By Tim Glon
Ohio Northern University has partnered with Global Football, the Air National Guard, the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade and the Serbian Ministry of Youth and Sport to help with the growth of American football in Serbia.
Six schools from Ohio and Iowa sent equipment to Ohio Northern, which was then combined with ONU's donations and transported to the Mansfield Lahm Air National Guard base on Tuesday.
It will be shipped on a KC-135 cargo plane on Saturday and will land in Belgrade, Serbia, on Sunday.
American football in Serbia will benefit from receiving 34 helmets, 160 sets of shoulder pads, 91 pairs of game pants, 100 pairs of thigh pads, 20 pairs of knee pads, 30 jaw pads, 16 neck Rolls, 12 jerseys, several footballs and other pieces of equipment.
"We are excited to join forces with Global Football, the Air National Guard, the U.S. Embassy in Belgrade and the Serbian Ministry of Youth and Sport to help promote the sport of football in Serbia," ONU head football coach Dean Paul said. "We understand with our experience abroad that there is interest in American football worldwide. One of the greatest obstacles to growing the sport is the cost and availability of equipment. We are happy to help in that area and help grow the sport on an international level."
Under Paul, Ohio Northern has had a wide array of international experiences. The Polar Bears have played exhibition games in Germany, Italy and Ireland and is planning another trip to Europe in the summer of 2016, tentatively going to Greece and Italy.
Paul, Director of Sports Information Tim Glon and 17 players have represented the U.S. at the Tazon de Estrellas, an All-Star football game held annually in Mexico.
The Polar Bears return 42 lettermen and 12 starters from last year's squad that went 7-3 and received votes in the final D3football.com poll a year ago. ONU will open its 2015 season on Saturday, Sept. 12, against Utica (N.Y.) at Noon at Dial-Roberson Stadium.
