From SWOSU Sports Info.
Doug Self, Sports Information Director
CANTON, Ohio – Recent SWOSU Football alum Brad Smithey and the United States National Football Team claimed their third straight title at the International Federation of American Football (IFAF) World Championships with a 59-12 victory over Japan on Saturday night.
The victory in the championship game capped off Team USA’s 4-0 performance at the World Championships, earning the gold medal at the event, which was played at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium in Canton, Ohio over the past ten days. Team USA defeated Mexico 30-6 on July 9, Japan 43-18 on July 12, France 82-0 on July 15 before the championship triumph over Japan.
“It was an awesome experience getting to play football at the international level,” Smithey said. “Just seeing how the other countries looked at American football and the respect they showed us was great, but the best part was being able to represent the United States at our own game and defending our title.”
Playing in the slot, Smithey recorded four receptions for 60 yards and one touchdown at the World Championships, including a highlight 43-yard touchdown reception against Japan during pool play. He had one catch for six yards in the championship game and caught two passes for 11 yards in the opener against Mexico.
Smithey, who was joined in Canton by his father, Scott, who assisted with the Team USA Coaching Staff, was one of seven wide receivers on the Team USA roster. He concluded his playing career at SWOSU last fall as one of the most prolific receiving threats for the Bulldogs in the NCAA era. His 140 career receptions rank fourth at SWOSU while his 1,135 yards and eight touchdown catches each rank eighth. A two-time All-Great American Conference selection, Smithey earned his bachelor’s degree in History Education from SWOSU in May 2014 and, following his senior season, the Mesquite, Texas, native accepted a graduate assistant coaching position at fellow GAC school Southeastern Oklahoma State.
“Playing four games in ten days was definitely a grind, but it was all worth it,” Smithey said. “It’s crazy to think that we were only together as a team for three weeks because it felt like an entire semester. It was awesome to see the guys from all over the country come together and gel in such a short period of time. Not many people get to say that they are ‘World Champs’ so it’s an absolute blessing!”
Smithey becomes the first SWOSU Football player to represent the United States in international competition and, subsequently, the first Bulldog to earn a gold medal at the World Championships. USA Football is the sport’s national governing body in the United States and fans can find out more about the organization at their website, usafootball.com.