DMN: U.S. Army helped teach UNT's Brandon McCoy life lessons

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DENTON — Brandon McCoy stood in front of friends and family on Monday, reflecting on how far he traveled to arrive at one of the most prestigious honors of his college career.

McCoy spent 4 1/2 years in the Army after a trouble childhood and four years developing into one of North Texas’ top players and leaders.

The journey changed McCoy’s life and caught the attention of the Football Writers Association of America, which presented him with the Armed Forces Merit Award on Veterans Day at Apogee Stadium.

“It is pretty special,” McCoy said. “I have been working at this dream for a long time. I have been telling guys since I was in the fields in Iraq that I was going to go play college football and give it all that I’ve got. I never thought I would be honored. It’s really humbling.”

McCoy, 28, was kicked out of two high schools and his home in Carrollton.

McCoy, known as “Sarge” by UNT’s coaches and his teammates, fell too far behind at Carrollton Creekview to graduate on time in 2003 and was dismissed from an alternative high school for cheating on an English test. He lived on his own for a year before his family convinced him to enlist in the Army.

“He didn’t want to listen,” said Darron McCoy, Brandon’s father. “We thought the military would be a good idea to give him structure.”

McCoy spent time in Fort Riley, Kan., before spending 13 months driving Humvees on supply runs and in combat missions in Iraq.

“The military was at the forefront of changing me,” McCoy said. “You have to give yourself up for others, care about them and give without expecting anything in return.”

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/college-sports/unt-mean-green/20131111-enlistment-in-u.s.-army-helped-teach-unt-defensive-lineman-brandon-mccoy-life-lessons.ece