World Championships Mexico 2018 ... Amazing Experience

First I want to reach out and say thank you to Coach Aaron Ingram, Tanner Schulties and USA Football for the opportunity to coach at the IFAF World Championships.

Warning: This is going to be about me and my experience , if you are looking for an overall recap, theres probably another place you can read it. There are also a lot of grammatical errors, if you are an english teacher, this may not be the best read for you.

This trip from start to finish was unbelievable, working with USA Football, it has given me the opportunity overall the last few years to work with incredible coaches around the country and learn from some of the best also that life comes full circle and these experiences prove that.

First off, to know that this championship was going to be held in Mexico City, it really made for a lot of excitement in the months prior, the plan , the mission was to go win the gold medal, beat Mexico and Canada. It didn't work out like that but i still had THE GREATEST Experience.

FLAGSTAFF

This trip started here in my home town in Phoenix, where we took a car up to Flagstaff, AZ, a place where I spent a lot of my childhood, watching my father construct buildings and local residences. A great place where we take our family to escape the heat and run around in the forest. From the minute we arrived it felt like home for our staff and players.

The honor to work with great coaches, trainers and ops on the staff from around the country, learn and see how they coach was amazing. To be around some of the top players in the country and watch them gel or play together , see what their football knowledge was and how they adapted to some of the coaching that they may have or haven't received

Overall, the safety group was a great group to coach with all 4 that should be division 1 kids, two that are playing or committed. They were very coachable, we bonded and still keep in touch.

The best experience was the Grand Canyon while in Northern AZ was the Grand Canyon. I have been there numerous times, but to see the face of the kids and coaches that have never seen it or hardly traveled was well worth it. Truly a memorable experience.

Flagstaff definitely had its up and downs, it was a training camp where we bonded, prepared and got our minds right before heading down to Phoenix and taking the plane to Mexico.

MEXICO

First of all, I am a proud American, proud to live in this country and represent the great USA, but when i step on Mexican soil, where i was born and most of my friends and family still live, i am not going to lie, it's home. The culture, the people, the food its just sucks you back in, every time. I wanted to go home to Mexico and prove that I am becoming a successful coach, and that I represent the best of here and there.

Arriving seeing friends and family at the airport and hotel was great. USA Football really took care of us and put us up in a 5 star hotel in one of best parts of town. We had everything we needed, we just needed to do our jobs and perform. It was great practicing at UNAM and the youth clubs fields, we got to see the impact of American Football in Mexico, thank you for opening the doors to us.

GAME 1 vs Australia

Walking in to Olympic Stadium, always brings back great memories and games. The tunnel that takes you under the stadium to the lockers and noise of the drums and Mexican fans is unbelievable. You get pumped up, emotional, its just a different environment. I knew what we were walking into and how passionate the Mexican football community is, and we were going to be the brunt of the boos and cheers. The view from the box in the first half was difficult and we struggled to get started, then finally got into rhythm the 3rd quarter. Coming down the field the second half, was a different vibe. You knew you were participating in something huge. We beat Australia, and then as we walked in to the locker rooms. You heard the horns and the Mexican entrance, and i am not going to lie, i got chills, i was proud to be there and experience both aspects, the American and Mexican sides, and how can you not get excited when you hear the Mariachi at full volume over the loud speaker. We watched the Mexico vs Japan game and knew instantly we were in for a dog fight next game.

vs MEXICO

You know what? I knew we would be playing Mexico before we got there, just how the schedules were set. I knew Japan can't hang with american football in Mexico anymore. I was amped up the three days prior, I couldn't sleep. I wanted the kids to know how physical playing a Mexican team was. We were bigger, faster and stronger American team, but Mexicans play like dogs that are starving and won't get off you. They chew away, they are physical, have tremendous heart. I really wanted the kids to feel what i was feeling, it just wasn't another game, to me , this was my gold medal game, and for Mexico it was thiers as well. I have alot of friends , former teammates and colleagues on the Mexican staff, but before the game I was fired up, and I wanted to make sure my USA kids and our staff, especially Coach Ingram knew we had our backs. I barked some stuff at a Mexico coach for his big mouth during warm ups, and I apologize to my Mexican colleagues for how I acted, but not to that dude. I still don't like the dude.

The game, was not a good game for us. I don't know, If it was the crowd , the emotion or just how we played. We came out flat and Mexico was hot, they were fired up. They beat us, we lost and they did it the right way. I haven't cried since we lost the national championship in Mexico vs the Tec back in 2005, but i had to get out of that stadium and walk around the parking lot let it out. That one hurt, for our country and me personally. I thought we deserved and needed to prove so much more, but it wasn't our day. I just wanted to get the hell out of there. I wasn't mad at the kids or the coaches. Mexico played a great game, they were well coached, and they had also had a lot to prove in front of their home crowd. It was their time, but i was still pissed. After that game, i spoke with a few of my Mexican Colleagues hashed it out, congratulated them and told them i hope they make history.

Sweden

Game was blow out, our boys rebounded well and came ready to get that bronze medal. It looked like our team finally relaxed and played football. Made some big plays, after the game we said thank you to the amazing Mexico crowd, it was the first time the cheered for us the whole time we were there, but you have to understand the world we live in. Football represents the world we live in, and if two countries politically aren't getting along, even though its not your fault , your going to get the blunt of boos. Watched the Mexico game they played a tough Canadian team and lost, but they played their hearts out.

Overall

It was by far the best football experience i have ever been blessed to be a part of. I am grateful to Coach AI, Coach Henno and USA Football for this opportunity and all the opportunities to work with USA Football, Thank you for that trust to go down there to represent our country. Means the world.

I have spent the last year working on football in Mexico, especially in my home town. I have taken camps that are almost free to help coach proper technique and fundamentals, have hosted coaches from major Mexican Universities up here in AZ, and working on getting the coaches in at least my home town USA Football Heads up certified. We have developed a legue and had our first real big triumph. We are collecting equipment to send back and give the game a chance to grow, thats my next blog.

The game is growing and its obvious, its becoming more and more competitive. Hats off to Mexico, lets keep growing the sport!