Mike McCoy is about production and in more ways than one.
The former Alabama wide receiver and co-founder of Warehouse Performance Institute is hosting a Sports Championship Expo this Saturday at the Hoover Metropolitan Stadium. He along with his business partner, Ryan Romano, are asking for all sports clubs, communities and organizations to attend, as the duo continues to raise awareness and instruct youth on being healthy and having self-confidence. The venue is scheduled from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and will feature Alabama football strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran, ex-Crimson Tide quarterback Blake Sims and Olympic gold medalist Nastia Liukin (gymnastics) as speakers.
July 8, 2016; San Jose, CA, USA; Anna Liukin (left), Valeri Liukin (center), and Nastia Liukin (right) talk before the women’s gymnastics U.S. Olympic team trials at SAP Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Funds from the event will support Liukin’s Fund, which is an organization that provides financial assistance to those in need for gymnastics training. Liukin, who was an individual all-around gold medalists in the 2008 Olympics and two-time world champion on balance beam, is currently a gymnastics commentator.
Each speaker will have 30 minutes to talk and 15 minutes for pictures and autographs.
“Ryan and I have been doing a lot of research and some of the problems with today’s youth include depression, lack of social skills and obesity,” McCoy said. “Not a lot of kids are as active as they used to be, and I want to use this event to expose them to people that have witnessed how sports and being healthy has changed their life.”
While he intends to make the event feel like a carnival (pictures, games, music, etc…), McCoy’s primary goal is to make sure each child has success in whatever endeavor it chooses in life.
“I want to invite a lot of sports fans, but this event is solely for the kids,” he said. “They are truly our future and if I can help a lot of them get to college, then I will have accomplished much.”
Though he equates a great deal of his success to divine intervention, confidence is another ingredient that drove McCoy to where he is at this point in his career.
“A lot of kids today don’t have confidence and it’s because people aren’t sitting down and talking to them,” he said. “Confidence is the number one thing and it will be one of our building point during a question and session with our keynote speakers.”
Blake Sims, a practice squad running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, knows all too well about being confident. In his lone season as Alabama’s starting quarterback (2014), he would account for 3,487 passing yards (school record), 350 rushing yards and 35 total touchdowns. He led the Tide to a Southeastern Conference championship and an appearance in the first-ever College Football Playoff. Despite not being selected through seven rounds of the 2015 NFL Draft, Sims remained vigilant and has found an NFL home.
“Having somebody like Blake speak is huge,” McCoy said. “He’s going to be able to share on how he didn’t give up, even after times when he was cut from teams.”
Apr 18, 2015; Tuscaloosa, AL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide strength and conditioning coach Scott Cochran during the A-day game at Bryant Denny Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Marvin Gentry-USA TODAY Sports
When you look good, you feel good.
The old axiom doesn’t sound like much; nevertheless, it’s true. People feel empowered to do more when they can work themselves into the best shape possible. Having Scott Cochran at the expo inputs exercise, but his personality brings a combination of intensity and excitement for youth. His booming voice and attention to details has navigated Alabama’s football program to five SEC championships and four national championships.
Tickets are $10 per entry and for more information, you can go to the Sports Champion Expo website.
Stephen M. Smith is a senior analyst and columnist for Touchdown Alabama Magazine. You can “like” him on Facebook or “follow” him on Twitter, via @Smsmith_TDALMag.
