Here's a clip from SI.com which shows some of the 118-strong Penn State team on the artificial rugby pitch at UCD, being put through their paces at the basic skills of hurling and Gaelic football in advance of today's Croke Park Classic versus the University of Central Florida.
They were possibly even worse than you'd expect high-calibre athletes to be at another code, but they had fun all the same.
One player in today's game who would have had no problem with striking the sliotar or doing a non-comical solo is Cork-born Sean Galvin, a kick-off specialist with the University of Central Florida who moved to the States from Bandon some ten years ago.
Meanwhile, there will be one major difference to the fan experience at Croke Park today - those in attendance will be permitted to take beer back to their seats in the stands.
It is a change from normal GAA practice, which only allowed fans to consume alcohol in specially designated areas at the back of the stands. This relaxing of the drinking rules has been permitted because the event is considered a 'non-GAA event' by Headquarters.
"There are GAA events and non-GAA events. We are renting the stadium out in essence to a different fixture. Everything will be done as would be done in an American football game," a spokesperson said.
The clash between Penn State and the UCF will be the regular season opener for both teams and will be broadcast live on ESPN. Some 20,000 American fans have made the journey to the capital for the event.
