The University of Puget Sound Loggers (NCAA Div. III) will face the Shanghai Titans, reigning champions of the American Football League of China, this Sunday as part of a nine-day cultural and educational tour of China
The Loggers are traveling for the first time with Global Football, the Texas-based organization that kicks off a 22nd year of taking American football teams overseas on the sporting and cultural adventures of a lifetime when a total of seven NCAA D-III colleges head to Europe and Asia this spring.
“Puget Sound football prioritizes the complete student-athlete experience,” said head coach Jeff Thomas. “This once-in-a-career opportunity provides an academic, athletic, and cultural education that will be cherished for years to come. We pride ourselves in representing the university always and in all ways, and we look forward to doing so in China.”
The Shanghai Titans have been in existence for three years in the American Football League of China. They recently won the 2017 AFLC Championship and they are known as a team with a good following and a good team culture.
The Loggers ended the 2016 season with a 3-6 record under head coach Jeff Thomas, who led the Puget Sound to one of their most successful seasons since the turn of the century in 2015 with a 6-3 record, and third place in the Northwest Conference at 5-2.
The teams will meet on Sunday, May 21 at 2pm local time / 11pm CT May 20.
Coach Thomas has a long history with Global Football stretching back to 2002 when as a senior at University of Redlands, he played at defensive back for the NCAA Division III Select Team against Mexico in the annual Global Football-organized Aztec Bowl, which is now known as the Tazon de Estrellas.
“We are proud that Puget Sound has chosen to work with Global Football to provide a wonderful opportunity for their student-athletes to experience the world and play the sport they love overseas,” said Global Football Founder and President Patrick Steenberge.”
While in China, the group will visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City while in Beijing, the Great Wall of China, the Beijing Olympics Bird’s Nest Stadium and the Ming Tombs on the Sacred Way. They will take part in a Taiji lesson and watch a Kung Fu show and traditional Chinese tea ceremony.
Having taken the almost five-hour train journey to Shanghai, the Loggers will go on a Huangpu River cruise, and visit the Yu Yuan Garden and Jin Mao Tower.
Global Football ventured to China for the first time in March, taking a high school-aged select team of juniors and seniors to Beijing and Shanghai and to play a game against an all-star team from the American Football League of China
About Global Football:
Since 1996 Global Football has provided 15,000 amateur football players, coaches, families and fans from more than 350 schools the opportunity to travel and compete internationally with similar people of differing cultures. During that time they have produced games and tours in 28 countries on 6 continents, including 2012, 2014 and 2016 D3 college and high school showcases staged in Ireland alongside the NCAA college football games. Through these games, clinics and tours the people involved experience and learn about unique lands, fascinating people, and the sports environment in different parts of the world. Global Football has become the world’s largest exporter and producer of American football outside of the USA.
Email: Patrick@GlobalFootball.com