Washington Burn Unit at the Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC.

The DC Generals play from 4 to 8 games each year against other league teams made up from professional police, fire and other public safety organizations. There are currently 16 teams that make up the National Public Safety Football League (NPSFL), but according to the league website – www.npsfl.com, the NPSFL is recruiting more teams around the country.

Corcoran indicated that the larger cities, such as New York, Chicago, and San Diego are more organized and better funded than the DC Generals. He went on the explain that the league was formed in New York where the NYPD and FDNY used to hold spirited football games in sort of a rivalry between public service branches. “During 911, they were brothers, but they have always had a high level of competition between them.”

Corcoran told The Bay Net that they will play three home games this year. Two will be played at Gallaudet University – the Washington, DC College for the hearing impaired. The third home contest and final game of the year, will be played at North Point High School.

“Our primary method to raise funds is through ticket sales. We have to make enough to operate the team throughout the year and then once we reach that financial goal, we give everything else to the charities,” Corcoran said.

Corcoran wanted The Bay Net readers to know that these are real football games. “You won’t see any flag or touch when you watch our games.”

Players for the DC General and other teams, not as organized as the larger cities, have to pay a good deal of their own expenses in order play. Corcoran stated that he spends an average of $2,000 each year. Expenses for hotels and travel are born by the players when the team has to hit the road to play. Each team hosts at least one team where they pay for hotel accommodations and host an after party and provide transportation to and from hotels to games, but any other expenses are paid by the players themselves.

Corcoran beamed when he said jokingly, “It is great. I get to beat up on people without having to write reports.”

League players have to also pay for their own medical. It is the love of the game that keeps them playing. “After games, I am pretty black and blue from bruises, but nothing serious,” he smiled. “I would rather take my chances with injury than not play.”

Many professional public safety employees shy away from the league for that reason. “They have to put their jobs first, and don’t want to risk injury,” Corcoran said.

Looking at Corcoran, one wonders how banged up his opponents might be after a game.

To go see a DC General’s game – a real football game – this spring, contact Corcoran at 240-298-0195 or visit their website – www.dcgeneralsfootball.org. Their next home game, played at Gallaudet University, 800 Florida Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002 is on Saturday, May 10, 2008, 1 p.m.