Football has become one of the most popular sports in the United States, but some enthusiasts are not ready to stop there.
For the second year, the American Football Worldwide ELITE Team will head overseas to play a little football and act as a goodwill ambassador while promoting the sport.
Jim Barnes, a longtime Division III head coach and assistant, is the coach, and he recruited 44 players from the Unites States to join the team, which is comprised of high school players with four years of playing experience, and who could play at a high level.
Seneca Valley linebacker Tucker Van Dyke fits that profile.
“This is not for everyone,” Barnes said. “I need committed four-year high school players who are accomplished in academics as well as football. I have been coaching for 25 years, and I have been involved in growing American football, and I am always trying to expand my horizons.”
Barnes used one of his contacts, NCSA Recruiting Service, to find Van Dyke.
He will travel to Paris this week for a week of practice, teaching the game and playing the highly-touted Paris Flash, a U-19 team. The game will be played on March 29.
The Flash will be no pushover, as it is the premiere team and oldest club in France, winning nine of the 18 championships, including the past two.
“I am pretty excited and a little nerve wracked to see how they will play us,” Van Dyke said. “I have a seven-hour flight to study my playbook and get the gist of things.”
The players will practice for two hours a day and have a couple of team meetings. There will be a joint practice with the ELITE team and the Flash where each side will see how the other gets it done.
“I think I can help them,” Van Dyke said. “I learned from (former Steeler) Jason Gildon and (former Penn State linebacker) Tyrell Sales. They taught me footwork and how to take the right steps; they also taught me about using my hands to get off blocks.
“It will be fun to meet new people and experience some different things and help spread the word about football.”
Barnes said he offered Van Dyke a spot on the team because of his instincts and ability to finish plays.
“He makes plays behind the line of scrimmage, and he is a kid who is looking to get better,” Barnes said. “We believe he will be a strong player on our defense.”
Van Dyke will take his parents and his aunts with him on the trip.
In addition to the football aspect of the journey, the players will have the opportunity to visit Notre Dame Cathedral, Eiffel Tower, Mont St. Michel and Versailles as some of the attractions of the trip.
“I have traveled to Europe and Africa, and I love people who work hard at this game,” Barnes said. “It raises my appreciation when people go against the norm, and these guys have to work harder overseas.”
Van Dyke will play his college ball at Clarion University on a football scholarship. He added that his college team is OK with his decision to play this game.
“I am excited about it,” Van Dyke said.
Jerry Clark is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at jeclark@tribweb.com
