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By CHARLIE SLENKER
charlie.slenker@examiner.net
Zach Watkins has the opportunity to strap on the pads one more time.
Only this time, the former Truman High School and Washburn University standout linebacker will be doing it for Team USA.
Team USA, led by former Northwest Missouri State coach and three-time national champion Mel Tjeerdsma, will compete in the fourth International Federation of American Football Senior World Championship on July 8-16 in Austria.
“It’s an honor,” said Watkins, a three-time Division II All-American for the Ichabods. “Football doesn’t normally have a Team USA.”
Watkins has been working as a graduate assistant for Northwest Missouri State from which Tjeerdsma just retired after 17 seasons.
Watkins played against Tjeerdsma during his time at Washburn and said it was the legendary D-II coach that encouraged him to apply for Team USA.
Tjeerdsma isn’t the only familiar face. Former Northwest free safety Myles Burnsides will also play for the Team USA defense. Watkins said he and Burnsides became friends during the 2010 Cactus Bowl, the D-II All-Star game.
Watkins and Burnsides are just a handful of Division II players suiting up for Team USA. Getting to represent Division II football and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association on a national stage is also an honor, Watkins said.
Watkins is one of 39 players selected to play for Team USA so far. Six more players will be added to the roster in the next few weeks.
Team USA players must be 20 years old.
Following his standout career at Truman, Watkins continued his success at Washburn. He led the MIAA in tackles his senior season (2009) with 143. He had 243 tackles in his career.
Team USA is looking to defend the tournament championship. The Championship is an eight-nation tournament, which is held every four years. Team USA defeated Japan 23-20 in double overtime in 2007, the first year the United States participated.
A training camp for Team USA will be held from June 28 to July 4 before the team leaves for Austria. There Team USA will be in Group A with Australia, Germany and Mexico, which will play a round-robin schedule to decide which teams play for gold or bronze.
Watkins said because football is an American sport the pressure is definitely on for Team USA. However, he said the team will have to find a way to mesh quickly. A week isn’t much time to bring an entire team together.
By CHARLIE SLENKER
charlie.slenker@examiner.net
Zach Watkins has the opportunity to strap on the pads one more time.
Only this time, the former Truman High School and Washburn University standout linebacker will be doing it for Team USA.
Team USA, led by former Northwest Missouri State coach and three-time national champion Mel Tjeerdsma, will compete in the fourth International Federation of American Football Senior World Championship on July 8-16 in Austria.
“It’s an honor,” said Watkins, a three-time Division II All-American for the Ichabods. “Football doesn’t normally have a Team USA.”
Watkins has been working as a graduate assistant for Northwest Missouri State from which Tjeerdsma just retired after 17 seasons.
Watkins played against Tjeerdsma during his time at Washburn and said it was the legendary D-II coach that encouraged him to apply for Team USA.
Tjeerdsma isn’t the only familiar face. Former Northwest free safety Myles Burnsides will also play for the Team USA defense. Watkins said he and Burnsides became friends during the 2010 Cactus Bowl, the D-II All-Star game.
Watkins and Burnsides are just a handful of Division II players suiting up for Team USA. Getting to represent Division II football and the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletic Association on a national stage is also an honor, Watkins said.
Watkins is one of 39 players selected to play for Team USA so far. Six more players will be added to the roster in the next few weeks.
Team USA players must be 20 years old.
Following his standout career at Truman, Watkins continued his success at Washburn. He led the MIAA in tackles his senior season (2009) with 143. He had 243 tackles in his career.
Team USA is looking to defend the tournament championship. The Championship is an eight-nation tournament, which is held every four years. Team USA defeated Japan 23-20 in double overtime in 2007, the first year the United States participated.
A training camp for Team USA will be held from June 28 to July 4 before the team leaves for Austria. There Team USA will be in Group A with Australia, Germany and Mexico, which will play a round-robin schedule to decide which teams play for gold or bronze.
Watkins said because football is an American sport the pressure is definitely on for Team USA. However, he said the team will have to find a way to mesh quickly. A week isn’t much time to bring an entire team together.
Tjeerdsma’s got the pedigree for such a tough job.
Tjeerdsma led Northwest Missouri State to an 183-43 record in his 17 seasons there. He was inducted into the Division II College Football Hall fo Fame before he retired in 2010.
“Our roster holds tremendously skilled players who recognize that success in football is rooted in playing as a team – and playing for America galvanizes us even more,” Tjeerdsma said. “We’ll be ready to face excellent competition in Austria and celebrate the world’s greatest game on an international stage.”
Watkins said winning the Championship is the only reason he’s worried about performing well.
Having just been hired as a linebackers coach at Fort Hays (Kan.) State, Watkins said he’s now focusing on his coaching career and not one as a professional football player.
