Bulls give back by introducing Bahamian youth to American football

NASSAU, Bahamas — Under the blazing bright Caribbean sun, on a grass field next to Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, the site of Friday’s Makers Wanted Bahamas Bowl, 12-year-old Bahamian Chris Roberts got to play American football for the first time.

He loved it.

“It’s a fun sport to play,” Chris said during a break between drills at a youth football clinic organized by the bowl committee. Select players from the participating teams — UB and UNC Charlotte — led several dozen Bahamian youth through a series of competitive drills that included passing and receiving, footwork, tackling and, finally, touchdown celebrations.

The kids who participated had a blast — “They’re treating us great,” Chris said — and the adults who brought them to the clinic were appreciative of the players for taking the time to teach the kids.

“I like the way the big guys interact with the little guys. That’s cool. Everybody was equal,” said Virginia Kelly, whose 11-year-old grandson, Alfred Smith III, was participating in the camp with two of his friends.

“I think it’s a great program, especially exposing the kids to Division I schools,” said Chris’ older brother, Keith Bryan Jr. “It’s a good thing they’re doing, to come all the way down here to train the young ones. The young children, they look up to these boys. They want to be in their position.”

Bulls sophomore running back Jaret Patterson knows what the kids felt like. “This means so much to me because growing up, I went to several clinics like this,” he said. “Having fun is the most important thing, and you could see the kids were having fun.”

That’s what Wednesday’s clinic was all about, said Steve Specht, a master trainer with USA Football and head coach at Cincinnati St. Xavier high school in Ohio.

“This is fantastic, are you kidding me. I don’t know who’s having more fun: myself, the players from Charlotte or Buffalo, or the kids that are actually running through the camp,” Specht told several U.S. and Bahamian media that covered the clinic.

“This is just exciting for USA Football to come down to the Bahamas and be able to spread the game we all love so very much,” he added.

Not only did the camp introduce American football to Bahamian youngsters; it gave the players from both teams a chance to give back.

“Every single one of these players that’s coaching these young guys has had a coach that impacted their lives in ways that none of us can imagine,” Specht said. “Now they’re giving back, and they’re impacting these young kids’ lives. To watch this happen, it’s what makes our game so great.”

So, might there be any future Bulls based on the talent on display Wednesday? Bulls defensive end Max Michel, who’s been having quite the week in the Bahamas — he won the pinball competition Monday night and was one-third of UB’s winning team in the dance-off held Tuesday during the Beach Bash — was pretty impressed by what he saw.

“There’s a lot of talent. These guys are fast,” he said, adding, “I wasn’t that fast when I was little.”

Today’s Bahamas Bowl schedule includes press conferences with the head coaches and select players from both teams at Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium. Pep rallies featuring both teams’ spirit squads are scheduled for later in the day.