LAND O’ LAKES — Alex Smith has a Super Bowl ring.
But the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers tight end found himself with extra free time. After spending seven years in the Bucs’ front office as a pro scout and assistant director of pro scouting, Smith was moving on, but with a Super Bowl ring in tow thanks to Tampa Bay’s Super Bowl LV win.
“I can thank Tom Brady for that,” Smith said. “But I was looking for the next challenge and wanted to stay around football and make a difference (with players).
“So it’s great to give them some options, plus help them be the best versions of themselves, so I just like using my time to pour back into these kids.”
That new option is Under The Lights Flag Football — a new league Smith brought to the area, specifically Friday evenings at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park. The winter season kicked off Jan. 10 and will run through February. Smith, though, easily saw the popularity of flag football, as the inaugural season has 28 teams and about 250 co-ed players.
The league has six divisions, determined by grade level — starting in the PK-K co-ed group, which is developmental and skills training run by Smith himself. Then, there’s K-2, 3-5 and 6-8, all co-ed divisions, plus two all-girls divisions: 3-5 and 6-8.
Additionally, the team names are based on NFL teams, while the league plays a 6 v 6 format (except PK/K is 5 v 5) on 25-30-yard-wide by 50-yard-long fields.
“I’ll jump around the league wherever I’m needed, but I’m working hands on with the little ones,” Smith said. “I’ll spread the love though when I can.”
“You really want to start them early and get them loving it,” he added.
Smith, who was drafted by the Bucs in 2005, has resided in Tampa for 20 years, but was traded to the New England Patriots in 2009 and spent time playing for the Cleveland Browns. His time up north, however, made him want to get back to the warmth of the Tampa Bay area. Plus, being commissioner of the new league allows it to be a family affair — his twin sons, who are students at Carrollwood Day School, will be refs, while his sister, Danielle, is the league’s executive director and handling all the marketing and social media.
Smith, however, is excited to bring another flag football league option to the area, especially since the sport, and its popularity, is growing exponentially.
“Absolutely (the turnout is because of the popularity of the sport),” Smith said. “It really speaks to the trajectory of flag football — the girls are a real driving force and bringing a new dynamic to flag football, and it’s in the Olympics, so the growth potential is tremendous. There is such a demand that you can bring more offerings under the lights, because while it’s the moniker for the league name, it is what we want to give the kids: getting a chance to play under the lights.
“And I’m excited to spread it in Pasco — north, west and east. I’m very excited about the season and what will come this spring.”