Everything is Bigger in Ohio

Hey Gang!

Matt from Columbus here checking in with you….

Mick and I rolled into Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday greeted by hail and rain from the skies above central Ohio. After we raced into our hotel trying to keep our sweet Under Armour Team USA gear dry, we discussed how we planned to attack the town and spread the word about the tour. We outlined two places that were must-hit hot spots in Columbus: The Ohio State University, and Upper Arlington High School. Two storied amateur athletic institutions with huge followings. The perfect fans that we want cheering on Team USA during the Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio.

At our first stop today we checked out the ginormous campus of the Buckeyes, turning heads as our decked-out tour bus rolled through. I’ve heard about the size of the campus, but you simply have to visit it to get a true understanding. Huge buildings dart the sky’s with a student transit system large enough for a small city. Two Team USA members, Storm Klein and Jack Mewhort, will soon ride on this transit system, sit in the classrooms  of these buildings, and play on the turf  of  Ohio Stadium. A shrine to Ohio State Football as  massive as the campus and of the school’s football resume.  I can’t wait for this weekend, with the Spring Game happening, and us smacked dab in the middle of it, representing the JWC and Team USA!

In the afternoon we crossed town and headed over to Upper Arlington, checking out Upper Arlington High School and its massive sports complex (that’s me in the picture). Forget Texas — everything is bigger in Ohio!!  With three (really nice) baseball fields, turf football field with huge grandstands and 32 varsity sports  on the books, the Upper Arlington Golden Bears are truly an athletic powerhouse. The Men’s lacrosse team alone has won 12 state titles while competing in the state finals the past 16 years.  Alums include professional golfer  Jack Nicklaus (aka The Golden Bear, no relation were told), and Pro Football player  Simon Fraser of the Atlanta Falcons. Friday we’ll be set up at the UAHS’s biggest lacrosse game of the season when The Golden Bears will be taking on Detroit County Day High. Not only will we be promoting the JWC, we be taking donations for the Stephanie Spielman Breast Fund for Breast Cancer Awareness, named for wife of former-OSU football player and 4-time Pro Bowler Chris Spielman.

Make sure to come check us out at both events. Email me or Mick at usafootballtour@usafootball.com or tweet us as TeamUSAFootball.

Till next time, catch you on the flip side!

Matt