By Anvil Welch
awelch@joplinglobe.com
John Roderique, head football coach at Webb City High School, has added another title.
Well, at least for a few months.
How about linebackers coach of USA Football’s 2010 Junior National Team?
“Excited? You bet ... I’m very excited. It’s an honor,” Roderique said Saturday a few minutes after a Webb City practice in preparation for Monday night’s home game against Carthage in the second round of the MSHSAA Class 4 playoffs.
“There are so many people to thank ... starting with my bosses — Heather (wife) and Dr. (Ron) Lankford (superintendent of the Webb City R-7 School District).”
USA Football, the sport’s national governing body on youth and amateur levels, will hold the first Team USA vs. The World game at noon on Jan. 30 at Lockhart Stadium in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
The contest will match the Junior National Team — 45 of the top high school seniors — against a World team composed of the best players 19-and-under from outside the United States.
Head coach of the Junior National Team is Chris Merritt. He’s head coach at Miami (Fla.) Christopher Columbus and was defensive backs coach of the Junior National Team that earned a gold medal in Canton (Ohio) last July in the eight-nation International Federation of American Football Junior World Championship.
USA Football’s Team USA vs. The World game is designated as an official Pro Bowl Week event by the NFL.
The game will immediately follow AFC and NFC All-Star practices. The NFL AFC-NFC Pro Bowl will be played on Jan. 31.
How did Roderique land the gig?
“It started with a phone call and e-mail from Todd Bell (of USA Football),” Roderique said. “They had picked a couple of guys who had to back out. They wanted to get guys from different parts of the country. He did some research before basically calling and asking if I wanted to do it.”
Roderique admitted in the beginning he balked a bit and was unsure.
“But my wife encouraged me and I also checked with Dr. Lankford,” Roderique said. “They gave me their blessings.”
Roderique, who will go to Florida to work seven days before the game, said there will be a three-day session in Orlando (Fla.) to attend earlier in January.
“I’m confident it all will be a fun trip,” Roderique said. “I haven’t done something like this on the national level. I don’t know any of the other assistant coaches or any of the players. I believe there’s been 12-15 players — all headed for NCAA Division I schools — already selected.”
The timing, of course, will find children Hailey (a junior), John (freshman) and Tyson (sixth grade) busy in basketball.
“Heather already is checking flights,” John Roderique said. “Maybe they can make it for at least two days.”
Roderique, a linebacker at Webb City and Pittsburg State, is the Cardinals’ current offensive coordinator.
He’s worked on the defensive side for several seasons, however, and worked two years with outside linebackers during a seven-year stint at PSU before coming to Webb City.
Roderique, in his 13th season at Webb City, has posted a 146-17 record with the Cardinals. That includes five state titles and a runner-up.
