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Boy Tackles Super Job

Ten-year-old Tyler Smith was among more than 3,400 credentialed reporters Super Bowl XLIII week.

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By JESSICA BALANZA

jbalanza@tampatrib.com

Published: February 11, 2009

NORTHDALE - Ten-year-old Tyler Smith was among more than 3,400 credentialed reporters Super Bowl XLIII week.

The fifth-grader was nominated by his teachers at Claywell Elementary to provide Super Bowl coverage for the Weekly Reader, a magazine aimed at students.

Part of Tyler's job was to attend Media Day, the Super Bowl and then write stories, which were published on the Weekly Reader Web site Feb. 2.

"It was really, really awesome," Tyler said about the experience.

During his reporting duties he met players such as Arizona Cardinals wide receivers Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin, and Pittsburgh Steeler quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Interviewing Roethlisberger was the most fun, Tyler said. "He told me he would rather talk to me than all the other reporters there."

During Tyler's two assignments, he had to time himself to also get his stories written. He said he began writing his Media Day story during a break and then finished it at home. He wrote his Super Bowl story during the game.

"It wasn't too difficult," Tyler said. "It was a little hard piecing it all together."

In an interview in December, Tyler said he wanted to be a football player. And after his Super Bowl experience he said he is considering being a reporter as a backup plan.

"I couldn't believe the amount of stuff he got to do," said Tyler's dad, Richard. "He was so calm and collected. It was a great experience for him."

Visit www.weeklyreader .com/superbowl/media madness.asp to read Tyler's work.

Jessica Balanza can be reached at (813) 865-1518.

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