Former OU standout Gerald McCoy donates band equipment and uniforms to Southeast High

 
BY SCOTT WRIGHT, Staff Writer, swright@opubco.com | Modified: May 20, 2011 at 5:16 pm | Published: May 20, 2011    Comment on this article Leave a comment

With the full attention of every Southeast High School student packed into the school gymnasium, Gerald McCoy spoke about the challenges he faced on the road between Oklahoma City and the National Football League.

photo - As students and faculty cheer and clap in background, Gerald McCoy flashes a smile and waves to students seated on the other side of the gymnasium after he finished playing the drums. McCoy entered the gym playing a drum with members of the Oklahoma City Thunder drum section. Oklahoma native and professional football player Gerald McCoy spoke to students at his alma mater, Southeast High School, Friday afternoon, May 20, 2011. At the end of his remarks, he announced he is donating some drums to the band and new uniforms for the school's marching band, too. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman <strong>JIM BECKEL</strong>
As students and faculty cheer and clap in background, Gerald McCoy flashes a smile and waves to students seated on the other side of the gymnasium after he finished playing the drums. McCoy entered the gym playing a drum with members of the Oklahoma City Thunder drum section. Oklahoma native and professional football player Gerald McCoy spoke to students at his alma mater, Southeast High School, Friday afternoon, May 20, 2011. At the end of his remarks, he announced he is donating some drums to the band and new uniforms for the school's marching band, too. Photo by Jim Beckel, The Oklahoman JIM BECKEL

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He spoke about the difficult choices he had to make, the hard work he put in, and the ultimate success those things brought him.

Above all, he spoke from his heart. And then, he gave from his heart.

The Southeast alum came home on Friday to present his former school — where he is still affectionately known as G.K. — with four new bass drums and new uniforms for the band.

He did it in style, too. He entered the gym behind the Oklahoma City Thunder drumline, then performed with them before making his surprise announcement.

And it was truly a surprise. Not even the Southeast band director knew about the gifts.

“I've been trying to get new uniforms for four years,” band director David Nixon said. “This just came out of nowhere, so it's exciting.

“I knew Gerald used to be a drum captain here, so I knew he had a heart for it, but I didn't give it another thought. I was just blown away today.”

The uniforms will be the first new set for the Southeast band since the 1960s, touching on two of McCoy's passions: band and young people.

“The ultimate goal is to reach to the children,” McCoy said. “They have the exact same opportunity that I had — which is one, the fact that you do have one. Kids that feel like funds and things are limited, they don't know how to dream big.

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