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Tampa Bay Youth Football League

Youth league blends football, life lessons

October 23, 2019 By Kevin Weiss

In this youth football program, life lessons are just as important as fundamentals of tackling, blocking or catching.

Winning is nice and all, but the Keystone Bills youth football and cheerleading organization is more about developing tomorrow’s leaders, officials say.

Coach Jermaine Clemons shares pointers on blocking techniques with several of his offensive players during a recent practice at Keystone Park in Odessa. In addition to coaching, Clemons also serves as the current athletic director for the Keystone Bills Youth Organization. (Christine Holtzman)

“We’re really trying to build young men and young women,” said Bills president/athletic director Jermaine Clemons, who’s in his fourth year with the group.

“It’s bigger than just football,” said Bills U14 varsity coach Juan Long, who’s been with the organization for 13 years.

That theme is emphasized in the organization’s three pillars — respect, community development and education.

The Bills offer flag football, tackle football, and cheerleading for ages 5 through 14. The organization was established in 1976, serving northwest Hillsborough County and Odessa.

It currently has about 160 players across five youth divisions, plus dozens of cheerleaders.

The organization has enjoyed its share of success in recent years, especially at the higher levels.

Under Long’s watch, the Bills won Tampa Bay Youth Football League (TBYFL) varsity titles in 2013 and 2017.

The team of 13- and 14-year-olds is enjoying another solid season, with a 6-2 mark.

While holding onto a roster, Coach Dave Saunders observes his offense players run individual drills, as they perfect their deep routes. Saunders was an all-conference receiver at West Virginia University in the late 1990s who went on to play nine years of arena ball. He is currently the varsity wider receiver coach for Gaither High School in Tampa.

“Juan really coaches it,” Clemons said. “He coaches his players up, and he’s very detail-oriented. He runs a defense almost like a college team. They run an offense almost like a college team. It’s not, ‘Line up and run right, run left.’ There are small details.”

But Long, also an assistant at Steinbrenner High, isn’t out there simply to win ballgames.

“I really don’t care about a trophy,” he said. “I care about if (kids) want to come back because they had a great experience, a great time with us.

“Every year I tell the parents, ‘My job is to make them better brothers, better sons, better husbands for the future.’ That’s the main goal, to establish more of the characteristics of these kids, as opposed to just being a football player. I know if we’ve done the other things correctly, we’ve done our job.”

Parent volunteer Jennifer Green witnesses it first-hand with her three sons, who each play for the Bills.

Green explained Bills coaches stay on players about their schoolwork and even offer tutoring sessions before regular Tuesday and Thursday night practices at Keystone Park in Odessa. Coaches also require players to face their teammates if they miss a practice or game due to a behavior or off-the-field issue.

“They’re 100% not just here to make your child a better football player,” she said, “They’re here to build men.”

It’s something 14-year-old Tre Wilson has grown to appreciate.

On the field, Wilson about has it covered, as a versatile athlete who can play running back, receiver, quarterback and returner. The Gaither High freshman also has the bloodlines, as father Eugene Wilson II is a two-time Super Bowl champion with the New England Patriots who also played for the Houston Texans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers during an eight-year NFL career between 2003-2010.

But, it’s the mentorship from coaches that sticks out most to the younger Wilson.

Cheerleaders with the Midget Cheer Squad practice an extension pyramid, under the direction of Midget Head Coach Melissa Lindstrom. The squad is made up of girls, ages 11 and 12.

“They’ve shown me experiences about life, as I’m growing up,” he said. “Over the years, they’ve taught me not only about football, but being the best on and off (the field).”

Aside from life lessons of course, Bills coaches impart their fair share of football advice.

They’ve got the pedigree to do so.

Clemons was a running back at the University of South Florida in the late 1990s under head coach Jim Leavitt.

Long was a linebacker at Mississippi State University in the early 1990s, and had a brief stint in the NFL and played several years in the Arena Football League.

Another coach, Dave Saunders, was an all-conference receiver at West Virginia University in the late 1990s who has the third-most receiving yards in school history. He went on to play nine years of arena ball, including four season with the Tampa Bay Storm (2002-2005).

The experience resonates with players and parents alike, said Green, whose boys spent time in other youth football leagues in the Tampa Bay area.

“We’ve been drawn here by the level of coaching that is available,” she said. “The level of coaching here is a lot more intense. To have that level of experience out there, not every person can bring that out.”

The diverse and decorated football backgrounds help get kids to heed coaches’ principles, Long explained.

“You don’t need to be a former player in order to get credibility,” Long said, “but, at the same point in time, especially with today’s generation, you do at least get their attention.”

“We have that experience, so we can relate to the kids from that standpoint. They know, ‘Hey, these guys have been there and done it, they’ve seen things at the highest level, then maybe we should listen to them, because they’re trying to steer us in the right direction.’”

Published October 23, 2019

Lutz Chiefs at 40: It’s time to celebrate!

September 26, 2018 By B.C. Manion

For decades, it’s been the place to be on Saturdays — for hundreds of players, cheerleaders, coaches and spectators.

The Lutz Chiefs played in the Pasco Police Athletic League for nearly 30 years before joining the Tampa Bay Youth Football League in 2010. (Courtesy of Lutz Chiefs)

The Lutz Chiefs, celebrating the league’s 40th year this season, has offered boys and girls a chance to play and an opportunity to develop their athletic skills, whether it be as football players or as cheerleaders. The league’s cheer squads and teams are open to children ages 5 through 14.

The league also has contributed to the sense of community that Lutz enjoys, as parents on the sidelines get to know other parents, and players get to know children from different schools who compete on the same teams.

On Sept. 29, the league is hosting a reunion for Chiefs alumni, which they’re dubbing “The Greatest Show on Turf.” The event begins with games starting at 9 a.m., a varsity game at 3 p.m., and a Family Food and Fun Fest, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. The event take place at Oscar Cooler Sports Complex, 656 W. Lutz Lake-Fern Road in Lutz.

The Lutz Chiefs Spring Team Cheer Squad won first place at Reach The Beach, in Daytona, at the spring 2018 competition.

The league also is hosting a Great Gatsby Gala on Oct. 5, at Cheval Country Club, intended to raise money to pay for a shade cover for the bleachers —  so spectators can be more comfortable while watching their children or grandchildren play, said Amy Lancaster, Lutz Chiefs director.

The league was established in 1978 and, since then, the football teams have won more than 19 different Super Bowl Titles, and the cheerleaders have won 17 different league titles, Lancaster said.

The league’s home is the Oscar Cooler complex — named for the man who attended hundreds of meetings of the Hillsborough County Commission to persuade commissioners to buy an orange grove so the community could build itself a place for youth sports.

Coach Jason Turk guides Ronan Baggs during a flag football game at Oscar Cooler Sports Complex on Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz.

Over the years, the complex has evolved and improved, but the community spirit that created it so many years ago remains intact.

There are some families who have been involved with the Lutz Chiefs for generations.

“Right now, we have a coach that coached in the ’80s. He’s now helping his son coach his grandson,” Lancaster said. “So, we have three generations on the field.”

Currently, there are around 140 kids involved, between football and cheer. Plus, there are about 40 volunteer parents and coaches, she said.

But, it’s not just about football and cheerleading, Lancaster said.

Johnathan Blalock played for the Lutz Chiefs during the Pasco Police Athletic League jamboree when The Chiefs were still part of PPAL. That association lasted nearly 30 years, until organization joined the Tampa Bay Youth Football League in 2010. (File)

“We’re making young men and women. It’s not just about the sports. It’s about cultivating character and commitment to something, and (to) our community,” the director said.

There’s a sense of connection and camaraderie, Lancaster added.

“I was at Publix (on Lutz Lake Fern and North Dale Mabry Highway) the other day. It felt like half our team was there,” Lancaster said.

Stacy Turk, who grew up in Lutz, said that the league’s longevity speaks well for it.

Her family is heavily involved in the program.

Her daughters, 11-year-old Taylor and 9-year-old Tylar are cheerleaders. Her 6-year-old son, Porter, plays flag football and her husband, Jason, is the head coach for flag football.

Turk said she genuinely loves The Lutz Chiefs because of the outpouring of love that coaches display, and because of the structure the league provides for youths.

Coach Anthony Perrone huddles with his team.

“It’s awesome to see the compassion that these coaches, on the field — whether it’s cheer or football — have for their players,” Turk said. “My kids look forward to going.”

The Lutz Chiefs was associated with the Pasco Police Athletic League for nearly 30 years before joining the Tampa Bay Youth Football League in 2010.

Over the years, it has helped prepare young athletes, who have gone on to play at the high school, college and National Football League levels.

For all football-related inquiries, contact Rick Brodsky, athletic director, at
(813) 786-6754 or .

For any cheer-related inquiries, contact Maggie Brodsky, cheer director, at
(813) 786-2370 or .

The Greatest Show on Turf
When: Sept. 29, games beginning at 9 a.m.; varsity game at 3 p.m.; followed by a Family Food and Fun Fest, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Where: Oscar Cooler Sports Complex, 656 W. Lutz Lake-Fern Road in Lutz
Details: All Chiefs alumni are encouraged to show up to celebrate the program’s 40th anniversary. There will be games to watch, reunions among old friends and a good old-fashioned sense of community.

Great Gatsby Gala
When: Oct. 5 from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Where: The Cheval Country Club, 4312 Cheval Blvd., in Lutz
Details: The Lutz Chiefs will host a Great Gatsby Gala, to celebrate its 40th year as part of the community. There will be an open bar, silent auction, live music, hors d’oeuvres and dinner. There are three ways to help: be a sponsor, participate with goods or services, or attend the gala.
Cost: Tickets are $75 per person or $125 for a couple. Proceeds will go toward the purchase and installation of shade covers for bleachers.
Info: Email . Tickets: Call Stacy Turk at (813) 732-8170.

Published September 26, 2018

Chiefs wrap up Super Bowl season

December 28, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Through 38 years of organized youth tackle football, the 2016 fall varsity season will go down as one of the Lutz Chiefs’ most dominant ever.

They went 14-1.

They were crowned Tampa Bay Youth Football League (TBYFL) Super Bowl champs.

And, they won “The Battle of the Bay,” toppling the best Pinellas County had to offer.

The Lutz Chiefs varsity team, made up of 13- and 14- year-olds, recently was crowned Super Bowl champs for the Tampa Bay Youth Football League (TBYFL). The Super Bowl victory marked the organization’s first championship since 2009 — and the first for a Chiefs varsity squad since 2006.
(Photos courtesy of James Monahan Photography)

All told, it was a remarkable year for the Chiefs 13-14-year-old division team.

In fact, the Super Bowl victory marked the organization’s first championship since 2009 — and the first for a Chiefs varsity squad since 2006.

As for the team’s lone blemish? It came in the form of a 12 to 6 overtime loss in the fifth game of the season.

Tom Wiltse, director of the Lutz Chiefs, described the season this way: “It’s just one of those things where everything kind of clicked. We knew we had a really good opportunity to go far this year.”

The outcome was perhaps a year in the making.

Many integral pieces — including a stable coaching staff — returned from a respectable two-loss 2015 season.

“We brought back a lot of the same players,” Wiltse said, “but, we picked up a couple of other key players — really good athletes.”

Getting the group to play as a cohesive unit, however, was the critical part, said Zack Kilburn, Chiefs varsity head coach.

“We had a great deal of talent,” Kilburn said, “but, the biggest success was for them to become a team.

“We had a bunch of kids that had been used to being the superstar at multiple levels… and we had to teach them to be a part of a team, and how to work through those aspects.”

That meant an enhanced focus on building positive character traits — like integrity and dedication, and honesty and sportsmanship.

A blitz-heavy defense helped propel the Lutz Chiefs to a 14-1 fall record.

“Talent can only take you so far,” said Kilburn, who’s coached with the Chiefs for more than a decade. “We had a big philosophy on concentrating on the little things — teaching these kids that the little things are going to make them successful in life, and on the football field.”

On the gridiron, the Chiefs coach said the Chiefs’ pressure-heavy 4-4 defense was “probably the biggest deciding factor” in the 14 wins — several of which were shutouts.

“We kind of adapt what our defense is doing,” Kilburn said. “We do a lot of blitzing to try to mix it up and confuse the opposing offense.”

Unsurprisingly, several names etched on the Chiefs’ 2016 varsity roster have lofty ceilings ahead.

Many will eventually dot the football rosters of area high schools like Steinbrenner, Freedom, Wharton and Gaither.

“I’d bet there’s seven, maybe eight kids that are going to be really good players in high school,” Wiltse said.

A few may even don Division I uniforms.

“When you’re moving up, the competition gets better…but we got a couple of kids that for sure are going to be playing DI football,” Wiltse said.

Reaching the game’s uppermost levels isn’t foreign to the Chiefs.

The organization has produced two current NFL players — wide receiver Nelson Agholor and quarterback Aaron Murray.

Both are Philadelphia Eagles, ironically.

Agholor, for one, is particularly passionate about his Lutz Chiefs playing days.

During the 2015 NFL offseason, he made an appearance at a Chiefs practice, where he spoke to current players about the bonds he formed throughout youth football.

There, Agholor proclaimed, “I’m a Chief for life.”

“It was just really, really cool.” Wiltse said of the memorable moment. “People got goosebumps.”

Agholor, like countless others, are part of what Wiltse refers to as ‘Chiefs Nation.’

The moniker — like the organization — casts a wide net. It describes current (and former) youth players and cheerleaders, along with families and other volunteers.

“We kind of got something special up here,” Wiltse said.

And, while winning games is important, the Chiefs director noted the organization’s purpose rests in “teaching family values.”

“I tell people all the time, ‘If you can get the infrastructure behind you, the wins…will come shortly thereafter,’” Wiltse said. “But, you got to build that infrastructure.”

Meantime, the varsity squad — and the Chiefs’ other age divisions— will shortly suit up for spring football, where practices begin Feb. 1.

They’ll compete in the Tampa Bay Extreme Spring Football (TBXSF) league, which has a short season league, and draws squads from Pop Warner and Pinellas County.

Simply put, the Chiefs will compete against teams they normally wouldn’t face.

“It’s pretty good at judging where your whole organization is when you’re playing some of these other teams,” Wiltse said.

For more information on the Lutz Chiefs, visit LutzChiefs.org.

Published December 28, 2016

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