At least in football terms, only 17 points separates the game’s traditional powerhouse of the United States and the rest of the world following a 17-0 Team USA victory over the World at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale.

Assembled as a collective squad of the best under 19 American football players from around the world for the first time, the team representing eight countries and four continents held their own against USA Football’s junior national team of 45 players who have committed to some of the nation’s top college football programs.

“It didn’t surprise me that the game was close,” said USA head coach Chris Merritt, whose squad won the first USA Football’s Team USA vs. The World Game, Presented by Riddell.

“I’m very proud of how the team came together in about four days.  It would be easy for them to think about where they’re going to be playing in college but throughout the week it was great to see them become a team.”

Team USA built on the psychological advantage of having broken a first half deadlock with a touchdown with only nine seconds remaining and then added a third quarter touchdown and late field goal to edge the contest.  The World team was left wondering what might have been.

“Turnovers and the big penalties were our downfall but what hurt the team the most was our truest starter on defense going down on the third play of the game because he has been superb for us all week,” explained World team head coach Jan Jenmert.

Canadian quarterback Jeremi Doyon-Roch (Vanier College) was intercepted by Team USA MVP Mike Hull (Canon-McMillan, PA) late in the third quarter with the World team trailing 14-0 and facing a crucial third and seven at the USA 12-yard line.  There was to be no comeback once Team USA capitalized, driving into range for kicker Ben Hopfinger (St Thomas Aquinas) to split the uprights from 40 yards out.

The World team lost Australian defensive tackle Jesse Williams (Arizona Western) to injury on the opponent’s opening drive, disrupting a line that has impressed during a week of practices, with Williams one of the stars.  They then also had to adjust the running game when fullback James Sifakis (Vanier College) also went down.

It was the World team’s ground attack that opened brightly with Steven Lumbala (University of Calgary) and Doyon-Roch pounding the ball steadily downfield on the ground, completing three third downs in the process.

Neither team was able to move the ball for the remainder of the first quarter, but to open the second, Team USA sustained a drive that looked likely to put points on the board.  Aided by a roughing the kicker penalty that earned a first down after having to punt, Team USA quarterback Mark Myers (St Ignatius, OH), who had been run into when punting, connected with Sam Gagliano (Waxahachie, TX) for a 16 yard gain.  He then found Quinton Dunbar (Booker T Washington, FL) and Anthony Creecy (Southern Durham, NC), closing in on field goal range.

A Christian Walcott (Concordia University) tackle on Myers for a loss of seven yards brought out the field goal unit and German defensive end Bjoern Werner (Salisbury School, CT), who has been highly recruited by leading US colleges, blocked a 28-yard field goal attempt by Hopfinger.

That should have left the first half scoreless, but Dunbar produced an elusive punt return, at one point forced back to his own five-yard line, to take the ball out to within a yard of midfield, a touchdown return denied by the tackle of punter Tyler Crapigna (Ottawa Myers Riders).

Quarterback Tyler Smith (Wilson Area HS, PA) went to work immediately, hooking up on a spectacular 50-yard pass downfield that Josh Reese (Miami Central, FL) would have taken all the way to pay dirt but for a saving tackle by Dylan Hollohan (St Francis Xavier) at the one-yard mark. Reese fumbled and recovered the ball on the play then from a yard out, Ethan Grant (North Broward Prep, FL) scored to earn Team USA a 7-0 halftime lead with only nine seconds left on the clock.

What proved to be the killer blow came at the start of the second half.  Team USA drove steadily towards its second touchdown and used the no huddle offense effectively. Dontae Williams (Aldine, TX) gained 11 yards on two carries, Jakhari Gore (Miami Columbus, FL) 21 from three and Myers went to the air for a 25-yard connection with Gagliano.

From five yards out, Williams burst over right tackle to earn a two-touchdown lead after Hopfinger added the extra point.

The World team enjoyed success moving the chains on the ground, with team MVP Hampus Hellermark (Sweden) the most effective rusher with an eventual 64 yards from 12 carries.  But the passing game proved less effective, especially on third down.

Team USA closed out the third quarter and the contest with a confident 40yard field goal from Hopfinger.

The World team produced a steady 15-play, 50-yard drive that threatened to break the shutout late on, but Hellermark lost yards on a swing pass on fourth and goal as Team USA held firm.

Myers led Team USA with 7 of 10 pass attempts completed for 79 yards, while Smith contributed 5 of 10 for 105 yards.  Keiwone Malone (Mitchell, TN) had 4 receptions for 41 yards, Gagliano 3 for 46 and Reese 2 for 72.  On the ground Gore rushed 11 times for 53 yards, Williams 10 times for 59 yards and a touchdown and Grant 7 times for 11 yards.

Hull and Travis Williams (Lake Taylor, VA) led the Americans with 8 tackles each, with Hull claiming the game’s only interception.  Steele Divitto (Don Bosco Prep, NJ) had 8 tackles and a sack, while Josh Huff (Nimitz, TX) recorded 2 sacks and 4 tackles.

Hellermark was the World team’s most effective offensive weapon with 12 carries for 64 yards, while Lumbala rushed for 28 yards on 7 carries and Doyon-Roch for 32 from 9 runs.  The Vanier Prep quarterback completed 5 of 13 pass attempts for 32 yards, with 2 of those going to college teammate Julian Bailey for a total of 14 yards.

Defensively, Walcott led the World team with 6 tackles and a sack and there were also sacks for Jerod McCrory (Western University), Beck Coulter (Trinity, TX), Scott Janz (Western) and Tyler Sawyer (University of Ottawa).

Check out images from the game here.

Contact:
Christie Burgner Shein
MSLGROUP
(312) 861-5237
christie.shein@mslgroup.com

George Maczuga of Riddell and USA Football’s Football and Wellness Committee provides youth leagues with a set of tips to follow throughout the year to manage their equipment inventory and reconditioning needs.

As the start of the 2010 football season draws near, youth players across the country look forward to that day when equipment is passed out and they walk away with their helmets, pads and uniform ready for the first days of practice.

Football equipment is an important topic for youth leagues and teams that relates to their management as well as the protection of the players. George Maczuga, Football Equipment Expert for USA Football’s Football and Wellness Committee and Director of Sales and Marketing Support at Riddell, shares equipment inventory and reconditioning tips for leagues to follow at different stages year-round:

- When issuing equipment and fitting players before the season, document each piece of equipment given to each player. Record the style, manufacturer and size of helmets and pads. This provides control at the end of the season when equipment is returned.

- Equipment should be cleaned and sanitized following the season for the protection of the players in the future. Proper cleaning products should be compatible with the plastic and material of the equipment so as not to have negative effects.

- An annual reconditioning program should be in place to send equipment to a licensed National Operating Committee on Standards for Athletic Equipment (NOCSAE) reconditioner for the inspection and reconditioning process.

- Order replacements for equipment that has been found to be defective during the reconditioning process. Inventory should be kept at 10-15% above the number of players in the league in order to ensure there is an adequate amount and sizes for all players.

- Equipment needs to be stored properly so as to avoid damage and wear during the off-season. When equipment returns after reconditioning, leave it sealed in the boxes. Otherwise, helmets can be stored on racks and walls. Shoulder pads also need to be stored on racks. Do not stack them on the ground with no support or else the pads at the bottom can become damaged.

When it comes to football equipment, helmets are thought of first and foremost, and rightfully so. They protect a critical part of a player’s body and have witnessed great innovation over the years. While helmets are key for protection, they form only one piece of the equipment puzzle though. Pads such as shoulder pads should be included in all of the above inventory and reconditioning steps.

“The most overlooked product to be reconditioned are shoulder pads,” Maczuga said. “It’s probably because of priority … but those should be cleaned annually as well.”

Budget constraints can dramatically affect a league’s ability to recondition its equipment every year, but there are some steps they can take to make it possible. Programs need to prioritize how much they are going to spend on various items. Spending money on helmet decals and stripes or fancy uniforms will look good but might not be the best allocation of league resources if equipment is in need of reconditioning.

“Finances are always really important,” Maczuga recognizes. “I think a lot of times cosmetics will override protection for the athlete. Maybe if you cut back on the cosmetics and the bells and whistles, you’ll have some money set aside to put into your reconditioning budget.”

The cosmetics are usually popular with the kids and are fine, but the protective aspects of equipment must come first. If annual reconditioning is still not feasible, it should be done every other year at the very least.

“The player deserves it,” Maczuga said. “He or she deserves to have a fresh piece of equipment when they start. That doesn’t mean it needs to be a new piece of equipment, but they should be able to walk out thinking ‘Doesn’t this look good, and this is nice.’ It makes the parents happy and gives the player a feeling of pride.”

For more equipment tips visit USA Football’s Equipment Fitting Guide page provided by Riddell for videos and instruction on proper helmet and shoulder pad fitting instruction or Riddell’s Helmet and Shoulder Pad Fitting page.

Contact:
Christie Burgner Shein
MSLGROUP
(312) 861-5237
christie.shein@mslgroup.com

Evolution Of Football Helmets
By Joan Murohy and Sean Dougherty, USA TODAY

With the first of the Baby Boom generation turning 65, USA TODAY looks at some of the advances and improvements in the sports landscape since 1946:

Leather helmets were stiff and cold in the winter and sweaty and hot in the summer. Riddell’s plastic helmet had a web suspension that provided a pocket of air between the head and the helmet shell.

The military used the design for World War II helmets.

View Bill Roth’s image http://yfrog.com/hskqxlj

View the announcement from Virginia Tech’s HokiesSports.com http://bit.ly/eKKQIU

Contact:
Christie Burgner Shein
MSLGROUP
(312) 861-5237
christie.shein@mslgroup.com

The Making of a Presidential Football Helmet

Behind the Scenes of Presidential Advance: Pt 1

Behind the Scenes of Presidential Advance: Pt 2

Contact:
Christie Burgner Shein
MSLGROUP
(312) 861-5237
christie.shein@mslgroup.com

The game, an official NFL Pro Bowl Week event, features USA Football’s 2010 Junior National Team and a World Select team comprised of players and coaches spanning four continents playing in Ft. Lauderdale’s historic Lockhart Stadium.

“As the protection and performance equipment leader, we’re proud to be part of this game,” says Riddell President, Dan Arment. “USA Football is really focused on providing education and resources to the players and coaches of youth and amateur football, so it is very important to Riddell that we support their efforts.”

Contact:
Christie Burgner Shein
MSLGROUP
(312) 861-5237
christie.shein@mslgroup.com

(CHICAGO, August 10, 2010) – A federal court jury in Madison, Wis., has found that Schutt Sports Inc.’s DNA and ION football helmets infringed the concussion reduction technology features of the Riddell Revolution family of football helmets. The jury awarded Riddell just under $30 million in damages for Schutt’s infringing activities.
Riddell, the leading manufacturer of football helmets and a division of Easton-Bell Sports, had filed the original three-count federal court complaint in December 2008. Riddell had contended that Schutt, the company’s chief competitor, had illegally infringed upon Riddell’s patented concussion reduction technologies for football helmets and faceguards. The Riddell patents protect key technological features of helmets and faceguards that offer wearers greater injury protection, performance and personal comfort. The suit had alleged that despite Riddell’s patent protection, Schutt had unlawfully misappropriated Riddell’s head protection technology without permission.
“Riddell is the industry leader in football helmet safety and we have invested millions of dollars in technology and helmet design innovation to ensure we are providing the very best head protection available,” said Dan Arment, president of Riddell. “We are pleased and gratified that the jury recognized that the concussion reduction technology of our helmet inventions as embodied in the Revolution family of helmets was wrongfully infringed by Schutt. We will continue to vigorously and thoroughly defend any patent infringements against our helmet and protective equipment designs and technologies.”

Download this Press Release

ABOUT RIDDELL
Founded in 1929, Riddell is a premier designer and developer of protective sports equipment and a recognized leader in helmet technology and innovation. One of Easton-Bell Sports, Inc.’s most well-known brands and the Official Helmet of the NFL®, Riddell is the leading manufacturer of football helmets, shoulder pads and reconditioning services (cleaning, repairing, repainting and recertifying existing equipment).

ABOUT EASTON-BELL SPORTS, INC.
Easton-Bell Sports, Inc. is a leading designer, developer and marketer of branded sports equipment, protective products and related accessories. The company markets and licenses products under such well-known brands as Easton, Bell, Giro, Riddell, and Blackburn. Easton-Bell Sports’ products incorporate leading technology and designs and are used by professional athletes and enthusiasts alike. Headquartered in Van Nuys, Calif., the company has 30 facilities worldwide.

PRESS RELEASE
For media inquiries, please contact Jillian Chertok. 212-468-4306 PR@riddellsports.com

IN THE NEWS

Contact:
Christie Burgner Shein
MSLGROUP
(312) 861-5237
christie.shein@mslgroup.com

VIEW Article – “The Search for a Safer Helmet” in Technology Review magazine.

VIEW the Riddell 360 helmet.

Contact:
Christie Burgner Shein
MSLGROUP
(312) 861-5237
christie.shein@mslgroup.com