Next summer, Canton, Ohio, is the place where football history will be made.
Fawcett Stadium, home of the NFL's annual Pro Football Hall of Fame Game, will come alive as the first International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Junior World Championship takes place from June 27 to July 5.
As the sport's national governing body on youth and amateur levels, USA Football oversees and manages Team USA - America's first national team in football composed of the country's best high school student-athletes.
Leading this historic team is Cleveland St. Ignatius High School head coach Chuck Kyle.
Just as the high school football season was getting underway, Kyle spoke to the Hall of Fame Luncheon Club in Canton on Sept. 8. He not only addressed why he was happy to be a part of this pioneering team, but also expressed what this opportunity means for the young men who comprise its roster.
"This is a chance, maybe your only chance in your lifetime, to play with three letters on your chest - U.S.A." Kyle said. "And by God, that means something."
Named head coach of the St. Ignatius Wildcats in 1983, Kyle has led his teams to nine Ohio Division I (large school) State Championships. No other high school in the state has won more football titles since the creation of Ohio's playoff system in 1972. He is hopeful Team USA will experience similar success.
Kyle can't do it alone, though. He'll have the help of nine other coaches from across the country to prepare Team USA for action, including defensive coordinator Steve Specht of Cincinnati St. Xavier High School and offensive coordinator Gary Swenson of West Des Moines (Iowa) Valley High School.
Six countries have already confirmed their participation in the competition - Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Sweden, and the United States. The two remaining Junior World Championship berths will be determined by international qualifiers in January and February 2009. The tournament field, consisting of eight countries spanning four continents, helped Kyle realize, "This is pretty big."
"American football as you know it and as I know it is being played now in 50 countries all over the world," Kyle said. "We know why - it's a great game."