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Ashland excited about trip to Japan By KRIS HENRY ASHLAND - Prior to boarding a plane for his team's jaunt to Japan, Ashland football coach Jim Nagel envisioned the trip taking one of two paths. "It's either going to be a great bonding experience or a total disruption and disaster," Nagel said. "We hope for the prior." The Grizzlies are making their fourth trip to Japan and continuing a tradition that began in 1988. Each year, Ashland and a group of all-star football players from Japan have squared off in a friendly - but increasingly competitive - exhibition football game. This year's matchup will be the first overseas for the Ashland contingent since 1997, when the Grizzlies barely edged their counterparts, 22-21. Pacific Daylight game time is 1 a.m. Saturday, with a live radio broadcast on KCMX 880-AM. The broadcast will also air at 4 p.m. Saturday. "I think it's going to bring us closer together," said Ashland senior Cameron Voget. "We'll see the world together and basically bond as a team for a whole week in Japan. It's going to be sweet." Plans for the trip began a year ago, with the Grizzlies using various fund-raisers to raise the $75,000 cost to make the journey. Be it car washes, magazine sales or golf tournaments, players and coaches put in numerous hours to make it happen. One of the more popular sources of income has been the annual Rent-A-Grizz program, where players are "rented" to move furniture, do garden work or whatever else Ashland residents need a helping hand with. "We've done just about everything you can do to raise the money," said Nagel. While most of the players were looking forward to the getaway, there were obvious grumblings from the 16- and 17-year-old young men on subjects like 11-hour plane rides and unfamiliar etiquette. "We've heard all the stories," senior Ryan Decker said. "We've been given the talk of what you have to do and what you can't do while we're over there. Taking off your shoes before you walk into a room is going to be a little strange." Those side issues beyond the football field should make the most impact on each traveler. "For us coaches, it's the people," Nagel said. "The interaction with the coaches, officials and people we've gotten to know and become good friends with over the years is something special." That's not to say each squad won't be putting it all on the line when they take to the field Saturday. "You've got to go in thinking you're going to win and you're trying to find some things out about some guys," said Nagel, whose team returns only a handful of starters. Japan's last victory over Ashland came in 1995, when it's National Heroes team outlasted the Grizz. Still, each season has brought the two squads seemingly closer in level of play. While the Ashland contingent was to practice on a dirt field leading up to Saturday's game, the official contest will be played at a brand-new stadium with a state-of-the-art turf surface. "We're going to have to get a little tougher since we're practicing on dirt, but I think we can handle it," said Decker. Another concern is coming out of the exhibition injury-free. Two years ago, the Japanese all-stars nicked up the Grizzlies and forced Ashland to limp into the season with concerns for several players. "We just have to watch out because over there the only thing that's not legal here but is legal there is cut blocks," said Decker. "We'll just have to watch out for the low blows and protect our buddies." The positives far outweigh the negatives, however. "Away from just the game itself, it will be fun to hang out with all the teammates," said junior Bryan Clevenger. "It will be fun to have 10 days together to cause some trouble and play some football." The Grizzlies are scheduled to return Sunday. Their regular-season schedule begins Sept. 7 at 7 p.m. when Ashland plays host to College Park High of Pleasant Hills, Calif. Reach reporter Kris Henry at 776-4488, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.