Friday, May 13, 2016 – The football team of Johns Hopkins University will travel overseas with Global Football for the first time next week, when the Blue Jays head to Italy from May 16-24.
Celebrating 20 years of ensuring student-athletes benefit from a positive educational experience and help spread the global appeal of their sport, Global Football is taking seven teams and colleges to Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Spain in 2016.
The traveling group will combine visiting the spectacular cities of Venice, Florence and Rome with spending time on the practice field to prepare to face Italian Football League team the Lazio Marines at the Selaria Sport Village (Via San Gaggio 5, off Via Solaria) at 3pm local time / 9am ET on Sunday, May 22.
“I have known Patrick Steenberge for many years and have heard wonderful reviews from other programs who have traveled abroad with Global Football,” said Johns Hopkins head coach Jim Margraff. “The time is finally right for Hopkins Football to experience international travel and create lifelong lasting memories with our teammates, families and friends. We are all looking forward to our trip to Italy.”
Fresh off one of the most successful seasons in school history, Johns Hopkins was selected as the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Division III Team of the Year in 2015. Under coach Margraff, Johns Hopkins posted an 11-1 record, won a seventh straight Centennial Conference title and advanced to the second round of the NCAA Playoffs for the third time in four years. The Blue Jays spent the entire 2015 season ranked in the top 15 in the nation.
The Marines are in the middle of the Italian Football League season and currently hold a 4-2 record, the most recent win coming against Warriors Bologna by 40 points to 14 on May 1.
The overseas visit will include guided walking tours of Venice and Florence and an opportunity when in Rome to experience the Vatican Museum, Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Coliseum.
Travelers and followers of Global Football events are now able to download the Global Football App for iPhone and Android devices from the iTunes Store and Google Play. Developed by TouchBase, the App features information, news and itineraries related to the teams traveling overseas to multiple destinations with Global Football this spring.