International players from eight countries and four continents taking part in the second annual USA vs. World game arrive in Austin, Texas, on Thursday, Jan. 27
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2011 – The World Team, a 45-man roster of the best junior international American football players aged 19 and under is heading to Texas this week.
Led by University of Western Ontario Mustangs head coach GREG MARSHALL, players from eight countries and four continents will begin arriving in Austin, TX, on Thursday, January 27, and will come together for the first time as a group. The World team features players from American Samoa, Austria, Canada, Finland, Germany, Japan, Mexico and Sweden.
The team assembled by the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) will compete in the second annual Team USA vs. the World game against the U.S. Under 19 National Team, assembled by USA Football at 7.30pm on Wednesday, February 2 at Austin Westlake Stadium in Austin, Texas. Team USA is coached by Westlake High School head coach DARREN ALLMAN.
The World Team will hold nine practices, including four days of two-a-day practices beginning on Friday, January 28, at 10am, which will all be held at the Westlake High School Stadium. On Saturday, January 29, the World Team will meet their Team USA opponents for the first time when players and coaches attend a Welcome Dinner at the Austin Marriot-South hotel.
“The coaching staff is eager to bring the players together to start working through our game plan,” said World Team head coach Greg Marshall. “Nine practices is a short time in terms of preparation, but we know from being in a similar situation last year that will be ready. We have a talented group of players from different backgrounds and cultures, but once out on the field, they all speak the same language of football and will be come together as a team.”
CANADIANS
University of Western Ontario quarterback BEN ROSSONG was part of the Mustangs team that won the Yates Cup this season defeating University of Ottawa 26-25. He played high school football at Sackville completing 1,536 yards passing and 224 yards rushing including 17 touchdown passes and 11 rushing touchdowns. He was also named to the 2009 First-Team All-Star and 2008 High School League MVP.
Fellow Canadian, defensive back and punt returner LUKE THIEL had a stellar season with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies being named a Canada West All-Star. He averaged 14 yards per return scoring one touchdown and recorded 24 tackles with one for loss of nine yards. Thiel also had two interceptions and one forced fumble. He will be joined on the World Team by three Huskies teammates – quarterback/running back Jahlani Gilbert-Knorren and defensive linemen Joel Seutter and Levi Steinhauer.
Among the players selected by IFAF, several are coming off very successful football seasons, including OCTAVIO GONZALEZ, who is a starting defensive lineman for the Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon (UANL) Tigres. His team played for the Mexican national college championship in 2010, and he is considered one of the best young talents in Mexico.
Swedish defensive back DOCTOR CASSAMA completed his first season at the University of Calgary helping the team reach the Desjardins Vanier Cup. Cassama began his football career with the Kristianstad Predators in Sweden and was also selected to the Swedish Junior national team that competed in the IFAF Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio.
The second annual game will kickoff at 7.30pm CT at Austin Westlake High School Stadium. Tickets cost $8 and are available at [url]www.usafootball.com/app/webroot/teamusa.
The Team USA vs. The World series kicked off in January 2010 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where Team USA earned a 17-0 victory. The World Team held the hosts scoreless until the final play of the first half, suggesting that the gap in quality between international junior football players and their counterparts from the United States is narrowing as the game’s popularity spreads around the world.
Participation in Team USA vs. The World is recognized as a U.S. National Team competition by the NCAA and is not considered an all-star game.
Picture: 2010 Team World team photo
WORLD TEAM SCHEDULE
Thursday, January 27 World Team Players Arrive
Friday, January 28
10am-12pm World Team Practice (Westlake HS Stadium)
4pm-6pm World Team Practice (Westlake HS Stadium)
Saturday, January 29
10am-12pm World Team Practice (Westlake HS Stadium)
3.30pm-5.30pm World Team Practice (Westlake HS Stadium)
6.30pm-8pm Welcome Dinner (Marriott-South)
Sunday, January 30
9am-11am World Team Practice (Practice Fields)
4pm-6pm World Team Practice (Westlake HS Stadium)
Monday, January 31
10am-12pm World Team Practice (Practice Field)
5pm-7pm World Team Practice (Westlake Stadium)
Tuesday, February 1
1.30pm-2pm Team Photo & Game day walk through
2.30pm-4.30pm World Team Practice (Westlake HS Stadium)
Wednesday, February 2
6pm USA and World teams begin on-field warm up
7.30pm Team USA vs. The World kickoff
TEAM USA SCHEDULE
Saturday, January 29
2-4pm US Team Trials (Westlake HS Stadium)
6.30-8pm Welcome Dinner (Marriott-South)
Sunday, January 30
10.30-12.30pm US Team Trials (Westlake HS Stadium)
1-4pm Team USA Practice (Westlake HS Stadium)
Monday, January 31
10-1pm Team USA Practice (Westlake Stadium)
Tuesday, February 1
10-1pm Team USA Practice (Westlake HS Stadium)
1-1.30pm Team Photo & Game day walk through
Wednesday, February 2
6pm USA and World teams begin on-field warm up
7.30pm Team USA vs. The World Game kickoff
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