Saturday, March 15, 2008 – SAN DIEGO, CA – Team USA broke training camp at the University of San Diego on Saturday as they prepared to head to Kawasaki, Japan to take part in the GE Global Challenge Bowl.
The 40-player Team USA roster held four practices during two days under the guidance of head coach Jeff Scurran (Santa Rita High School, Tucson, AZ) and his coaching staff. On Sunday they will fly to Tokyo and are due to arrive on Monday afternoon local time before transferring to the suburb of Kawasaki where the players will live with Japanese host families. Team USA will practice twice daily from Tuesday through Friday.
Offering the high school senior all-stars words of advice as they prepare for an exciting cultural experience and to take on Team Japan in the Kawasaki Stadium on Saturday, March 22 was San Diego Chargers linebacker Jyles Tucker.
“Whatever you do, whether it is in pursuit of excellence on the football field or in another walk of life, you have to have a strong work ethic,” Tucker told Team USA.
“To be successful you have to work hard at everything you do. “I never had the opportunity to play in an all-star game, and I certainly would have liked to have played in one like this against another country. I am sure you’ll all enjoy your visit to Japan and wish you good luck in winning the game.”
Team USA again practiced in full pads and fine-tuned its game plan before enjoying a team dinner at Seau’s Restaurant in San Diego. With the team conspicuous in red white and blue USA jackets, quarterback Daniel Nicholas (Canyon Del Oro High School, AZ), the Southern Arizona Player of the Year, was asked to pose for photographs and sign autographs by well-wishers at the restaurant.
Coach Scurran selected his roster from 12 states and 27 high schools and assembled a coaching staff that hails from Arizona, Ohio, Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Full details of the Team USA players and coaching staff can be found at the event website www.GlobalFootball.com.
Away from the football field, the team will enjoy a Toshiba factory tour, visit a local high school, observe Sumo and Kendo club practices and watch the Boston Red Sox complete their Major League Baseball preseason against the Yomiuri Giants at the Tokyo Dome.
Categories:
