OLDS — The eyes of Texas will be on them.
From Feb. 24-26, three Olds football players will be playing in an international football tournament in Texas, featuring top players from Canada, the U.S and Mexico.
Making the trip are quarterback Radek Heppner, 15; defensive end Owen Reimer, 14; and receiver Blair Van Brunschot, 17.
All three got the chance to go after trying out for -- and making -- provincial Selects football teams.
Heppner and Reimer are members of the Alberta Selects. Van Brunschot is a member of the University of Alberta Golden Bears Selects.
They travel down to San Antonio, Texas on Feb. 21. The tournament runs from Feb. 24-26. Before the tournament, practices will be held on Feb. 22 and Feb. 23.
The Albertan got a chance to interview Heppner, Reimer and Van Brunschot shortly before they made the trip.
They were asked if they were worried about how tough the competition will be, given that the U.S. has a population 10 times that of Canada and thus more players to choose from.
Also, in many areas, it has warmer weather where teams can play the game more than in Canada.
Van Brunschot said he’s not intimidated by that at all.
"Not yet. Not ‘till we’re on the field,” he said jokingly.
"To me it’s a great opportunity to go, showcase our talents and stuff and get to play against better competition; especially in Texas, where football is a religion,” he said.
Heppner and Reimer agreed.
Reimer is looking forward to picking up some tips on how to improve, either from coaches or just by watching other D-linemen in action.
“Let’s say I am doing a pass rush and I decide to cheat out of my gap, which would be, like cheating into the B gap,” he said.
“The defensive line coach would give me a tip on how to fake like I’m going B but instead just continue with the outer gap.”
Heppner expects to pick up some pointers as well.
"The way that they’re taught in the States is definitely going to be a lot different than the way we’re taught,” he said.
He also anticipates the Amercian players will be more disciplined and...“Rough, bigger, stronger, faster,” said the others.
The games will also be played using American rules, which are different than Canadian football rules. And they’ll be played on fields with U.S. dimensions.
Canadian football fields are 110 yards long and 65 yards wide. American ones are 100 yards long and about 54 yards wide.
“The football field is less wide. So when I’m throwing the ball, it’s like, more of an angle, a different angle. And also the receivers are a lot taller," Heppner said, agreeing taller guys will be easier to see than smaller ones.
Van Brunschot said as a receiver, the rules are far different for him.
“It means the corners can press you off the line a lot harder,” he said.
“I’ve had to learn so many new releases off the line and the hand fighting – like, there's so many different techniques I’ve had to learn that are completely different from Canadian football.
“It’s frustrating, just having to play against it sometimes because it’s so hard.
“Like, you don’t get to run a route every time. You can even get caught up at the line. If you’re caught up for an extra second too long, you’re out of the play completely.”
Reimer noted that under American rules, as a defensive end, he can now line up right on the line of scrimmage, whereas under Canadian rules, he has to line up a yard back.
He said that gives him “a bigger hitting opportunity against the other line.”
The guys were asked if two days of practice will be enough (once they get over the jet lag getting down there).
“I feel like I’m prepared already. I’m ready to go play,” Van Brunschot said.
Heppner and Reimer noted they had a chance to get used to U.S. rules a few weeks ago when they played in the second annual Battle of the Prairies tournament in Moose Jaw, where Selects teams from Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba play each other under U.S. rules.
NCAA Division 1 and 2 coaches and scouts, along with those from CFL and Usports teams either attend in person or watch the games via YouTube.
Olds peewee Huskies head coach Dennis Yurchevich followed the tournament via the web. He’s not sure how the Golden Bears did, but said the Alberta Selects lost in the final versus Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan teams dominated that tournament.
The Saskatchewan U11 team shut out Alberta, 38-0. The U14 Saskatchewan team hammered Alberta 40-8, and the Saskatchewan Varsity division won their final 28-0.
“We played Saskatchewan twice in Saskatchewan,” Heppner said. "(They’re) really good. Like, when I say they’re really good, I mean, they’ll probably win the tournament.”
It was pointed out that the Saskatchewan Selects program has been running since 2011.
Reimer noted he made the Alberta Selects team last year but didn’t travel. He said having made the Selects again, he will now have two years of experience which should help him in the tournament in Texas.
Van Brunschot didn’t get a chance to play in the Battle of the Prairies because he suffered a concussion.
However, he said he’s all healed now.
Besides, he said jokingly, “I got it in basketball though, so it doesn’t count.”
All three players are excited for the experience.
Heppner said aside from awesome football, he’s looking forward to checking out the sights in San Antonio and “being in warm weather.”
The others are looking forward to tasting the famous Texas barbecue cuisine as well.
