Soul Bowl At Blue Wahoos Stadium, Presented By Cox Mobile, Saluted Generational Coaching Ties
Reggie Smith Sr. clutched the special award plaque, overcome with gratitude and pride. Every year the Soul Bowl has been staged, in part as a celebration of youth football and Pensacola’ two cross-town leagues that have thrived in competition, Smith has played a role. His turn in the spotlight occurred
Reggie Smith Sr. clutched the special award plaque, overcome with gratitude and pride.
Every year the Soul Bowl has been staged, in part as a celebration of youth football and Pensacola’ two cross-town leagues that have thrived in competition, Smith has played a role.
His turn in the spotlight occurred in the recent 32nd annual Soul Bowl, presented by Cox Mobile on Oct. 5 at Blue Wahoos Stadium, when Smith was honored, along with his son and grandsons, for their generational involvement.
The elder Smith was presented the event’s “Lifetime Service Achievement Award” by all he’s done for the game and youth football in general.
“You’re talking generations of kids,” said Lumon May, executive director of the Southern Youth Sports Association (SYSA) Tigers, who has also served on the Escambia County Board of County Commissioners since 2012.
“I am so full of emotion right now, I don’t know what to say,” said Smith, joined by his son and family members, following the “Unity Circle” presentation on the converted football field. The ceremony occurred after the third of five age-division games and brings together local political and law enforcement officials, along with business leaders.
Blue Wahoos owner Quint Studer addressed the crowd and spoke of the game’s impact on the community and its inspirational effect.
This year’s game was the first with Cox Mobile as a presenting sponsor. Cox Mobile is part of Cox Communications, a charter partner of the Blue Wahoos and internet service provider at the ballpark.
Since 2012, the year Blue Wahoos Stadium opened and the first Blue Wahoos baseball season was played, the Soul Bowl has been an early October tradition at bayfront ballpark.
“This is so great,” Reggie Smith Sr. said. “Especially to be back here and to see so many coaches, so many guys that I coached and so many lives that I touched. I can’t thank everyone enough.”
Smith was 24 in 1975 when he first got involved in youth football within the Pensacola community. Now 67, he’s still involved as an assistant coach at Escambia High School.
“I’m still going,” he said. “I just love doing it.”
His son, Reggie Smith Jr., did not play in the Soul Bowl, but was a volunteer coach for the first time in the 1999 game, making this year a milestone 25th anniversary.
His son, Octavious, played in the Soul Bowl and now coaches and mentors his son, who played in the game.
“Half of that Unity Circle from the (East Pensacola) Rattlers side to the (SYSA) Tigers side, (Reggie Smith Sr.) had something to do with it,” said Reggie Smith Jr.
When he coached in 1999, the game was played at the football field that is part of Pensacola’s Salvation Army complex. The game has also been staged at Airport Field, Pensacola High, Pensacola Catholic, plus the home fields of SYSA at Legion Field and East Pensacola at Magee Field.
“We do it for the love of football,” Smith Jr. said. “I love working with the young generation.”
In addition to Smith Sr. being honored, two prominent Pensacola women, Shirley Cronley, former president of the Pensacola Sports Association and long-time WEAR-3 television anchor Sue Straughn with Special Service Achievement Awards at the recent Soul Bowl.