UNIVERSITY CENTER, Mich. - Former SVSU football All-American John Jacobs (Prudenville, Mich. / Midland Dow HS) recently played for and helped Team USA to its second consecutive Gold Medal at the IFAF World Championships with a 50-7 win over Canada in the Gold Medal game.
While at Saginaw Valley Jacobs was a two-time All-American that led the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Conference (GLIAC) and the nation in tackles during his final two seasons (2008, 09).
Thirty-nine former college football standouts were selected to play for the 2011 U.S. Men's National Team in football in the fourth International Federation of American Football (IFAF) Senior World Championship July 8-16 in Austria. USA Football assembles America's national teams in the sport for international competition.
The IFAF Senior World Championship is an eight-nation football tournament held every four years since 1999. Games will be played in Graz, Innsbruck and Vienna. Team USA defeated Japan, 23-20, in double overtime in Tokyo, Japan, to win the 2007 tournament, the first that included the United States. Prior to America's participation, Japan earned gold medals at the first two IFAF Senior World Championships played in Palermo, Italy (1999), and Frankfurt, Germany (2003).
Highlighting Team USA's roster are former Colorado starting quarterback CODY HAWKINS, former University of Mount Union (Ohio) running back NATE KMIC and former Southern Utah defensive back DeWAYNE LEWIS.
Hawkins established most major passing records with the Buffaloes, including yards (7,409), touchdown passes (70), completions (667) and attempts (1,214). He was named honorable mention Freshman All-America after throwing for 2,693 yards and 19 touchdowns as well as leading Colorado to an Independence Bowl victory in 2007.
Kmic is the NCAA's career rushing leader with 8,074 yards on 1189 carries (6.8 average), eclipsing the all-divisions record his senior year in 2008. Named to The Associated Press Little All-America team in 2008, he led Mount Union to three of its 10 NCAA Division III national championships (2005, '06 and '08).
Lewis played two seasons in the NFL after a brilliant college career at Southern Utah. He was selected by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft, playing parts of that season and the next with Jacksonville before signing with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Fifty-nine (59) countries spanning five continents possess national football federations dedicated solely to football.
There are 21 players not on Team USA with either NFL practice squad or NFL Europe experience. In addition, Canada's national team includes 13 current Canadian Football League players. Punter BEN GRAHAM of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals will play for his native Australia.
Team USA was led by former Northwest Missouri State University head coach and three-time NCAA Division II national champion MEL TJEERDSMA.
USA Football's national team program is supported by the following corporate partners: Riddell, Marriott, Sports Authority, Gatorade, Shock Doctor and Rawlings.