FLC's Smithson: Big man on campus

Seventeen years of waiting around for the chance to strap on shoulder pads and step on a football field are finally over for 6-foot-5, 375-pound Kyle Smithson.

A lifetime of being turned down - a childhood with no options - is behind him.

To see Smithson on the gridiron barreling over defensive linemen with his parents cheering loudly enough to be heard for miles is to see a family making up for lost time.

"The feeling of that first game was wonderful," said Smithson, who never met the weight requirements to play football as a child before having to wait until his senior year for Franklin Learning Center to offer the sport through a sponsorship from Furness.

"To finally be able to step out there in full equipment and to have your teammates and family cheer you on when you do good, it was just that feeling of 'Wow, this is really happening.' "

By all accounts, Smithson is a natural, now face-to-face with the real possibility of being able to play in college, maybe even earn a scholarship – although no schools have contacted the starting left tackle after just three games.

It's a far cry from a childhood when football simply wasn't happening.

Smithson's story started out as one not uncommon in Pee-Wee football.

He wanted to play but had to wait because he exceeded the weight requirements. Smithson's parents, Kevin and Marge Nobles, exhausted every option, to no avail.

"Growing up, it was hard because all my friends played football and I couldn't," said Smithson, who kept busy playing basketball. "But, yes, as far back as I can remember, I always did want to play football."

When it came time for high school, the Nobles sent their son to Franklin Learning Center because of the school's academic reputation - always the top priority for Kyle.

At the time, there were rumblings that the school was going to start a football program, but after a couple of years of waiting, Smithson just figured it was over.

"I was always saying to everyone in the school, 'We need a football team. We need a football team,' " Smithson said. "But when I finally found out that we had a football team, I was shocked, but I was happy to play. I was happy to sign up right away."

For Furness coach Anthony Pastore, the decision to merge his team - already composed of students from Furness and Palumbo - with Franklin Learning Center was easy.

Pastore points to Smithson as embodying everything he sees in the kids from FLC and every reason that the team (2-1) started this season with two wins.

"Kyle's a great kid, he's smart, he's committed, and he pays attention," Pastore said. "He's improving every day. And that's what the [FLC] kids bring to this team.

"They're upbeat kids, they're always prepared, and they're always on time. And I think that's starting to spread a little bit."

With Smithson's tremendous strength - even for someone his size - and quick feet, Pastore said the decision to start him was easy. And it's not hard for anyone who watches Smithson to see the attributes that shocked his family members when they first saw him play.

"Kyle's just always been such a gentle giant, but when he's in those games, he's like a changed person," Marge Nobles said. "He's the comedian of our family. I'm used to just seeing him messing around and keeping everyone laughing. So it's just really fascinating to see this whole other side to him."

As happy as he has been with his new left tackle, Pastore is still bugged by two things.

First, he can't help but think how great Smithson could have been with a few more years of experience. And he can't help but wish that double-zero was an eligible number in high school football.

Even though Smithson likely will be the biggest and most physically dominating player in most games he plays this season, Pastore thought the senior needed to stand out for a different reason.

"Double-zero is kind of an old-school-type number," Pastore said. "And that's the way Kyle plays the game, even though it's only his first year. So I thought, you know what, let's give him double-zero.

"Of course, I found out in the first game that double-zero is an ineligible number, which I wasn't aware of. So we had to switch it."

Now wearing a very pedestrian No. 73, Smithson says he is still trying to improve every day and he, of course, hopes his first year of football isn't his last.

"It's just been great so far," he said. "And to know that I might have a chance to play football in college, even though academics are still most important, would just be a great achievement."