Local greats return to the East County gridiron

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Rodrick  Miller kept hearing the same thing over and over again. 

The Sarasota native heard stories of fans shouting to former football players that they were washed up and couldn’t play any more. 

Miller, who was playing arena football at the time, didn’t take the situation lightly. 

“You get tired of hearing that,” Miller says. “They don’t understand what it takes to be a professional.” 

After playing in a Pros vs. Joes charity football game in 2004, the GLC Athletics founder and CEO, who works as an independent contractor out of The Out-of-Door Academy and also serves as the Thunder’s athletic trainer, decided to do something to showcase the area’s current and former talent.

On May 16, the 6th annual Pros vs. Semi-Pros Charity Flag Football Game will be held from 2 to 7 p.m. at Booker High School. The game, which will be held at 5 p.m., pits past and present professionals against semi-professionals. 

Former Sarasota wide receiver Shawn Bane Jr., who plays for Middle Tennessee State University, and Riverview High running back Karan Higdon, who will play for the University of Michigan in the fall, will be on hand along with former Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Errict Rhett, University of Florida great Larry Kennedy and Southeast High star wide receiver Peter Warrick, among others. 

“I wanted to bring something positive to the community, and this is something different,” Miller says. “They aren’t all athletes. Some of them are established in other fields, but they’ve all been at the top of their game and have done great things for the community.” 

In addition to the game, guests can enjoy bounce houses, activities, concessions and more.

Cost is $5 for adults. Children with parental supervision and high school students with an ID get in free. A portion of the proceeds will benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. 

There also will be a dunk tank for $1 with all proceeds from the tank benefiting Janie Poe Gardens’ after-school program. 

For more information on the Pros vs. Semi-Pros Charity Flag Football Game or GLC Athletics, contact Miller at [email protected] or visit glcathletics.com.