Ashland Grizzlies Heading Back to Japan for the 9th Pacific Rim Bowl Exhibition Football Game Against the Japanese All-Stars; Unique Event between Two International High School Teams Promotes Cultural Exchange Through Football.

ASHLAND, Ore. -- Forty-six members of the Ashland High School Grizzlies football team along with 7 coaches will travel to Japan to celebrate 17 years of international football between the high school team and Japan's elite All-Stars. They will be departing San Francisco International airport Saturday, July 23rd at 1:00 PM for a return trip to Osaka-Kobe, Japan, for the 9th game in the Pacific Rim Bowl series that began in 1988.

Football tradition promotes cultural exchange

The Pacific Rim Bowl, was established to foster an exchange of ideas, culture and football with Japan. Since 1988 Ashland High School and the Japanese High School All-Star Team have traveled either to Ashland or Osaka for games that truly meant more than final scores could illustrate.

Played every two years, the Pacific Rim Bowl is the only international high school football game played by a U.S. team. The game alternates between countries every other game. In 2003 the Japanese All-Stars traveled to Ashland. The game resulted in a 26 to 0 upset. Disappointed by the loss, the Grizzlies are intent this year on winning on their four year cycle journey to Asia.

The venue was established in the late 80's when Jim Nagel, former Ashland Football Coach mimicked a program being conducted by Chuck Mills, his counterpart at Southern Oregon University (SOU). Prior to SOU, Mills, was a important figure in cultivating football in Japan. He frequently took college teams there to foster the sport. His impact there was so significant that the Japanese began awarding exceptional players the "Chuck Mills" trophy which is Japan's equivalent of the "Heisman" trophy awarded players at US colleges.

Nagel, who received the Oregon Governor's Council on Physical Fitness & Sports and Fitness Leadership award for recognition to individuals who have made significant contributions in the areas of physical fitness, decided to use this as a tool to share cultural understanding, strengthen education, and foster international relations through sports. Since 1988 more than 600 American and Japanese students / athletes have qualified to participate in this unique program.

"Playing the game is only part of the equation," says Nagel, still an advisor and supporter of the team. Broad vision and a healthy attitude is also an ingredient in the path of achieving greatness which he feels is the benefit of embracing another culture and its people .This became a vehicle to instill a work and moral ethic for Ashland High School athletes that has benefited his players far beyond high school. For example, Chad Cota, an 11 year NFL veteran, is a former Ashland player who played in the Pacific Rim Bowl.

The Japanese All-Star team, which also benefits greatly from this experience, is comprised of players drawn from 17 different schools from Osaka, Kobe, and Kyoto, Japan and will host this years Pacific Rim Bowl in Osaka on July 30th. The Japanese have improved significantly over the years after domination by Ashland in the first three games in 1988, 90 & 93. Unlike most Americans, Japanese athlete's usually focus upon a single sport, therefore, often excelling due to the benefit of dedication.

Hard work getting there

If it were just about football, raising $70,000 just may not be worth it. But if it were about giving 46 high school students the cultural experience of a lifetime in a far away land, the money and effort certainly are.

To reach the Pacific Rim Bowl each player works hard throughout the year. In addition to their academic and athletic endeavors, players are required to participate in community fundraising events throughout the year. Each player was required to raise $1500 to cover their trip costs as well as the costs of the coaches through numerous fundraising events, activities and contributions. Many of which were organized and conducted by a community fundraising committee.

Supporting this position is Ashland's new football Coach, Charlie Hall, who worked under Nagel during the last of his 3 state championships (1998). "The function of community and teamwork all come together through the effort of the players. And the benefit to the student / athlete often doesn't surface until years later. When Jim retired from this program, both he and I continued to receive a lot of emails, calls and letters from former team members who remembered the trip," said Hall, adding that the players came to appreciate the trip more as the years passed. "They all have glowing praise and fond memories to share."

Ashland vs. Japan All Stars record

This year's trip will be the first since 2001, when Japan rode its home field advantage to a dominating 48-0 victory -- but the Grizzlies still lead the all-time series 5-3. The following schedule shows the game scores:

1988 Nagai Stadium Ashland 13, Japan 0
    1990 Philips Field, Ashland Ashland 21, Japan 7
    1993 Nishinomia Stadium Ashland 21, Japan 14
    1995 Philips Field Ashland Japan 17, Ashland 14
    1997 Nishinomia Stadium Ashland 20, Japan 18
    1999 Philips Field Ashland Ashland 21, Japan 20
    2001 Nagai Stadium Japan 48, Ashland 0
    2003 Phillips Field, Ashland Japan 26, Ashland 0

The team will return to San Francisco on Japan Airlines, Sunday, July 31st between 9:30 and 11:00 AM. Check airline schedule.