Worldly Lineman : Former Fountain Valley Football Star Zeno Tries to Salvage Career in Scotland

By JASON REID

May 31, 1996 12 AM PT

TIMES STAFF WRITER

Lance Zeno was still a little banged up and very rusty. The former is a reality of his occupation, pro football, the latter can keep you from working.

Being a bit run down, Zeno realized his mind and body needed work. His employer agreed, so Zeno backed up and bolted for that noted football training ground . . . Scotland?

The former Fountain Valley High and UCLA standout is under contract with the St. Louis Rams. The Rams allocated Zeno to the Scottish Claymores, a World League of American Football franchise with which they have a working agreement.

Zeno has been with the Claymores since late March, rehabilitating from a serious injury, sharpening his skills and regaining confidence. But this isn’t a one-sided relationship.

The union has worked out quite well for both parties. Zeno, an offensive lineman, has helped transform the Claymores’ offense from pathetic to powerful.

From the moment he stepped off the plane, Zeno knew life in Scotland would take some getting used to, but, he said, even a Huntington Beach native can learn to live without much sunshine or good burritos and salsa.

“I was expecting the worst, but I’ve really had a good time,” Zeno said during a recent telephone interview. “It’s a different environment and a different culture, so that takes some getting used to, but the people over here have been extremely nice.

“They go out of their way to make you feel at home. They’ve really done a great job of taking care of us.”

Zeno arrived in Scotland not knowing much about the place except that it had something to do with a drink on the “rocks” or “straight.”

“Like I said,” Zeno said, “I expected the worst.”

Nothing but wasted energy, it turned out.

The Claymores took care of everything. Zeno and the rest of his American teammates live in a downtown hotel in the city of Glasgow. Room and board is deducted from the players’ salaries, which are paid by their World League teams.

Each player has a room with a bathroom. The accommodations aren’t as lavish as the NFL lifestyle offers, but Zeno said there are worse ways to see Europe.

“It’s an enormous hotel,” Zeno said. “I guess in the past some of the guys had to share rooms, but everybody has a lot of space this year.”

Food was high on Zeno’s list of concerns. Of course, food is a perpetual concern for a guy 6 feet 4 and 300 pounds. But hotel chefs even take suggestions from players and Zeno can even satisfy his occasional junk-food craving. Burger King, Pizza Hut and Baskin Robbins are within walking distance of the hotel. But the dining options aren’t perfect.

“Even though they have a lot of the same restaurants, the food is a little bit different,” Zeno said. “I mean, that’s to be expected because it’s a different country.

“I like Mexican food, and there’s not a lot of good Mexican here. Not like I’m used to anyway.”

The weather also provided a new learning experience.

“It rains a lot over here,” Zeno said. “I really don’t remember seeing the sun much. All of the California guys on the team get kidded about it, but it really is kind of strange.”

Taken as a whole, the minor adjustments might add up to a big pain for others. Zeno, though, maintains proper perspective on his situation.

“I’m not here on vacation,” he said. “I’m here to pay my dues and to work to improve for the Rams.”

Not so long ago, Zeno wondered if the NFL would still be his workplace. He suffered a torn left calf muscle during training camp with the Rams last season. The rehabilitation process was arduous.

“It was a real bad injury,” Zeno said.

He underwent therapy for six months. In March, the Rams re-signed the journeyman lineman, who has been in training camps with seven teams.

“The injury set him back a lot,” Ram Coach Rich Brooks said. “We thought it would be a good opportunity for him to go [to the World League] to get back into the swing of things.”

Despite his initial reservations about living in Scotland, Zeno immediately realized the World League was where he needed to be.

“Football isn’t like a lot of other sports--you can’t take a few months off and jump into it again,” said Zeno, who plays center and guard. “It’s not like you can just start hitting people again.”

Zeno joined the Claymores on the final day of training camp. He started the season opener at center April 14 and has been there since.

One of the league’s worst offensive units a season ago, the Claymores now have the top rushing offense. The Claymores also have secured a berth in the World Bowl, the league’s version of the Super Bowl.

“He’s obviously doing a good job over there,” Brooks said. “This gave him a chance to actually play and hone his skills.”

Not that Zeno’s European trip has been all work.

“I had friends come over and we played at St. Andrews,” Zeno said. “I got VIP passes to see Hootie and the Blowfish when they came over here and I met the guys after the concert.”

The 10-game World League regular season ends June 16. Zeno won’t have much time off after returning from Europe because NFL training camps open July 15.

“He’ll probably be a little tired,” Brooks said.

But Zeno doesn’t mind. He isn’t assured a roster spot and the competition for the Rams’ backup offensive line positions will be fierce. And at 29, Zeno’s no longer a kid.

“We’re always looking for good offensive linemen who can give us some flexibility,” Brooks said. “He’s kind of a ‘swing’ guy.”

Zeno believes he has done everything needed to stick with the Rams. He’s eager to prove it.

“I’ve looked at this like a stepping stone,” Zeno said. “I feel good about being over here and about what I’ve done.”

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

Television Coverage

Lance Zeno’s Scotland team can be seen in Southern California on the FX cable television network as part of its World League of American Football coverage.

* Saturday: Scotland at Amsterdam or Rhein Fire at Frankfurt; 1 p.m.

* June 9: London at Scotland; 10 a.m.