Saint Bernard Memories

Announcements:

Homecoming October 17th, 2003 6:30 pm
Join us as we honor Football great Al Smith and celebrate the homecoming reunion.

Homecoming :: October 17th, 2003

We do it again. If you were part of the class of '82 reunion you started the party at last year's homecoming. Whereby we barbequed at The Hannon center (the priests house) and watched those mighty Vikings fight on the gridiron.

..........We then took over a local bar and subsequently closed it down!

Well this year we wish to expand beyond the class of 1982. We expect the 70's, 80's and 90's, and heck even those kids from recent years.

YES a Tradition is Born! This is an annual gig folks. We want to get the alumni back to the school.

Plus we have a special special guest visiting us. Al Smith will be honored in a pre-game ceremony whereby this 10 year NFL STAR will have his St. Bernard High School football jersey retired. Al is by far the most successful athlete in St. Bernard history. Today Al is a Front Office All Star for the Tennessee Titans. He is the Titans Director of Pro Scouting. All of us remember Al as a "class act" and we all look forward to reuniting with him on homecoming.

More about Big Al
Those of us from the early 80's remember Al Smith as a big man. A Man amongst boys in high school, Al was lifting college football class weights. He was in an entirely different league than his team mates. And as a guy that had to tackle him in practice I can tell you that we were all glad that Al was on our team.

The fact is that he still is on the Viking team as he continues to give generously to the school.

Below is taken from the Titan website about Big Al's career.

Former All-Pro linebacker Al Smith enters his sixth season in the team’s front office and first as Director of Pro Scouting. In his previous five seasons, Smith served as the club’s Director of Player Development/Pro Personnel. Smith assisted Titans players with career transition into and out of the NFL through continuing education, financial education and dealing with family matters through player programs. Regarded as one of the top coordinators in the league, his department was named the AFC’s best in 2001 after being recognized as the NFL’s most improved player development program from 1998-99 following his arrival. In 2003, NFL Commisioner Paul Tagliabue selected Smith to represent the Titans at the inaugural Stanford Executive Training Program at the Stanford Business School where he joined other club executives to take part in a wide range of educational programs under the direction of Stanford faculty. In 2002, Smith was appointed to the league’s Executive Steering Committee, which deals with player issues throughout the NFL. Smith’s other duties have included scouting NFL Europe, the Canadian Football League, and selective college talent, along with the advance scouting of NFL opponents within the personnel department. A 10-year NFL veteran, Smith was the starting middle linebacker for the Houston Oilers his entire career, anchoring a defense that was considered by many to be the best ever assembled, making seven consecutive playoff appearances from 1987-93. He ended his playing career in 1997 after playing in 10 playoff games. He was elected team captain multiple years and earned Pro Bowl invitations following the 1991 and 1992 seasons. Smith was selected by the Oilers from Utah State in the sixth round (147th overall) of the 1987 NFL draft. He also is a member of the state of Utah’s All-Century team and has been inducted into the Utah State Athletic Hall of Fame. Smith completed his B.S. from Utah State University in 1987. While keeping his department among the NFL’s best, Smith worked double-duty, taking night classes to recently complete his Master’s Degree in Sports Administration from Tennessee State University. A native of Los Angeles, Calif., Smith started for the Vikings of St. Bernards High in Playa Del Rey, Calif. He and his wife, Katrina, live in Brentwood, Tenn. with daughters Courtney and Coryn.