June 7, 2005
NEW YORK - Columbia's coaching staff and four former players have been selected to take part in the second annual Ivy-Samurai Bowl* on Sunday, June 19 at Komazawa Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan.
The Lions' staff will coach a team composed of 50 all-stars from seven Japanese universities plus the four former Lions, Rashad Biggers `05 (running back), Steve Cargile '04 (safety), Kevin Coco '05 (offensive tackle) and Jeff Otis '05 (quarterback). They will face a team led by the Brown coaching staff, four former Brown student-athletes and 50 Japanese all-stars from seven other universities.
"It's a great opportunity for our coaches to see a different culture and a different part of the world," said Lions' Head Coach Bob Shoop, "and a great opportunity for Columbia to be an ambassador for American football. "
The game is arranged by the Kantoh (Greater Tokyo) Collegiate Football Association (KFCA). Last year's game marked the 70th anniversary of the KFCA and featured the coaching staffs and former players from Harvard and Yale. According to Satohiro Akimoto, international advisor for the KFCA, the game was such a success that the organization decided to continue the event.
"The Japanese players loved being coached by the American coaches and becoming teammates with Ivy League players," explained Akimoto, who was both a player and coach in Japan. "Columbia represents an excellence in academia and I thought Coach Shoop was an energetic young coach who works very hard. I thought he is a type of American coach from whom Japanese players can learn a lot."
Akimoto, who earned his Ph.D in sociology at Harvard, added, "I also saw the Harvard Yale game in 1987 in which Coach Shoop participated as a Yale player."
In March, Akimoto contacted Shoop to extend an invitation for Columbia to participate. "Mr. Akimoto called about the possibility of us going and I put it to the coaches, and, to a man, they all wanted to go," Shoop explained. "The feedback I got from [Harvard Head Coach] Tim Murphy and [Yale Head Coach] Jack Siedlecki was that it was a good trip and they had a great time."
In addition to Shoop, Lion coaches Pat Madden, Sean Ryan, Mike Siravo, Rich Skrosky, Tim Weaver and Shawn West will lead one of the Ivy Samurai Bowl squads.
In mid-May, Shoop and his staff met with Japanese coaches for a two-day workshop on Columbia's campus. "We give them five offensive runs and pass plays, and about six or seven defenses," said the Lions' head coach.
The Columbia staff and former players head to Japan on Monday, June 13 and arrive on June 14. There will be a welcome dinner and press conference that evening. The teams will practice June 15-18 and the Americans will be treated to sightseeing tours on the days preceding the game.
Among the logistical challenges to the event is the fact that the four former Columbia student-athletes will be flying from four different locations: Biggers from Nashville, Coco from Dublin, Ireland, Cargile from Dallas, and Otis from St. Louis.
About 100 high schools have football programs in Japan. "While there is no Nomo or Matsui of football in Japan, the level of play is not that bad," noted Akimoto, adding that four to six Japanese players compete in NFL Europe each year.
*"Ivy League" and "Ivy" are registered trademarks of the Council of Ivy Group Presidents, and the term "Ivy" is used with the Council's permission. The Ivy-Samurai Bowl is not operated by or otherwise connected with the Council of Ivy Group Presidents or the Ivy League.
