Greg Fountain, the man who rewrote all the Campbellsville University Fighting Tiger rushing records, will be taking his game to Finland to play for the Seinajoki Crocodiles.

"It's an opportunity for me to hopefully get to where I want to be (the NFL)," said Fountain recently from New York, where he is in training.

The Owensboro, Ky. native, who played his high school ball at Owensboro Apollo, has been biding his time in the gym and helping coach Pop Warner Football is his hometown since leaving CU early to pursue his NFL dream.

The National Football League "pro days" and a mini camp in Seattle were eye-openers for Fountain, who led the NAIA in rushing his senior season with nearly 1,800 yards. His 4,419 career rushing yards is the standard for a CU running back.

"We're excited for Greg and the opportunity he has to get to the next level," said his old coach, Perry Thomas. "We thought if he could just get a start someplace, he can progress up the ranks."

Fountain has not played competitively since the Franz/Victory Sports Network "Senior Classic' following his senior season where he was the game's MVP with 67 yards on 23 carries.

"Yeah, I was kind of down a little when I didn't get a call-back from the pros," said Fountain. "I was used to our success at Campbellsville and was unable to continue to help them and it looked like my football future had ended."

The Crocodiles are an American football team playing in the Finish Maple League. According to Wikipedia, the Crocs are one of the top teams in Europe.

Fountain said he's pleased with the offer sheet and expects to depart for Finland sometime in April or May in preparation for an 11-game schedule (and hopefully the playoffs).

"They say they're going to supply me with everything - free housing, transportation, Internet, cable, health insurance. They even said they'd help me find a part-time job to work at during the week."
The coaches in Finland, who have been on the phone repeatedly with Fountain, say that playing in their league is a good way to get new film to take back to the states. Fountain said he'd like to catch on with an indoor team.

"I'm pleased with the offer."

Fountain also recognized the opportunity to see a part of the world that he might not have necessarily had an opportunity to see.

Fountain is about five pounds over his playing weight of 228, but expects to whittle those pounds away as he prepares over the course of the next few months.

"I feel like I found a new heart after the NFL workouts," said Fountain. "Nothing is ever promised to you. It's just you and there are 100 other people there wanting that same job."

Fountain said it took him awhile to get his mind right, so to speak. When he was at Campbellsville, he said the coaches pushed him to excel. He no longer has that guidance which, by the way, he said he missed.
"All that coaching at CU really came to heart when I went out on my own," said Fountain. "Sometimes I longed for the opportunity to just walk across campus and stick my head in their offices. They're still there by phone whenever I need them, but I wish I still had those guys.

"I loved being there. I loved playing at Campbellsville University."

Here's the lowdown on Greg Fountain:

2008 NAIA All-American

2008 All Mid-South Conference

CU's all-time scoring leader, 284 points

CU's all-time all-purpose yards leader, 4,499 yards

Second in CU touchdowns, 47

Second in CU total offense, 4,419

Most carries in a game seven out of the top 10 times

Most net yards rushing four out of the top 10 times

First in CU rushing TDs in a game, 5

Fourth, sixth and eighth longest runs from scrimmage, 84, 79 and 76 yards, respectively.