Cooper, Gatzogiannis, Rushe To Represent Endicott on Team Stars & Stripes in Mexico

Release courtesy of Michael Preston, Media Contact for Global Football Foundation

Global Football LTD Facebook Page

GRANBURY, Texas – The 52 seniors from 27 Division III schools across the United States representing Team Stars & Stripes in the fifth annual Tazón de Estrellas (Bowl of the Stars) have arrived in Monterrey to prepare to face the CONADEIP All-Stars on Saturday.

The all-star team of NCAA non-scholarship student-athletes will play what for most will be their final game of competitive football in the 36,000-capacity Estadio Tecnológico on the Tec de Monterrey campus on Saturday, December 21, kickoff 1pm CT.  The game will air live at the website www.Terra.com.mx with commentary in Spanish language.

The colleges and universities represented on the Team Stars & Stripes roster are: Augustana College, Buena Vista University, Central College, Coe College, Cornell College, DePauw University, Elmhurst College, Endicott College, Grinnell College, Grove City College, Hanover College, Kalamazoo College, Kenyon College, Lake Forest College, Lawrence University, Loras College, MacMurray College, Ohio Northern University, Pacific University Oregon, Rhodes College, Rose Hulman, St. Norbert College, Susquehanna University, University of Wisconsin-Stout, Utica College, and Wartburg College.

From Endicott, senior NEFC First Team defensive lineman Marcell Cooper (Dorchester, Mass.), offensive lineman Alec Gatzogiannis (Wells, Maine), and kicker/punter and AFCA All-American Dylan Rushe (Palos Verdes, Calif.) are down in Monterrey preparing for Saturday's game with their new teammates.  

"It is always a great moment when the team comes together for the first time and bonds and leaders start to emerge," said Global Football President Patrick Steenberge.  "This week will include a good mix of practices to prepare the team to face a very competitive Mexican team, and an opportunity to enjoy local culture and customs."

The NCAA Division III all-star roster known collectively as Team Stars & Stripes arrived in Mexico on Sunday and under head coach Don De Waard, the defensive coordinator at Central College (Iowa), will take on a CONADEIP All-Stars roster led by Cesar Martinez, who took over the head-coaching role at Tec de Monterrey from legendary retired coach Frank Gonzalez.

Having come together as a group at a dinner and meetings on Sunday night, Team Stars & Stripes hit the practice field on Monday morning for the first of seven sessions during the next four days.  On Thursday they will take part in a community service project and will tour the local area and will also have an opportunity to experience the sights and sounds of Monterrey on Friday.

The Tazón de Estrellas is the focal point for the Global Football Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit initiative, which assists athletes in meeting the expenses associated with traveling overseas to realize their dreams of competing against other American football enthusiasts and experiencing different cultures.  The foundation allows potential benefactors to make charitable donations to offset costs that might otherwise prevent the student athletes from undertaking the trip of a lifetime.  To inquire about making a donation to the Global Football Foundation to assist student-athletes, please contact Patrick Steenberge at Patrick@GlobalFootball.com or 817-219-7274.