The Tour De France has a different meaning for the football players at Augustana College.
The world famous annual cycling race might be well underway in Europe right now, but for the Vikings of Augustana College, their version of a tour of France involves an exhibition game against the country’s national team, important time spent on the practice field and an opportunity to tour some of the wonderful sights the nation has to offer.
The traveling party’s full itinerary and playing roster have been announced and make for a busy and unforgettable experience of a lifetime as the Illinois-based college travels again with Global Football, which has created and produced more than 100 American football games and events in 20 different nations on 6 continents around the world since 1996. Augustana College has traveled previously to Finland, Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and the Czech Republic.
Global Football President Patrick Steenberge is eager to travel to France and said: “I am really looking forward to this tour, as France is such a historic and special country that I know the Augustana team will enjoy experiencing every aspect of it. I also anticipate a very competitive football game as Coach Legault of the French team will have his men prepared and ready to play.”
While in France from July 24 through 30, the Vikings group will enjoy a chance to visit Monet’s house and the D-Day invasion beaches in Normandy, before moving on to Bayeux, Lille and Paris. Once in the capital city, they will take in the Chateau de Compiegne, the Louvre Museum, the Eiffel Tower, the Palace of Versailles and set sail on a river cruise of the Seine.
Before heading overseas, the Vikings will kickoff a schedule of nine practices at home to prepare to face a French national team that finished as runners up at the 2010 European Championship and in sixth place at the World Championship in 2011. Under head coach Larry Legault, the top amateur players in France are preparing for another assault on the European crown when the 2014 continental championship is held in Austria next summer.
Augustana College and the French National Team will meet on the football field at Stadium Lille Métropole on Saturday, July 27.
Augustana have 13 starters returning from a 5-5 season in 2012, with seven back on offense and six on defense, making them formidable opponents for France. The returning players are: RB Eric Chandler, 5-9, 210, Sr; C Eric Dratnol, 6-1, 250, Sr; WR Torre Harrell, 6-2, 170, Jr; WR Nick Krantz, 6-1, 195, Sr; SB Antonio Owens, 5-9, 165, Jr; G Anthony Roome, 6-2, 280, Jr; SB Kyle Snow, 5-7, 165, Sr., CB Ben Fornek, 5-11, 180, Jr; OLB-DB Bo Goshorn, 6-2, 190, Jr; NT Carl Hartweg, 6-3, 280, Sr; FS Tim Maroder, 5-10, 195, Jr; DE Sean McIntyre, 6-2, 245, Jr; MLB Erik Westerberg, 6-3, 210, Sr.
AUGUSTANA ITINERARY FOR TOUR OF FRANCE
Tuesday, July 23 – Fly overnight to Paris
Wednesday, July 24 – Nomandy (Monet’s House & Garden in Giverny…Welcome Dinner in Bayeux)
Thursday, July 25 – Normandy (Caen Peace Memorial & Museum…D-Day Invasion Beaches Excursion)
Friday, July 26 – Lille (Walking tour in Rouen)
Saturday, July 27 – Lille (Sightseeing in Lille…Game against French National Team…Post-game social)
Sunday, July 28 – Paris (Chateau de Compiegne)
Monday, July 29 – Paris (Sightseeing tour of Paris…Louvre Museum…Eiffel Tower)
Tuesday, July 30 – Paris (Palace of Versailles…Awards Dinner…Seine River Cruise)
Wednesday, July 31 – Return home
AUGUSTANA PRACTICE SCHEDULE IN PREPARATION OF TOUR OF FRANCE
Sunday, July 7 – 2:30 p.m. (Practice #1)
Friday, July 12 – 8:45 p.m. (Practice #2)
Saturday, July 13 – 10:00 a.m. (Practice #3)…4:00 p.m. (Practice #4)
Sunday, July 14 – 10:00 a.m. (Practice #5)
Friday, July 19 – 8:45 p.m. (Practice #6)
Saturday, July 20 – 10:00 a.m. (Practice #7 with intrasquad scrimmage)…4:00 p.m. (Practice #8) Sunday, July 21 – 10:00 a.m. (Practice #9)
Tuesday, July 23 – Depart for France
2013 AUGUSTANA VIKINGS FOOTBALL ROSTER
| NO | NAME | POS | HT | WT | YR | HOMETOWN/HIGH SCHOOL |
| 02 | Samuel Frasco | QB | 5-11 | 170 | Fr | Mount Prospect, Illinois/HS |
| 09 | Eric Josupait | WR | 6-0 | 180 | So | Aurora, Illinois/Waubonsie Valley |
| 12 | Chris Salazar | QB | 6-1 | 195 | Fr | Plainfield, Illinois/Providence Catholic |
| 13 | Kyle Snow | WR | 5-7 | 165 | Jr | Wheaton, Illinois/Wheaton Warrenville South |
| 17 | Benjamin Fornek | DB | 5-11 | 180 | So | Batavia, Illinois/HS |
| 18 | Sean Fitzgerald | WR | 5-10 | 150 | Fr | Manhattan, Illinois/Providence Catholic |
| 23 | Tim Maroder* | WR | 5-10 | 195 | So | Elgin, Illinois/Burlington Central |
| 24 | Jacob Puls | OLB | 6-0 | 185 | So | East Dubuque, Illinois/HS |
| 25 | Jacob Benner* | LB | 6-4 | 195 | So | Batavia, Illinois/HS |
| 26 | Jared Puls | RB | 5-10 | 175 | So | East Dubuque, Illinois/HS |
| 28 | James Fanning | DB | 5-8 | 175 | Fr | Fort Collins, Colorado/Fossil Ridge |
| 29 | Eric Chandler** | RB | 5-9 | 210 | Jr | Cary, Illinois/Cary Grove |
| 30 | Justin Gruca | DB | 5-8 | 190 | Jr | Wilmington, Illinois/HS |
| 31 | Bo Goshorn* | DB | 6-2 | 190 | So | Romeoville, Illinois/HS |
| 33 | Arnie Fitzwater*** | K | 6-3 | 215 | Sr | Waterford, Wisconsin/Waterford Union |
| 34 | Benjamin Hodges* | RB | 5-8 | 195 | So | Elburn, Illinois/St. Charles North |
| 36 | Jeremy Lensing | P/K | 5-11 | 180 | Fr | Manhattan, Illinois/Peotone |
| 37 | Mike McLean | OLB | 5-11 | 200 | Jr | Villa Park, Illinois/Willowbrook |
| 39 | Dylan Smith * | LB | 5-11 | 210 | Jr | Yorkville, Illinois/Aurora Christian |
| 41 | Erik Westerberg** (C) | LB | 6-3 | 210 | Jr | Elmhurst, Illinois/York |
| 42 | Mike O’Donoghue** | OLB | 6-1 | 205 | Jr | Mundelein, Illinois/HS |
| 43 | Ryan Coleman* | LB | 6-3 | 250 | Jr | Carol Stream, Illinois/Wheaton North |
| 46 | Josh Symbal | LB | 6-2 | 190 | Fr | Huntley, Illinois/HS |
| 48 | Sean Mulholland** | TE | 6-3 | 250 | Jr | Clinton, Iowa/HS |
| 54 | Will Hass* | DL | 6-3 | 250 | Jr | Algonquin, Illinois/Marian Central Catholic |
| 55 | James Stratton* | LB | 6-0 | 220 | Jr | Sherrard, Illinois/HS |
| 56 | Anthony Roome* | OL | 6-2 | 280 | So | Geneseo, Illinois/HS |
| 57 | Sean McIntyre* | DE | 6-2 | 245 | So | Genoa, Illinois/Genoa-Kingston |
| 58 | John Joyce | LB | 5-10 | 215 | Jr | Witt, Illinois/Hillsboro |
| 59 | Alex Anderson* | OL | 6-2 | 260 | So | Geneseo, Illinois/HS |
| 62 | Eric Dratnol | OL | 6-1 | 250 | Jr | Montgomery, Illinois/Kaneland |
| 63 | Trace Wingo** | OL | 6-2 | 285 | Jr | Crystal Lake, Illinois/South |
| 65 | Jon Losen | OL | 6-2 | 275 | So | Morton, Illinois/HS |
| 67 | Eric Link* | OL | 6-2 | 265 | Jr | Aledo, Illinois/Sherrard |
| 71 | Aaron Shuff | DE | 6-3 | 230 | Jr | South Barrington, Illinois/St. Viator |
| 75 | Dan Gregg | OL | 6-2 | 255 | Jr | Prospect Heights, Illinois/John Hersey |
| 78 | Greg Ferguson | OL | 6-2 | 280 | So | Plainfield, Illinois/South |
| 80 | Roman Shepard | WR | 6-0 | 185 | So | Davenport, Iowa/Assumption |
| 81 | Ryan Plunkett | LB | 6-0 | 190 | Jr | Wheaton, Illinois/Benet Academy |
| 83 | Derek Schneeman*** | WR | 6-2 | 200 | Sr | Streator, Illinois/HS |
| 86 | Marty Resner** | TE | 6-2 | 245 | Sr | Montgomery, Illinois/Oswego |
| 87 | Kyle Frake | WR | 6-0 | 200 | So | Clifton, Illinois/Central |
| 88 | Nick Krantz** | WR | 6-1 | 195 | Jr | Moline, Illinois/HS |
| 89 | Kevin Farley | LB | 6-2 | 195 | Jr | Wheaton, Illinois/North |
| 91 | Mike Roehrenbeck | DL | 6-0 | 230 | Jr | Gahanna, Ohio/Columbus Academy |
| 99 | Carl Hartweg* | DL | 6-3 | 280 | Jr | Carthage, Illinois/Illini West |
HEAD COACH: Rob Cushman ASSISTANT COACHES: Tom Casey (defensive coordinator), Jeff Lindmark (special teams coordinator/wide receivers), Brent Allen (offensive line), Aaron Call (defensive line), Jordan Malone (defensive backs). ATHLETIC TRAINER: Lori Anderson
For more information regarding Global Football tours and events, contact Patrick Steenberge: Tel: 817-219-7274 / Email: Patrick@GlobalFootball.com