BUTLER TWP - They are teammates at home, rivals on the practice field.

Either way, Thom and Jennifer Smith, Shawn and Jennifer Moody are true football couples.

All four Cranberry Township residents are members of the Pittsburgh Passion women's football franchise.

The Smiths have been married for five years. Thom coaches the defensive line and Jennifer plays fullback.

The Moodys are in their fourth year of marriage. Shawn coaches defensive backs and Jennifer is a wide receiver.

"I heard about the tryouts for the team on the radio a couple of years ago," Jennifer Smith said. "I've always loved football. Thom and I have had teams in fantasy leagues and I always played in pick-up tackle games with the boys when I was a kid."

Always athletic, Smith was a four-year starter on the North Allegheny girls basketball team. She met her husband in high school.

"When she came home and told me she was trying out for a football team, my first reaction was to laugh," Thom Smith said. "I asked her what it was, powder puff football? Flag football? I had no idea."

Before long, Smith became a part of the team himself. He became defensive coordinator last year before moving to a more specialized role of coaching defensive line this year.

The Smiths met in biology class in high school. The teacher of that class - Jayne Beatty - also plays for the Passion.

"The whole thing is kind of weird," Coach Smith said. "But it's great coaching these women. They really want to learn and their work ethic is incredible."

"It helps me that Thom is coaching because I don't feel guilty about missing family time to play football," his wife said. "This is something we're doing together."

From November through mid-March, the Passion have been practicing from 9:30-11:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at Family Sports Center.

While he's coaching the women who his wife is trying to run through, Thom Smith admits he has a hard time not rooting for her.

"Any time Jen breaks off a long run against my group, I feel like clapping for her," he said. "But I'm supposed to be mad."

"I love playing fullback," his wife said. "The position is made for me. I enjoy the full contact."

Jennifer Moody played defensive back last year while her husband coached receivers. As Shawn Moody switched to coaching defensive backs this year, his wife switched to receiver.

"I like it that way," Mrs. Moody said. "I don't want anybody accusing us of favoritism, saying that I'm playing a position because my husband is coaching it."

Moody heard about the Passion tryouts from a friend who heard the advertisement.

Her husband heard the same radio spot and was planning to tell her about it.

"I knew it was right up her alley," Shawn Moody said. "When she came home and told me to guess what she was going to do, I said 'you're going to play football.'"

Despite suffering a broken ankle early last season, Moody has donned the gear for another season.

"It's part of the game," she said of the injury.

"Injuries are always in the back of your mind and, of course, I worry about her out there," Coach Moody said. "But she's an athlete. She knows what she's doing.

"After practice, there's times she'll tell me something about a defensive back's coverage or I'll tell her something I noticed about a pattern she was running. We help each other."

They also have a pre-game ritual. After their work day and before an evening practice, the Moodys will blare loud music to get in the mood for football.

Coach Moody will toss footballs to his wife in the living room.

"It gets us psyched up, ready to go," he said.

The two met while attending Waynesburg College. An East Brady High School graduate, Shawn Moody was an all-conference free safety at Waynesburg in 1994.

Jennifer Moody played basketball and softball at Kiski Area High School and was a starting point guard at Waynesburg her senior year.

"I always dreamed of playing organized football," she said. "My grandfather bought me a Steelers helmet when I was 7 years old."

Jennifer Smith and Moody - like any football player - felt tired and sore after their first few days of full contact wearing helmets and shoulder pads.

No more.

"I leave practice feeling exhilarated now," Smith said. "I wish we could go through another practice right then."

"I feel like a proud father watching her play," Coach Smith said. "She's always been a football fanatic. Now she's a football player.

"I'm happy for her. I'm happy for all these ladies."

The Passion begin their second season in the National Women's Football Association April 3 against Baltimore. The team will play its home games at Ambridge High School.