USA Football, the sport's national governing body on youth and amateur levels, has selected the Columbus area to begin its 19-stop, 1,700-mile "Team USA Road Tour" this weekend, including a stop at Ohio State University for the Buckeyes' LiFEsports Spring Football Game this Saturday, which kicks off at 1:30 p.m. at Ohio Stadium.
Celebrating USA Football's Junior National Team, America's first high school-aged national team in the sport, which includes incoming Buckeyes Storm Klein (Newark, Ohio; linebacker) and Jack Mewhort (Toledo, Ohio; center), the Team USA Road Tour travels throughout the Midwest offering giveaways and free football-focused games leading up to the eight-nation International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Junior World Championship in Canton's Fawcett Stadium from June 27-July 5.
The USA Football-wrapped van will travel through five states, stopping at sporting events, Team USA players' high schools, and other destinations until concluding its trek at the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on June 18. Team USA is one of eight national football teams spanning four continents that will compete in the IFAF Junior World Championship. IFAF Junior World Championship game tickets may be purchased by calling 1-888-310-4255.
The Team USA Road Tour kicks off at Upper Arlington High School on April 24 with prizes and giveaways prior to the Upper Arlington-Detroit Country Day High School boys lacrosse game. The patriotically-wrapped van will be on site welcoming fans from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. The van also will help raise money for the Stephanie Spielman Fund for Breast Cancer Awareness. Fans can win prizes that include NFL footballs signed by Cleveland Browns head coach Eric Mangini and a USA Football Junior National Team Riddell helmet.
Between the third and fourth quarters of Ohio State's LiFEsports Spring Football Game on April 25, USA Football Junior National Team head coach Chuck Kyle of Cleveland St. Ignatius High School will welcome incoming Buckeyes Klein and Mewhort to Team USA on the Ohio Stadium field. The Team USA Road Tour van, parked near the stadium by 9 a.m., will offer free IFAF Junior World Championship game tickets to kids aged 12 and under accompanied by a parent. Fans may follow the Team USA Road Tour online at usafootballtour.com.
Team USA Road Tour Schedule:
*Columbus, Ohio; 4/20-4/26
*Newark, Ohio; 4/28
*Sylvania, Ohio; 4/29
*Canton, Mich.; 4/29
*Detroit, Mich; 4/30
*Lansing, Mich.; 5/1
*Grand Rapids, Mich.; 5/1
*East Chicago, Ind.; 5/4
*Chicago, Ill.; 5/5
*Sheridan, Ind.; 5/5
*Carnegie, Pa.; 5/6
*Medina, Ohio; 5/7
*Westlake, Ohio; 5/8
*Pittsburgh, Pa.; 5/13-5/17
*Erie, Pa.; 5/21-5/24
*Cleveland, Ohio; 5/28-5/31
*Youngstown, Ohio; 6/4-6/7
*Akron, Ohio; 6/11-6/14
*Canton, Ohio; 6/18-6/26