A 40-strong roster of high school football players ages 19 and under will take on a Japanese national all-star team in the inaugural GE Global Challenge Bowl in Kawasaki, Japan. Led by head coach Jeff Scurran of Santa Rita High School (Tucson, AZ), Team USA is selected from 12 states and 27 high schools and will line up at the Kawasaki Stadium in front of an anticipated crowd of 5,000 passionate Japanese fans on Saturday, March 22 (kickoff 2pm).
While in Japan, the 40 players will cross cultural and language barriers as they live with local host families. 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.
“This will be a unique and exciting experience for all concerned,” said organizer Patrick Steenberge, whose company Global Football accepted an invitation from the Japan American Football Association (JAFA) to take a US-representative team to Kawasaki for the game. They are eager to continue their American football development and see how they measure up against a traveling US team. We are also delighted to welcome GE as a valued event sponsor.”
Coach Scurran’s record as a high school and college coach is 231-75. In 2007 he was named state’s Large School Coach of the Year by the Arizona Republic for taking the Santa Rita Eagles from 0-10 to 11-2, the biggest turnaround in state history. Scurran has been State Coach of the Year four times and 14 times at the district or local level.
“This is one of the greatest assignments I have ever had,” said coach Scurran, “I have won a lot of football games over the years, but this really is a great privilege and honor to be asked to coach Team USA in the GE Global Challenge Bowl.
“We are anticipating a great challenge because we know that Japan will be disciplined and talented. I have picked players to be ambassadors and to represent their school and country with pride. We will represent the United States from dairy country all the way up to the big cities.”
Among the players aiming to lead Team USA to victory are Southern Arizona player of the year quarterback Daniel Nicholas (Canyon Del Oro High School, AZ), diminutive and explosive running back Aubura Taylor (Santa Rita, AZ), tight end Jon Hobbs (Daytona Mainland, FL) and First Team All-State RB/DB Akeen Satterfield (Erie Cathedral Prep, PA).
Team USA GE Global Challenge Bowl Media Schedule in Kawasaki:
Mon March 17
3.05pm Team USA due to arrive at Tokyo Narita Airport
Tue March 18
11am Practice at Kawasaki Stadium (ends 1pm)
1.30pm Visits to Tachibana High School / Tokyo Agriculture University
7pm-9pm Welcome Banquet for teams, host families, invited guests and media at the Kawasaki Nikko Hotel
1 Nisshin-cho, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki-shi, Kanagawa
Wed March19
11am & 3pm Practices at Kawasaki Stadium (two-hour duration each)
Thu March 20
9.30am Practice at Kawasaki Stadium (ends 11.30am)
1pm-5pm Coaching Clinic with Coach Scurran at Kawasaki Stadium
3pm-5pm Players to Toshiba Factory tour
Fri March 21
11am Practice at Kawasaki Stadium (ends 1pm)
Sat March 22
2pm GE Global Challenge Bowl, Kawasaki Stadium
Team Japan vs. Team USA
Sun March 23
6pm Attend Boston Red Sox vs. Yomiuri Giants, Tokyo Dome
Mon March 24 Return travel to the United States
