There wasn’t much coming out of my son Bradley’s mouth on the short ride from our hotel to Walsh University on Tuesday morning. That was until I made the turn into the campus, and that’s when my son’s eyes lit up and he got really excited. 

“That is so cool,” said Bradley as he saw U.S. National Team banners and an area where official USA Football Middle School Bowl Series merchandise was being sold. 

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After attending a Middle School Showcase in April at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, getting the invitation to play, and the weeks of waiting, the time had finally arrived for Bradley to represent his country on the football field during this very special week. That was the feeling shared by all of the other players, coaches, and USA Football staff.  

“There’s nowhere else that I’d rather be,” said Jason Tenner, USA Football’s Regional Director. “That’s why I told everybody during the orientation that you get to be here with elite athletes from 37 different states on the Fourth of July playing America’s game. Where else would you rather be?”

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The players chosen to play in the Middle School Bowl Games Series checked in at Walsh University on Tuesday morning and went through the process of picking up gear, including backpacks, shirts, shorts, practice jerseys, helmets and shoulder pads. Bradley, as well as all of the other kids, are here as a result of their performance at a Middle School Showcase or a regional event where the players were evaluated based on their talent, leadership and character.

After the check-in process was complete, the athletes and their parents went through an orientation that explained what the week was about and what it means to be a part of this program.  

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“We pride ourselves on development of athletes both on and off the field,” Tenner said. “We educate parents as we go around the country with our regional program, and we educate them on how to navigate the process from youth to high school and beyond.”

While the parents had plenty of questions about what was in store this week, and those who are new to the program will certainly have more as the week goes on, this event is about the opportunity of a lifetime for these kids who traveled with their families from all over the country to Canton, Ohio to wear the red, white and blue. 

Day 1 of practice at the Canton Classic, part of the U.S. National Team's Middle School Bowl Games Series (Photo via Peter Schwartz)

They will go through a week of practice under the guidance of 31 coaches from 27 colleges as they learn what it’s like to attend team meetings, prepare for a walk-through and then get ready to play in a real game on Saturday at the Pro Football Hall of Fame wearing a USA helmet and jersey.  

“We have a short timeline here and we do a lot in a short period of time and ask the kids to do a lot, but I think that’s what allows the growth to take place,” Tenner said.  

After the orientation, the athletes and parents went their separate ways.  The players had lunch, met their coaches and made their way over to the field for their first practice of the week. The kids were broken up into groups according to their positions as the process began to determine the teams for the three games that will be played Saturday.

The coaches put the players through a series of drills to get the week off to a fast start.  

“We’re stressing them beyond their comfort level a little bit,” Tenner said. “They’re going to get better, they’re going to benefit and then we as a program benefit when all these athletes get better and move through our program.” 

There will be two more practices today, then another practice on Thursday morning before a series of scrimmages on Thursday evening.  Then Friday, it’s two more practices for the kids before they play in a game Saturday at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium, the home field for Walsh University’s football team, but better known as the venue for the annual NFL Hall of Fame game.

The young athletes are going to get the opportunity to play in a game in an NFL stadium.

Players take part in a drill during Tuesday's practice for Saturday's Canton Classic, part of the Middle School Bowl Games Series. (Photo via Peter Schwartz)

“We want the kids to be excited,” Tenner said. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for them. We all wish we had these opportunities when we were their age. They’re fortunate to be here. I want them to soak it up, enjoy it, and do what they came here to do, and that’s just play good football.”

It’s a pretty special week for the parents as well.  

They watched the kids go through the first practice Tuesday and many of them, including myself, moved around quite a bit to follow their respective children’s group. It was pretty surreal to watch my son step onto a football field with “USA” on his helmet and jersey. Hearing the players and coaches chanting during warmups was pretty emotional, and it was only day one.

There’s very little interaction with your child at the practices during the week, but the parents have a very important responsibility.  

“The role of the parent is to be the number one cheerleader,” Tenner said.  “The best thing they can do is to keep encouraging their athlete, not so much trying to coach them, but just saying hey, I love you and let’s go get some ice cream after this.”

It’s pretty hot here in Canton this week, so yeah, we’re going to get some ice cream! All of the kids deserve it. They’ve worked hard to get to this point, and regardless of the results of the games on Saturday, they’re all going to be better football players at the end of the week.  

Peter Schwartz is a sports anchor for the CBS Sports Radio Network, FOX News Headlines 24/7 and WCBS 880 Radio in New York. His son, Bradley, is playing in the Canton Classic on Saturday. Schwartz will write a blog every day this week leading up to Saturday’s Middle School Bowl Games.