Article on JT Smith

[GreenBat]

Coach offers affirmative outlook

By JEFF WICK, jwick@sastandardtimes.com or 659-8259

April 29, 2006

J.T. Smith ended up being an NFL pro-bowl wide receiver, but the Big Spring High School graduate actually quit the sport after one game.

''I got introduced to football in elementary, but didn't like flag football,'' said Smith. ''I played one game and quit. There wasn't any tackling, and I wanted to tackle somebody.''

It's no wonder, then, that these are the words of wisdom he passes on to anyone who will listen:

''If I'm going to tell anybody anything,'' Smith said. ''It would be: Be patient.''

Smith admits to having his own patience tested in his new job as head coach of the San Angelo Stampede Express indoor football team, which opens it's season at 7:05 p.m. today in San Angelo Coliseum.

Even the headaches a bunch of semi-pro players can inflict upon their leader, which include not turning in uniforms, not knowing how to get to San Angelo from California and having to be reminded about public appearances, aren't enough to tune down Smith's enthusiasm.

''I'm having fun,'' said Smith, who even though he's in his 50s and 16 years removed from his last pro season, still gets out and runs pass patterns with the team.

The fact that he's enjoying his latest adventure comes as no surprise to one of his old high school coaches from Big Spring, San Angelo school district athletic director Rex Scofield.

''I knew he was going to do well in college,'' said Scofield. ''I don't know if I saw that (him becoming a Pro Bowler) coming.

''He always had a great love for the game and was a hard worker.''

Smith's love of football pales in comparison to the two big reasons he agreed to come to San Angelo to be the Stampede's third head coach in as many years.

Smith's elderly mother Gertrude still lives in Big Spring, and being in San Angelo allows him to see her often.

''I'm going to ask her (to come to tonight's game),'' Smith said. ''Depends how she feels.

''The older parents never came to games. She might have come to one of my college games, maybe two of my pro games, unless I bribed her. She doesn't like to travel. She watched on TV. She didn't care about the NFL. She said, 'That game just made you crazy'. She's proud, even though she doesn't say it. I know.''

His other reason for accepting the job has to do with people a little younger - his players.

''There are a lot of guys that didn't get a break,'' Smith said. ''If they are willing to work as hard as I worked, then I think they should get a chance.''

Smith knows all too well about how important getting a chance can be.

After a stellar college career at the University of North Texas, Smith went undrafted.

''Washington called me right after the draft. By that time I was all hot and mad,'' Smith said. ''But I still had a chance. I had some good people in my corner. That's the way it is now, you have to have some people in your corner to get to the next level.''

Smith wants to be that person for his players.

''He's the greatest thing since sliced bread,'' said Stampede co-owner Darlene Jones. ''He cares about his players so much.''

Smith is a prime example of what can happen when you get a chance.

After playing in the secondary all of his college career, that's where he began in 1978 in the Redskins training camp.

''I went up there early and was catching balls with the receivers,'' Smith said. ''Joe Thiesmann said, 'We're going to move you to offense.' I said, 'Nah, I'm on defense.'

''About the middle of training camp, they called me in and I said, 'Oh God, I'm cut'. They took me in the equipment room and said, 'Get a number - on offense.' Joe said, 'I told you'. I told him, 'Don't matter to me. I'm still here.' ''

He stayed around the league for 13 years, making the Pro Bowl in 1980 and 1988.

He retired after the 1990 season, though he said he could have played five more years.

''Mentally I was tired and physically I was tired,'' Smith said. ''I felt it was time.''

After a short break from the game he started coaching and for the past eight years he's been involved in coaching at all levels on indoor football.

He's also got five kids, three grandkids and one more on the way.

''Grandkids are great. You can give them a lot of candy, get them geeked up,'' Smith said. ''Then send them back home.''

He's happily married to his wife Monica, who he met during a period when he wasn't patient.

''I went in to get a haircut and I guess the owner of the shop messed up my hair,'' Smith said. ''I told him if he messed up my hair, I was going to come back. I came back the next day and she fixed it for me.''

He hasn't had much to complain about since.

One regret he does have is about the lack of team success at the pro level. He never played in a playoff game.

When he left Kansas City after the 1984 season, he had an opportunity to sign with the Chicago Bears, who went on to win the Super Bowl the next year. He chose to sign with the St. Louis Cardinals instead.

''I would have had a Super Bowl ring,'' Smith said.

Now his goal is to get back to the NFL as a coach and win a championship that way. He thinks leading the Stampede to a successful season or two could be a springboard to that, but he's remembering to be patient.

''You're always trying to move up, that's part of the game,'' Smith said. ''Everybody has a path. I'm just trying to stay on mine.''