Dembow goes abroad for football

Thursday, September 2, 2010

ULRIK FRISTED photo Jake Dembow, right, blocks an Odense Swans player in a game on Aug.15.

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Photo by ULRIK FRISTED Jake Dembow makes a tackle against the Odense Swans in a game on Aug.15.

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Submitted photo Jake Dembow works with players during an Aarhus Tigers practice.

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ULRIK FRISTED photo Jake Dembow, right, blocks an Odense Swans player in a game on Aug.15.

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He misses his favorite Mexican fast food restaurant. He misses many other aspects of American life he had taken for granted.

But Merrimack’s Jake Dembow is having the experience of his life as a football player and coach in Denmark.

Last fall Dembow – a recent graduate of Marist University, where he was a four-year starter on the offensive line – was teaching Merrimack High School freshmen the finer points of line play.

Now he’s teaching Danish men in their 20s and 30s many of the same things with the Aarhus Tigers of the semi-professional Danish American Football Federation.

While televised NFL and college games have a surprisingly large audience in the Scandinavian country of 5 million, the Tigers might draw 75-100 spectators to their contests. Like most of Europe, soccer is the No. 1 passion in Denmark.

But a fascination with American-style football brings out enthusiastic candidates, including some from a local university, and it’s Dembow’s jobs to teach them how to play.

“Jake has taught them not only technique and Xs and Os,’’ said teammate Brian Woodward in an interview with a New York-based website, “but also about work ethic and what it takes to be a solid player.’’

The 37-year-old Woodward, who grew up in Colorado and played football at Bentley College in the 1990s, lives in Denmark and works in public relations.

Most players rent their equipment and pay a fee to play for the team. But the Tigers club provides Dembow with an apartment and living expenses for both his knowledge of the game and ability to play any position on the offensive line.

“I coach the offensive line, provide some help with the defensive line and consult on offensive strategy,’’ Dembow said. “As a player I rotate in for players who need a break.

“Most of them aren’t as conditioned as players I played with in college.’’

Dembow said the level of play is much like what you see from semi-professional football teams in the United States.

“We have two games a month,’’ Dembow said, “and practice two or three times a week.’’

So far this season the Tigers are 8-0 and have already earned a promotion to the DAFF’s top division next season, which begins in late spring.

Dembow, who also helps coach the club’s under-19 and under-16 youth development teams, isn’t sure he’ll be back next season. His contract expires in mid-October and he’ll return home for the winter. He may opt to begin a career or seek a graduate degree.

But he’d miss certain aspects of the Danish lifestyle, including the country’s tradition of taking off most of the month of July. There were no games and practices were optional.

Dembow used the time to explore Europe, spending four days each in London, Madrid and Barcelona. He was in Madrid when Spain beat Germany in the World Cup semifinal and in Barcelona when Spain clinched its first World Cup championship.

“Being in Madrid when it beat Germany was incredible,’’ Dembow said. “It was probably the most impressive sports moment I can ever remember.’’

When a friend arrived from the United States, Dembow was back on the road again, visiting Copenhagen, Berlin, Brussels and Paris.

Dembow learned of the possibility of playing in Europe while still playing at Marist. He signed on after two short stints with Arena Football teams, then surgery in December to repair a herniated disk in his back.

“They knew about the back injury and were real patient with my recovery,’’ Dembow said of the team. “They wanted me here just as much to coach as play.’’

Dembow has adjusted to living on his own in Aarhus, Denmark’s second largest city with about 300,000 residents. Most Danish citizens speak English, so language isn’t a huge problem.

But when Dembow was interviewed by a local newspaper about his life in Denmark, he complained about the design of the Danish toaster, which made headlines.

But it didn’t create much of an uproar. The reporter agreed, the toaster’s design wasn’t the best.

“The people here are extremely friendly,’’ Dembow said. “They couldn’t be more welcoming.’’

They have embraced their football ambassador from Merrimack.

“Not everyone gets to play on Sundays,’’ Dembow said. “But as a way to extend your football career and experience something different, I would recommend this to a lot of guys.’’

And to help keep in touch with friends and family, Dembow has created his own blog, titled “Now that’s Danish.’’