For USA Football's 2010 Junior National Team coaches, preparations for the "Team USA vs. The World" game are not on the horizon just yet. Each has a high school program he is hoping to lead to victory before they join forces to take on global competition in January.
But before they work together, two Team USA coaches will face each other on Friday, Oct. 2, when Miami Central and head coach Telly Lockette take on Carol City (Fla.), led by head coach Harold Barnwell.
Lockette is the wide receivers coach for USA Football's 2010 Junior National Team, while Barnwell will coach the team's defensive line. USA Football's head coach is Chris Merritt of Miami Christopher Columbus.
The "Team USA vs. The World" game will take place in Ft. Lauderdale's Lockhart Stadium on Jan. 30, 2010. The game will match USA Football's 2010 Junior National Team - 45 of the country's top high school seniors - against a "World" team composed of the best players aged 19 and under from outside the United States.
The NCAA has granted USA Football a national team exemption, meaning the game will not count as one of two football "all-star" games that seniors can participate in. The game has also been designated as an official "Pro Bowl Week" event by the NFL.
"I'm excited to be selected to the national team," Lockette said. "There's some wonderful coaches there. There will be some tremendous athletes there too, and it'll be a great showing for the U.S."
Friday's matchup between Carol City (1-2) and Miami Central (4-0) is the second and final time Team USA coaches will play against one another, after Miami Columbus (4-0) defeated Miami Belen Jesuit (2-2) 36-7 in Week 2.
Barnwell said he expects the Rockets to be a fierce opponent. The 13-year coaching veteran has been preparing his defense with varying looks in practice this week.
"The quarterback, being a four-year starter and as talented as he is, he can throw it and he can run it," Barnwell said of Miami Central's Jeffrey Godfrey. "They also have a good running back, but the quarterback is the trigger man. If we can get to him, we can get to the Rockets."
And even though Lockette and Co. have earned four consecutive wins - and big ones - they won't take Carol City lightly.
"Right now we're just trying to stay focused and not trying to look past Carol City," Lockette said. "They're a very well-coached team, and they're not flashy in any way, but they get the job done.
"We're just going to go after them and try to come out with the 'W.'"
Carol City has some momentum going into Friday night as well, coming off its first win of the season last week in a 16-10 victory against North Miami. And while every game on the schedule is important, Barnwell, whose former players include the likes of Kenny Phillips (N.Y. Giants) and Santana Moss (Redskins), said this week's game has added meaning.
"Last week was a district game to help us for playoffs," Barnwell said. "This is more for neighborhood bragging rights."
