They referred to him as just "Yao" several times in the article, which is why I went that way. Sorry about the keyboard.
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They referred to him as just "Yao" several times in the article, which is why I went that way. Sorry about the keyboard.
coltsfan16
Senior
Congrats to Yao!
man does this post show just how wound up us buckeye fans can get during the off season. we are like a bunch of caged animals.
man does this post show just how wound up us buckeye fans can get during the off season. we are like a bunch of caged animals.
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Dispatch
4/22/06
4/22/06
Big step for walk-on
Antonio Smith’s hard work is paying off with his rise to starting cornerback
at OSU
Saturday, April 22, 2006
Ken Gordon
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
<!--PHOTOS--><TABLE class=phototableright align=right border=0><!-- begin large ad code --><TBODY><TR><TD><TABLE align=center><TBODY><TR><TD align=middle></IMG> </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>DORAL CHENOWETH </TD></TR><TR><TD class=credit width=200>DISPATCH </TD></TR><TR><TD class=cutline width=200>Ohio State cornerback Antonio Smith takes a bit of good-natured ribbing from his grandmother, Mattie Smith, in her Linden home. </TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>
Antonio Smith had big news, and he wanted to share it with the woman who raised him.
So grandmother and grandson sat down at Mattie Smith’s house on the Northeast Side that February day. Antonio was soft-spoken, as always.
"He says, ‘Grandma, I’ve got something to tell you,’ " Mattie said. "I said, ‘What is it, honey?’ and he said, ‘Today, they told me I was getting a scholarship at Ohio State.’ "
Mattie was confused. Antonio had been on an academic scholarship at OSU for four years. During that time, he had been a walk-on football player, playing mostly on special teams.
Antonio told her this was an athletic scholarship, a reward for his efforts.
"He said, ‘I don’t know all the criteria, but they were nice enough to give it to me, and I’m pleased,’ " Mattie said. "I told him, ‘Well, then, I’m pleased with you, too, because you deserve it.’ "
By all accounts, Smith is intelligent, polite, hard-working, humble and grounded. He ruins the curve for the rest of us.
His ascension from little-known walk-on from Beechcroft High School in 2002 to a scholarship player now listed as a starting cornerback seems to serve as validation for a young life well-lived.
Asked about his former player, Beechcroft coach Tom Dunlap was speechless for a long moment.
"He is . . .," Dunlap said. "I’m trying to think of the right adjective."
He hits upon the story of Smith winning a Dispatch scholar-athlete award in 2002, which came with a $1,000 scholarship. Since Smith already had accepted an academic scholarship to OSU, he could not keep the $1,000.
"He donated it back to (Beechcroft’s) athletic department," Dunlap said. "So we named an academic trophy in his honor. He was the first recipient, and we’ve given it out five times since then. He paid back, long before most people understand that."
Antonio said, "I try to give back as much as I possibly can. There’s not too much I can do in my situation. I just try and give back to my high school and people that supported me throughout the way."
Among those people was Mattie Smith, who raised Antonio for most of his childhood. His father left for California shortly after he was born. He has a good relationship with his mother, Monica, who lives in Columbus.
But Mattie was the woman who molded young Antonio.
"I raised him to be respectful to all people," Mattie said. "He’s always been a nice boy. He always made good grades. If he wasn’t on the honor roll, he would be crying.
"He’s obedient, he doesn’t drink, doesn’t smoke. I told him he couldn’t have a girlfriend until he was 16, no dates, that he needed to concentrate on his schoolwork, and he listened and did what he was told."
Antonio did that in football, as well. He lettered at OSU in 2004 and 2005 but seemed destined to stay in a specialteams role.
"I just hoped for the best," Smith said. "I try to do the best I can every day, come out here and compete and just try and get better regardless of a scholarship or not. If I could do that, then I feel like I rewarded myself."
With the entire 2005 starting secondary having left, OSU coaches elevated Smith to the No. 1 spot on the spring depth chart.
"It’s a great feeling," Smith said. "Being my fifth year, I feel like I put in a lot of hard work, and (the coaches) have finally trusted me and supported me to put me up there and see what I can do.
"I’m just trying to do my best and not let them down."
Cornerbacks coach Tim Beckman said, "He deserves it. He does everything right on the field and off the field, so that’s why he’s got that opportunity."
Smith is a mechanical engineering major. He said his grade-point average is about 3.0.
Back at Beechcroft, Dunlap swells with pride. He has a picture of Smith in his office and says he holds up Smith as an example to others.
"Antonio has set the mark for the Columbus Public Schools," Dunlap said. "He’s led the way. A lot of kids had his dream, but so often it fizzles out when the rubber meets the road.
"So is he the one I’m trying to hammer the nail with every day? Every day. We don’t have enough kids like him."
Smith faces stiff competition to keep his starting job from younger players such as Andre Amos, Donald Washington, Sirjo Welch and Kurt Coleman.
But by being considered a starter through spring ball, he has accomplished maybe the only selfish goal he has ever allowed himself to set.
For years, he wanted to see his name and likeness on EA Sports’ NCAA football video game. OSU officials recently sent their list of starters to EA Sports, and Smith was included. The 2007 version is due out in July. "It’s my last year; I’d like to see that happen," Smith said, smiling sheepishly. "It’s kind of like a little collector’s deal. I guess just to see myself out there would be cool."
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tedginn05
Legend
Coach made a comment during a practice Monday. Said on Saturday, the day before players reported to camp at OSU, that Smith was at Beechcroft running laps and sprints on the football field. Nobody telling him what to do, just him being his own coach.
I think that shows his determination for the upcoming season.
I think that shows his determination for the upcoming season.
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daddyphatsacs
Let the cards fall...
Not really.......he was probably just following the OSU conditioning program.
In all honesty, he really has impressed me this offseason. He's been a guy who has worked his way into playing time. You've got to love to have guys like him on your squad. He's determined, and he's wants to make something of himself. Kudos to Yao!
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OSUBasketballJunkie
Never Forget 31-0
Scout.com$ (Steve Helwagen)
8/27/06
Smith talks about his journey from being a walk-on to a scholarship player, the situation in the secondary and what is role may be this year.
8/27/06
Smith talks about his journey from being a walk-on to a scholarship player, the situation in the secondary and what is role may be this year.
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