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After meeting with representatives from the eight competing nations at the Junior World Championship Official Flag Raising Ceremony in Canton, Matt and I packed up our gear and headed north to St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland. St. Ignatius is home to Head Coach Chuck Kyle and Team USA DB, Pat Hinkel.

Coach Kyle is one of the most successful coaches in Ohio high school football history. No other prep program has won more football titles since the inception of the state’s playoff system in 1972 than St. Ignatius. He has 10 state championships, three national championships, and named coach of the year several times. However, Kyle is quite humble and rarely talks about his success. An attribute that we also found in Team USA’s Pat Hinkel.

At 6′1 190-lbs, Hinkle played strong safety for Kyle at St. Ignatius, which won their 10th championship this past season. Hinkle was dressed in a shirt and tie for the interview, although not the tie he normally would wear. Students at St. Ignatius take great pride in wearing the same tie all four years, which is often frayed by the end of their senior year.

As the only player on Team USA to have first-hand experience under Kyle, Hinkel is confident that the other players will respond to him. “He is a great motivator, and teaches you life lessons on and off the field,” added Hinkel. When pushed for insight into what other team members may expect from Kyle, Hinkel said, “Do things right the first time. And don’t take any shortcuts.”

Coach Kyle was eager to talk about Hinkel’s selection to Team USA. “I was hoping that one of my kids would have the opportunity. You need guys like Pat Hinkel,” said Kyle. Hinkel is an unselfish player and someone Coach Kyle can count on to make the play. Hinkel earned all-district and second-team all-state honors, as well as serving as captain for both football and basketball.

Kyle is looking forward to meeting other players, and getting Team USA ready for competition. Developing camaraderie, brotherhood, and friendship between teammates will be the key to success. ”We have a limited amount of time; it will be interesting to see how quickly these kids can form a team,” added Kyle.

As we made our way through the campus of St. Ignatius, yes it’s a campus, we learned more about not only the football tradition but the history of St. Ignatius. The school opened in 1886, and was known as St Ignatius College. Students were admitted after six years of grammar school and received a bachelor’s degree. There was no distinction between high school and college. In 1902 high school and college departments were established, and the high school program was extended to four years. In 1923 the college department changed its name to John Carroll University and moved to University Heights in 1935. St. Ignatius High School has remained at the original location.

- Mick

When Mick and I learned about the Official Junior World Championship Flag Raising Ceremony taking place in Canton on Friday we knew we had to make a small detour to check it out. With representatives from all the participating countries, the IFAF, USA football,  and Canton city officials on on hand, as well as another stop to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, this was an opportunity too good  to pass up.

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The official ceremony took place in downtown Canton where each country was introduced followed by a short speech from the representative, pictures, and then the countries flag hoisted. There was a good crowd to witness the festivities, all braving the chance of showers, but luckily the weather held out. As soon as the ceremony wrapped up, Mick and I couldn’t help interviewing people about the JWC. We even had a chance to speak with Canton Mayor William Healy, who was very excited about the opportunity to host the JWC.

It was an amazing opporutniy to speak with the all the other countires repersrenatives. each very excited about the junior world championship, but all with disdcitly different goals for the games. Check back later for photos and video!

-Matt

Update: (5/10/09) There are some problems with the between the raw footage and the final version on YouTube, and we had to take the video down. We had some mic problems but are actively trying to work around them.

Update: (5/11/09) Back online… It’s not perfect but better than before.

With the Official IFAF Junior World Championship Flag Raising Event now complete, Matt and I will be headed to Cleveland’s St. Ignatius to interview Team USA DB Pat Hinkle. St. Ignatius is also the home of Team USA’s Head Coach Chuck Kyle. Over the past 26 years as head coach, Chuck Kyle has built St. Ignatius into a football powerhouse. He has won three national championships and ten division I state titles.  He has been named Coach of the year in Ohio in 1988 and 1989 and national Coach of the year in 1989 and 1993 and compiled a 262-57-1 record.

The Wildcats have produced NFL players Chris Hovan (Tampa Bay), Jacob Bell (St. Louis) and Anthony Gonzalez (Indianapolis) along with the recently retired LeCharles Bentley. More than ten Wildcats are at Division I programs such as Notre Dame, USC, Vanderbilt, North Carolina, and Boston College.

Hinkle, 6′1 190-lb, will be headed to Miami (OH) this fall. As a senior, he helped the Wildcats earn Ohio’s 2008 Division I State Championship with a 14-1 record. He recorded seven interceptions, earned all-district and second-team all-state honors.

Matt and I will be in downtown Canton, Ohio – Market Street Plaza today at 11 am for the Official Flag Raising Ceremony for the 2009 IFAF Junior World Championship. We will be meeting representatives of the eight countries competing in the JWC. We hope to ask them about them about American Football in their country as well as the Junior World Championship. I am brushing up on my Spanish, and Matt is practicing his French. Afterward, we’re headed to Cleveland St. Ignatius to visit with Team USA DB Pat Hinkel.

Adios and  Au revoir.

- Mick

We arrived at Walsh Jesuit High School in Cuyahoga Falls, OH to meet Team USA offensive lineman Brian Smith. It’s not hard to pick Smith out as we head through the cafeteria. Matt and I have interviewed some of the young men who will be battling in the trenches for Team USA, and Smith at 6′7 275-lbs is one of the biggest. He towers over his coach, Gerry Rardin, as well as me and Matt.

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The Northwestern-bound senior is a mammoth addition to a already impressive offensive line. As we made our way to the coach’s office, Smith catches the attention of everyone in the cafeteria. He usually does, but this time it was not because of his size, but rather because of the Team USA jersey on his massive shoulders and a smile as wide as the Cuyahoga River.

“To wear red, white, and blue and to have USA on your chest is a great honor, ” remarked Smith. “I thought you had to be able to run on a track, or swim in a pool to do that.” An aspiring journalist who will play for Pat Fitzgerald at Northwestern next season, Smith was already following Matt and I on the Team USA website.

Asked about the upcoming IFAF Junior World Championship, Smith said,”There is no better way for me to be ready for two-a-days at Northwestern.”

As a member of the Junior National Team, Smith is looking forward to playing with some of the best football players in the nation. Although, he doesn’t consider himself one of them, his accolades and accomplishments at Walsh Jesuit tell a different story. Second-team All-State (Ohio Division III-IV) offensive lineman and 2008 second-team All-Northeast Ohio honoree, and Akron Touchdown Club first-team all-star.

Coach Gerry Rardin called Smith a dominant player with great athletic ability for a man of his size. Smith is an explosive run blocker, as well as pass protector who is technically sound. “Brian will be a great ambassador for our own school as well as represent our country well,” the proud coach beamed.

We learned that it was his final day here at Walsh Jesuit, as Smith will shadow reporters from the Cleveland Plain-Dealer for the next three week as part of the school’s Senior Experience. But, then again, Smith casts a shadow on everyone. See you in Canton, Brian!

-Mick

Matt and I are at Walsh Jesuit High School to meet Team USA’s Brian Smith. Smith, 6′7 275-lbs is an second-team All-State (Ohio Division III-IV) offensive lineman  and 2008 second-team All-Northeast Ohio honoree . He also earned Akron Touchdown Club first-team all-star and is rated the 70th-best tackle nationally by ESPN.com/Scouts, Inc. An aspiring journalist, Smith will attend Northwestern in the fall. He will be joined on Team USA with fellow Northwestern recruit John Plasencia.

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As Mick and I entered Carlynton High School we observed a huge “Congratulations Roussos” banner that was hanging in the hallway, a tribute to his 2009 State Wrestling Championship. It was immediate from that first moment that Jordon Roussos, Team USA DE was a very big deal on the campus of Carlynton H.S, and the town of Carnegie, Pennsylvania. Being from a small community everyone takes notice, and it is no different with Jordan, as many people have been following him throughout high school. When asked to describe Jordan, “passion for football, hard worker, and quality young man” were just a few of the descriptions. James Bailey, a school bus driver who has had the “privilege” to drive Jordan to his football games and wrestling matches the past four years has no doubt the he can be a “very special player.” admitting he’s going to keep a close eye on his progress at Bowling Green, and expecting to see him playing on Sundays one day.

Jordan described himself as “a big fish in a small pond” and it was evident as we walked down the school’s hallway. Jordan size and stature dwarfed everyone we passed, but he had not let it get to his head, describing himself as a “goofy kid that just likes to make people laugh.” It was obvious to see that he was a likable guy, with numerous students slapping hands and giving him congratulations for his accomplishments as we strolled through the hallway.

While he may be the big man on campus now he recognizes that will be changing soon, and is one of the many reasons he is looking forward to the Junior World Championship. A good way to test his skills with some of the best athletes in the country before moving on to play at Bowling Green. He was very interested in his Team USA teammates, wondering how he would stack up. While I assured him his  size and athletic ability may be startling at Carlynton, he will be contributing to an already stacked and massive defensive line for Team USA coach Jeremy Gold.

As Mick and I were posing for our “signature” photo shot near the Carlynton H.S. sign we ran across Jordan’s mother, Eve. Her excitement for her “little boy” was evident, as she was still in taking in the idea that her son would be playing for Team USA. Jordan is just one more great addition to the team, full of character and athletic talent. Team USA head coach Chuck Kyle and his staff did an excellent job assembling this team. After meeting with many of these kids individually I’m ready to see how they all gel together, and I see Jordan being one the guys able to bring all these special young men together. With only a few weeks of preparation before competition begins, Team USA needs a few guys to lighten the load with laughter and humor, and I foresee Jordan being that guy.

Till Next Time,

Matt

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After spending the morning in Sheridan, Indiana with Nick Zachery, Matt and I stopped by the Colts training center to talk with Mike Prior who serves as the Colts’ Director of Youth Football. He spent 13 years in the NFL playing for Green Bay, Indianapolis, and Tampa Bay. He won a Super Bowl ring as part of the Packers in Super Bowl XXXI. Prior is currently the Youth Football Commissioner for the Indianapolis Colts. His duties include organizing coaching schools, youth football clinics, and camps. He helps put on more than 70 camps a year. “Its a great opportunity to give back what I have learned,” said Prior.

Prior was enthusiastic about Team USA. “It’s awesome to be competing for a world championship,” he remarked. Prior, a veteran of more than 200 NFL games, said he would always feel butterflies before a game, and hopes that the players selected to play for Team USA will feel that too.

He talked about team chemistry and the Indianapolis Colts model for selecting players. “Good character leads to good chemistry,” he said. He views the Junior World Championship as a great stepping stone moving into college, and as a chance to rate how the players measure up against each other.

Above all, Prior said that the players should get ready and continue to prepare. “It’s a tough, physical game.” As we were leaving, we noticed an inconspicuous blue suite case in the corner of the room. We were surprised to learn that the Lombardi trophy, which had been used for our interview, was transported in such a case. And, Matt just had to get a photo of himself holding the trophy.

On the way over to Sheridan, we stopped to interview Mike Prior, Youth Football Director for the Indianapolis Colts.

We’re working on a video right now and will get it up as soon as we’re finished!

- MATT