Scott Couper

Wide Receiver

Scottish Claymores 1995-2001

Inducted in 1999

 

(written in 2001)

Scott Couper is clearly one of the best national players the NFLE has ever seen. From the Claymores standpoint he remains the only Scottish position player that has had any success in the franchise's history. Quite where the Claymores would be a "Scottish" team without him doesn't bearing thinking. When inducted in 1999, Scott held the league records for most career caches (48) and yards (522) by a national player. Going into this final weekend he has pushed these to 93 catches for 992 yards and 9TD's.

It's been a long journey for Couper from the heady days of the British Amateur Scene, where he set most meaningful receiving records while playing for the Glasgow Lions. With the league falling apart in the early Nineties, the set up of the World League came just at the right time for Scott and he took he opportunity.

Despite his skinny stature, Scott bulked up through his first training camp, and impressed the coaches enough to be a key member of the offense from day one. In the team's inaugural game against the Rhein Fire at Murrayfield he made his first catch for 6 yards much to the delight of the home fans. He would continue to make catches all year, when given the opportunity, but it was not until 1996 that he made his first touchdown catch (see Great Scott moments).

Perhaps the best thing to note about Scott is the way he has improved each year early in his career. His catch total rose from 6 to12 to 23 during his first three years, and only a pre-season shoulder injury that lingered during most of the 98 season stopped him from bettering those figures. After that he bounced back in the next 3 seasons, making a series of clutch catches like he had done before -and he became not just the 'national starter' - instead a key cog of the offense. His career high 3 TD's in 2000 helped the Claymores return to the World Bowl.

One thing people forget is that he had to adjust to different passer each season, having to re-gain respect each season. (His 9 career TD catches have come from 8 different QB's - only Kevin Daft threw 2 TD's to him in his Claymores career).

Thanks for a great career Scott - you will be sorely missed on the field!

Great Scott Moments
  • 91 British College Playoffs. A total footnote in Scott's career, but while playing for Strathclyde University against the Leeds Celtics, Scott caught 2TD passes - burning cornerback and future Monacrhs tickets sales man Martin Dodds in the process. However Leeds, and 'no catches' Preston pulled out a surprising 15-13 win!
  • 96 Season. Claymores vs. Amsterdam. After nearing making a spectacular catch on the previous play, Scott goes over the middle and hauls in a Steve Matthews pass for a 15 yard score - his first professional touchdown. It's a poignant moment for everybody who has been involved in the amateur game in this country, and Murrayfield goes crazy.
  • 96 Season Claymores at Barcleona. Scott makes a circus over the shoulder catch splitting two defenders for a 36 yard score from Jim Ballard in a losing cause. It's one of the catches of the season.
  • 97 Season. Claymores at Fire. Scott's 14 yard TD catch from Dave Barr with 15 seconds seals a 23-20 come from behind win, and keeps the World Bowl hope alive, and sets off euphoric partying among the small band of Claymores supporters.
  • 99 Season. Thunder at Claymores. Scott lives out a dream by catching a TD in his home town of Glasgow - hauling in an 11 yard TD from Dameyune Craig.
  • 2000 Season. Claymores at Amsterdam. In the famous "One-Way Traffic" game, Scott is uncovered on the Claymores first play of the game and hauls in an easy short TD to set the Claymores on their way to a 42-10 romp that provides the springboard for a return to the World Bowl.
  • 2001 Season. Claymores at Frankfurt. In a lackluster 27-17 loss Scott has a career day excels catching 5 passes for 52 yards and 1TD. In one 3rd quarter dry he gets loose for a 22 yard catch and run and then on the next play hauls in a 14 yard TD to give the Claymores hope.

 

Career Statistics

Year

No

Yards

Avg

TD

Lg

01

19

215

11.3

1

28

00

15

149

9.9

3

24

99

11

106

9.6

1

18

98

7

68

9.7

1

14

97

23

239

10.4

1

25

96

12

165

13.8

2

36t

95

6

50

8.3

0

12

Totals

93

992

10.7

9

36t

 

 

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