Meadowdale assistant passes on lessons learned as QB in Italy

Looking back, Eric Marty admits it probably wasn't the best idea to read John Grisham's novel "Playing for Pizza" before heading off on his own European football jaunt.

"It was kind of this foo-foo Hollywood story about a quarterback going over," said Marty, who coaches tight ends and receivers at Meadowdale High School of Lynnwood. "He just has this delightful time, and everything is just grand and easy. It was a little more difficult at times than it came across in the book."

In some ways, Marty's experience mirrored the one Grisham outlined in the story of Rick Dockery, the book's main character. They are both American quarterbacks who play in the Italian Football League.

But, instead of going over as a guy escaping an abysmal NFL career, Marty was a Division III quarterback from Chapman University with a passion to keep playing. While it provided an experience the 23-year-old will never forget, reality never quite follows fiction.

Each team in the Italian league is allowed three American players. The Bolzano Giants provided Marty with an apartment, car, cellphone and a salary of 1,000 euros per month. But with the perks came lofty expectations.

Once he adjusted to the language and style of play, the 6-foot-1 quarterback, who also played at Meadowdale, helped lead his team to a Super Bowl title.

"One of the things I appreciated about playing there is it's not as structured as college, so there are times when I'm in the huddle drawing things up," Marty said. "The game is raw and it's passionate and it's just a blast to go out there and keep playing."

After the season ended in June, Marty came back to help out the Mavericks (11-0), who play at Union at 5 p.m. Saturday in the Class 3A state quarterfinals.

He's made subtle changes — moving Sam Werner to receiver — that have added a new dimension to Meadowdale's attack.

"He's a quarterback, but he knows how to turn defensive backs around," Werner said. "He taught me where to attack them, how to turn their hips and how to get open. I would give him all the credit. He turned me into who I am."

There is also a running joke that Werner has also helped head coach Mark Stewart open up the passing game a little bit.

"I told him I wanted the headphones with a direct line to his ear, so I could say, 'Throw the ball. Throw the ball,' the whole time," Marty said.

After his successful season in Italy, Marty will spend next season playing for the Danube Dragons in Austria.

"I had a blast over there," Marty said. "I don't think people realize how much of an opportunity there is out there if they're serious about playing football and want to continue playing."

Mason Kelley: 206-464-8277 or mkelley@seattletimes.com