Canada proved itself superior to the rest of the world by scraping together a field goal on the U.S. junior national team. The Americans cruised 41-3 in Sunday's gold medal game.
In case you missed it, here's a look at the effort to make football a legit international sport. Long way to go, obviously.
Here's a portion of an MSU press release on the tournament, with thoughts from various folks on various topics:
“ Michigan State is getting a real exciting player in Chris Norman,” Team USA linebackers coach (head coach at Dallas Carter High School ) Allen Wilson said. “He has all of the physical tools, plus he’s a very intelligent player. Chris has been a steady playmaker throughout this tournament. So with his athletic ability and intelligence, he has the potential to become a special player at the collegiate level.”
“Wow, I love Chris Norman’s motor,” Fox College Sports color analyst Charles Davis added. “He was all over the field in the semifinal game against Mexico . Chris really caught my attention when he made back-to-back plays in the second quarter against Mexico . On first down, he stepped up and popped the running back in the hole for no gain, and then on the very next play, he sacked the quarterback. Sometimes, young players relax after making a good play, but not this young man. He never lost focus.
“This entire tournament experience will give Chris a huge advantage when he reports for Michigan State ’s preseason camp next month. He’ll report to camp with some confidence, especially if he can help bring home the championship banner for Team USA . Chris has already been through two-a-days with Team USA , and he’s been well coached here because all of these assistant coaches have won championships in their respective states. Freshmen often report to campus a little wide-eyed, but this tournament will take the stars out of his eyes. And that’s a good thing for Chris because I believe that he’ll have an opportunity to play early in his career.”
"Micajah Reynolds has such a great upside,” Team USA offensive line coach (head coach at Mount Carmel [ Chicago ]) Frank Lenti said. “Micajah was a two-year starter in high school, but here all 45 guys have been starters, so it’s been good for him to learn how to blend in when he’s not playing with the first group. He’s learning a different work ethic too because all of the linemen here are so talented that he can’t simply rely on his athletic ability like he did in high school. We’ve also asked Micajah to learn both guard positions, so he’s been taught the proper left- and right-hand techniques, depending on what side of the center he’s lined up on. This versatility can help make him a more complete player for Mark Dantonio and Dan Roushar at Michigan State . I’ve been friends with Dan for 25 years, so I know what his expectations are going to be for a young lineman. And from what I’ve seen over the last three weeks, Micajah is going to fit in great at MSU because he’s a true team player.”
“I really like Micajah Reynolds’ frame,” Davis added. “He’s been asked to play on both sides of the center for Team USA , depending upon the formation called. So that’s a positive for a young lineman to learn some versatility. I really like what I saw from Micajah against Mexico , so I believe he’s going to develop into a good one (offensive lineman) for Michigan State .”
Spartan Extra Points:
• FCS and Big Ten Network color analyst Charles Davis has been impressed by what Mark Dantonio has accomplished in his first two seasons at Michigan State , guiding the Spartans to back-to-back bowl appearances.
“I’m a huge fan of Mark Dantonio’s and I have been from the word go,” Davis said during halftime of Wednesday’s Team USA-Mexico game. “I thought it was a tremendous hire by Michigan State in December 2006. The accelerated growth of the program has been remarkable. Michigan State backs down from no one on its schedule. If Michigan State loses a game, it’s because the other team played better on that day. Michigan State is so fundamentally sound that it no longer beats itself with mistakes.
“Coach Dantonio is building something special and his work has not gone unnoticed on the national scene. For the first time in a long while, people across the country are talking about Michigan State football and the Spartans. He has built a winning program at Michigan State and bowl games now are an expectation, not a hope. With Coach Dantonio leading the program, I wouldn’t be surprised to see the Spartans competing for Big Ten championships on a regular basis.”
• Team USA offensive line coach Frank Lenti coached Michigan State sophomore lineman Arthur Ray Jr. at Mount Carmel High School in Chicago, Ill. After Team USA ’s 55-0 victory over Mexico Wednesday, Coach Lenti shared these thoughts on Arthur’s recovery.
“Finally, Arthur Ray is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel,” Coach Lenti said. “He’s been a terrific battler, and his family has been great in terms of providing the daily support and encouragement. Everyone associated with Mount Carmel loves Arthur, and they’ve certainly done their part through various fund raisers to try and provide additional financial support for his medical bills. But most of all, I admire Coach (Mark) Dantonio and Michigan State University for standing by Arthur Ray and his family throughout this hardship. I’m truly looking forward to the day that Arthur gets that leg totally healthy, so he can get back onto the field and realize his dream of playing college football.
“At Mount Carmel , students naturally rallied around Arthur because they knew he had a real concern and genuine interest in them as individuals. He has a big, toothy smile that can light up an entire room. That’s why there are so many of us hoping for the day that Arthur can realize his dream.”
Coming Tuesday: We'll catch up with Chris Norman, who was named to the tournament's all-defensive team and who has a strong shot as a freshman to see some playing time at MSU.
How come Cousins wasn't named MVP of the tournament?
Posted by: Tanfan | July 06, 2009 at 11:06 AM