Brett Goetz didn’t mean to create a football juggernaut. He just wanted to help the kids in his community.
The creator of the elite 7-on-7 team, the South Florida Express, started the squad in 2007 after bringing back a youth tackle football program in South Beach.
Goetz never played football, but the UF graduate and financial advisor volunteered with a Miami Beach organization. The opportunity to service the community was enough.
“My wife and other people around me said, ‘Why are you doing this? It’s such a pain. You don’t have a kid involved.’ The truth is, it became more about helping these kids,” Goetz said. “Keeping kids off the street, teaching them life skills and basic things from shaking hands the correct way to a lot of different things like communicating with people whether it’s your coaches, your teachers, your parents.”
Five years later, after starting with 40 players at its first tryout attracted 200-plus players and 40 media members at the last audition Feb. 4.
Goetz attributes the attention surrounding the team to the tackle football league where he built relationships with local sports writers, which culminated in Scout.com asking him to start the Express.
“I didn’t realize it, but I did know I had the media contacts to reach out. Year by year it has grown on its own.”
Even former NFL stars like Sam Madison, Samari Rolle and Patrick Surtain help coach the players in tournaments and practices.
“We actually have guys now that can bring stuff to the table in so many ways,” Goetz said. “Even [the current players’] parents tell me that the stuff they have picked up are so absolutely invaluable to their football careers.”
Express defensive back and Florida offer Jamal Carter added, “It feels great to have them, because they’ve been where I want to go to,” Carter said. “That helps me out a lot. Anything they tell me I listen to them.”
Football is only one aspect for the Express. The team travels together and builds lasting relationships on the road — sometimes at each other’s expense. Carter and his teammates tweet pictures of sleeping teammates during bus rides up the state.
These players are going through the same recruiting process, which Goetz sees as a bonding tool.
“What makes it unique is it’s not just the tournaments and the playing,” he said. “It’s more about the camaraderie that we build with the program and our kids.”
Express alumni like West Virginia quarterback Geno Smith, former Ohio State running back Jaamal Berry and former USC linebacker Frankie Telfort continue their relationships five years after playing with the team.
Other teams have sprouted up in recent years to compete with the Express. Team Tampa with Florida targets Vernon Hargreaves III and Leon McQuay III defeated the Express Elite team 24-18 at the IMG Madden Football 7-on-7 National Championship earlier this month.
Goetz brought two teams to the IMG national championship, which featured wide receiver Jordan Cunningham who holds a Florida offer.
Current Gators wide receiver Quinton Dunbar and defensive back Jabari Gorman suited up for the Express in years past.
It’s been five years since Goetz created the South Florida Express. His daughter is now 6-years-old.
Although he has one child of his own, Goetz has impacted the lives of South Florida kids for years.
From passing out perfect attendance trophies at a Miami Beach elementary school with his community organization or encouraging his football players to earn internships, the objective is the same.
“Here you are with high-profile kids on the team who are really wonderful kids. I’ve never had any big issues with any kids, but I do like the fact that if I can somehow say something or help these kids in some way it really satisfies me.”
