Defensive Coordinator Warren Craney coordinates practice.

Day one of practice is in the books for the IFAF World Team here in Austin and the team made great strides with the help of International Bowl veteran coach Warren Craney who returns for this third stint as Defensive Coordinator of the team.

"The first day went great," said Coach Craney. "Offense and defense really looked sharp. It definitely gets easier each year I come back and it gets better every year. You learn how to manage expectations."

Craney is the head coach of York University, having joined the Lions in 2010 from Concordia University, where he spent seven seasons as the defensive coordinator. Craney orchestrated the Canada junior national team defense as his nation won a silver medal at the 2009 IFAF Junior World Championship in Canton, Ohio.  

Being part of the program since its inception, Craney has had the pleasure of the benefits of such an event.

"From year one when we were in Fort Lauderdale to today, the talent of the international players has increased ten-fold. It is night and day and it has only been three short years.

"Football is being played in a lot of countries around the world. They aren't just going through the motions, there is some real quality football being played here. I think we are going to demonstrate that on February 1."

One player who definitely can be grouped into the 'quality football' category is defensive end Eli Ankou, who hails from Canada.  Despite not playing his first season of organized football until 2008, he has received scholarship offers from UCLA, Vanderbilt, Baylor and Virginia. He recently has committed to UCLA and will take part in the National Signing Day Breakfast on February 1.

"I am honored to be here," said Ankou. "I have heard so much about the game and all the hype around it. I am excited to partake with athletes from Canada and other countries around the world.

"This experience has already been eye-opening to meet players from other parts of the world and to see their talent level is so high."

Though Ankou is eager to make friendships, this event is also about winning, something he is taking very serious and wants to show the United States they aren't the only ones who know about American Football.

"I want to go into the game with a mentality of an animal," said Ankou.  "I want to play my heart out. This is probably the last game I play before going to the NCAA. I really want to go all out and just ball."

Going into the game he has two goals: win the game and one important distinction.

"I don't want them to say, he's a Canadian player. I want them to say he is a football player.  If you have the talent and desire, it doesn't matter where you are from; you can succeed."