Stinger makes international grid team
Shaquille Armstrong, a rookie defensive tackle with the Concordia Stingers, has been selected to participate in the Team USA versus the World international football challenge at Westlake Stadium in Austin, Texas on February 2.
The game will match a World team composed of the best players aged 19 and under selected from International Federation of American Football (IFAF) member countries against 45 of the top high school seniors from the U.S.
Of the 22 Canadians named to the roster for the World team, Armstrong is the only Quebec university football player selected to play in the prestigious event.
“It’s a big honor and acknowledgement of Shaq’s exceptional talent,” said Concordia head coach Gerry McGrath. “We are very pleased to have him in our program. He had an outstanding rookie year. With his size and quickness we expect all-Canadian type performances from him in the future.”
The six-foot-two, 285-pound Winnipeg native played in all nine of Concordia’s Quebec conference games, picking up nine solo tackles and two assists.
Armstrong played grassroots football with the St. James Rods and then suited up for the Winnipeg Rifles in 2008 and 2009. He is a graduate of the Manitoba under-17 and under-19 provincial team programs.
Interacting with some of the best young football players from around the world will be a unique experience. The 2011 World Team roster is comprised of players representing American Samoa (3), Austria (5), Canada (22), Finland (2), Germany (3), Japan (2), Mexico (1) and Sweden (2).
The athletes will practice together nine times from January 28 to February 1 while in Austin.
Greg Marshall from the University of Western Ontario is the World team's head coach. His 12-member staff consists of assistant coaches from Australia, Austria, Canada, Finland, France, Japan, Mexico and Sweden.
It is the second year this event has been organized. Concordia’s Christian Walcott, a defensive halfback from Markham, Ont., was a member of the World Team for the inaugural contest that saw the U.S. team win 17-0 last January in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
At Concordia, Armstrong is currently enrolled as a History major with a minor in Human Relations.
Related links:
• Team USA vs. the World
• Stingers football