LIU riding wave of women's flag football with help of Jets, Jimmy Barbarise
Share this @internewscast.com

“Capo: Rise to Power,” the hit mob series by Jimmy Barbarise, may be in the midst of filming its second season, but the show’s lead actor has his sights set on a different kind of drama. Barbarise is stepping into a new role as the head coach for the inaugural season of Long Island University Sharks women’s flag football team.

“When I have calls with the team’s parents, their questions often aren’t about flag football,” Barbarise chuckled in an interview with The Post.

“They always start with, ‘I watched the show and loved it. When is Season 2 coming out?’ and I have to remind them, ‘Let’s focus on discussing your daughter, shall we?'” he added, noting that he often gifts signed posters to the families of the players.

Originally from Centereach, Barbarise has a notable coaching record, having led the University of Tampa to a third-place national ranking. He’s also a member of the Long Island flag football Hall of Fame. This year marks a significant step as he joins the Long Island University Sharks team.

Thanks to a generous $1 million contribution from the New York Jets and their Betty Wold Johnson Foundation, LIU’s Eastern College Athletic Conference is launching the largest collegiate flag football league in the country, featuring 15 teams.

The New York Jets and their Betty Wold Johnson Foundation kicked in a healthy $1M to LIU’s Eastern College Athletic Conference to launch America’s largest collegiate flag football league of 15 teams.

Sweetening the deal, championships for the coveted “Betty” trophy will be played at MetLife Stadium starting in 2027 when the World Cup concludes.

“It’s so surreal,” said wideout E’lise Lyrse during the league’s massive media day at The Meadowlands.

“I’ve never seen people come together for a sport like this,” added the sophomore who moved from LIU’s rowing team to try her luck on the gridiron.

Getting their button 

Lyrse isn’t the only flag football newcomer repping the Sharks this season, as Barbarise’s team has only four women with prior experience.

“We’re really starting from scratch,” the head coach admitted, saying he opened the books to anyone.

“I sat in the common area and asked people if they wanted to play football… we had players asking roommates.”

But sharks are born swimming.

The mob man picked two experienced first years as his football family’s captains to get newbies ready: High school teammates at Valley Stream, running back Ryann Blount and cornerback Sophia Songveeratham.

Blount said they “would run our own little clinics” that taught the basics of the 7-on-7 game, like route running, plus lots of conditioning.

“Months before coach was even on campus, we were training just on the grass, just running around in the dark — just doing everything we could to get any progress,” added Lyrse, who described the group as inseparable.

When asked how many players watch Barbarise’s show, the captains hilariously declined to comment.

“I swear we’ll get to it,” Blount said.

Made for this 

While the first season may be a building year, Songveeratham is confident that Long Island’s explosive high school flag football landscape will certainly pad out the roster moving forward.

“We had about 26 seniors on the team,” she said of her senior year at Valley Stream.

“It’s so impressive how the programs have been growing so much over the Island. … I want to see how much this can go, and I can’t wait.”

Barbarise added that the local hotbed is making his job easier as well.

“A lot of them have reached out,” he said. “I’ve got a road map to recruits.”

But the Sharks — one of the loudest teams at the Jets media day — don’t plan on waiting to show the flag football world what they’re made of come game one vs. Mercy on St. Patrick’s Day.

“I know my team, I know we can do it,” said Blount. “Watch out for the new kids on the block.”

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Scathing audit performed on West Suburban Medical Center, shuttered Oak Park, Illinois hospital thousands relied on

Critical Audit Uncovers Issues at West Suburban Medical Center, Former Lifeline for Oak Park, IL Residents

OAK PARK, Ill. — Late Tuesday afternoon, the ABC7 I-Team uncovered that…
Mexican Mafia turned American neighborhoods into ‘Gangsta’s Paradise’ with murders, kidnappings, drugs: feds

Federal Authorities Report Mexican Mafia’s Role in Transforming U.S. Neighborhoods with Crime and Drugs

In a significant crackdown on organized crime, federal authorities announced Thursday the…
Former North Carolina police officer accused of threatening mass shooting at New Orleans festival

Ex-North Carolina Police Officer Faces Allegations of Threatening Mass Shooting at New Orleans Festival

A former police officer from North Carolina was taken into custody late…
Third US military aircraft carrier arrives in Middle East

Third US Aircraft Carrier Deploys to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions

The United States has increased its naval presence in the Middle East,…
Iran has 'open window' to negotiate, but 'clock is not on their side,' Pete Hegseth says

Pete Hegseth: Iran Faces Time-Sensitive Opportunity for Diplomatic Negotiations

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth recently addressed the potential for negotiations with…
US soldier Gannon Ken Van Dyke charged with using intel to win $400K Polymarket bet on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro raid

U.S. Soldier Gannon Ken Van Dyke Indicted for Allegedly Exploiting Intelligence to Secure $400K Polymarket Bet on Raid Targeting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro

In a striking turn of events, a U.S. special forces soldier has…
Long Island cops unveil futuristic guns that could fire GPS darts during chases

Long Island Police Introduce High-Tech Guns Equipped with GPS Tracking Darts for Pursuit Operations

Sheriff’s deputies in Suffolk County are experimenting with innovative firearms designed to…
Activists erupt as rescued ducks are sold off like cheap chicken

Activists Rally Against Sale of Rescued Ducks, Equating Treatment to Low-Grade Poultry

A mass surrender of ducks in Southern California has sparked controversy after…
2026 NFL Draft: Ohio State wide receiver Carnell Tate, whose mother Ashley Griggs died in Chicago shooting, drafted No. 4 overall

2026 NFL Draft: Ohio State’s Carnell Tate Honors Late Mother Ashley Griggs, Secures No. 4 Pick

In a significant moment for both the athlete and his supporters, Carnell…
Vegan meat mogul charged with strangling social media star ex in ritzy NYC hotel

Vegan Meat Tycoon Arrested for Alleged Strangulation of Social Media Influencer in Luxury NYC Hotel

An Australian entrepreneur, known for establishing a well-known vegan chicken nugget enterprise,…
Extra large pizza fest serves up slices from 40 different spots in LA this weekend

Indulge in LA’s Ultimate Pizza Extravaganza: 40 Pizzerias Unite for an Epic Slice Fest!

This weekend, downtown Los Angeles will transform into a pizza lover’s paradise…
2 Washington men spent decades under identities taken from dead children: police

Decades-Long Identity Fraud Uncovered: Washington Men Used Deceased Children’s Identities, Police Report

Two men in their 50s face allegations of assuming the identities of…