COLOMBIA – Acrobatic footprints were as common as seeing him go from mask to mask with a defender. South Carolina’s Shi Smith showed all his talent and fierce temper during the Gamecocks’ 30-22 victory over Auburn on Saturday.
Smith’s receptions were stunning. The chin almost constant, the refusal to give up the engagement at the mouth of the trash? Well, he was not penalized. And Gamecocks won, so …
No damage?
“I want a guy who is a competitive and composed football player,” said USC coach Will Muschamp, emphasizing the “compound” with a pause before and after. “He and I have this conversation a lot. When you’re really composed, man, it’s hard to deal with you because you still have your competitive edge and your competitive nature. “
Muschamp made it clear that he was not angry with Smith. He would love to have 110 Shi Smiths on his list.
But it is difficult to find the balance between a game-breaker and a game-changer, a third star receiver in the SEC and 10th in the country in receptions (34 receptions, 347 yards, 3 touchdowns) and a rough headache whose unnecessary actions could wobble the urge. Gamecocks cannot afford to have their best (and almost unique) receiver impairing their chances of victory.
“I have to keep my composure a little longer. I’ve been working on it, ”admitted Smith. “It definitely gets you out of the game. With the double drops I had, they were on my head. “
Perhaps the mammoth chip on Smith’s shoulder is a natural part of a player generously listed at 5-10, 190 pounds, a long shot for the NFL, no matter his college output. Maybe it’s because he comes from Union County, a former textile giant that is still struggling to find an identity after the factories have closed.
Shi Smith and Roger McCreary of Auburn came face to face a few times during Saturday’s South Carolina victory. Travis Bell / Sideline Carolina
Union’s has always had championship-level football, but the natives have always felt scorned due to geography. The county borders on the northwest side with Spartanburg County, home to powerful high school programs like Byrnes, Dorman and Spartanburg. To the north is Cherokee County, where Gaffney, 17 times state champion, lives. To the northeast is York County and Rock Hill, known as “Football City USA” because of its tremendous NFL lineage.
Union always appears on the topic of South Carolina’s great football history, but it is never the first on the list. Children who have gone through this program have always felt that they needed to do a little more to get noticed.
“It’s hard for me to sit down and say this isn’t right,” joked Steve Taneyhill, a former Smith coach in Union County and a USC quarterback just as talented at pinning his opponent as he was at beating him. “As long as it never gets past that point where it hurts the team where you stay on the bench or get a penalty, that’s fine. He is not jumping and talking nonsense after a 2 meter slope. We saw some special pieces of it. “
Taneyhill remembers Smith as a young man who lived up to his name when he arrived at the football camp.
“He’s a quiet guy off the field. I think he goes into that phone booth on the day of the game and leaves with No. 13, ”said Taneyhill. “You have to play and fight for respect. He’s definitely a boy that I show. “
Your game is respected. Another former USC player as well known for his athletic gifts as for his demonstration skills, Syvelle Newton, tweeted that Smith was the best number 13 in USC history. Newton used No. 13.
Its aggressiveness and toughness are praised. “I saw that (Auburn) TD pick up as a ninth grader against Spartanburg. He picked up a ball like that in one of his first games, ”said Taneyhill. “And it’s also that helmet-to-helmet shot he gave, dropped the ball and ran back as if it were nothing.”
Shi Smith’s antics on the pitch can get in the way of opponents. Archive / Nell Redmond / AP
Winning heals everything and since the Gamecocks beat Auburn, Smith’s extracurricular activities were a minor point. However, check Twitter after the defeats to Tennessee and Florida a few weeks ago and it’s the opposite.
This brings to mind another old Gamecock. DJ Swearinger was just as famous for intimidating opponents as for making moves. And although he had his share of silly penalties, they rarely came back to harm the team.
The play he is most remembered for, when he hit Andre Ellington of Clemson with a knockdown on the shoulder that belonged to a UFC fight, came with a 15 yard penalty. Swearinger leaned over to bark at Ellington later.
It was terribly stupid. Gamecocks were trying to maintain a three-point lead and that flag put Clemson in midfield.
But the USC intercepted Tajh Boyd three moves later and won the game, so it didn’t matter. Just like Smith hitting gum against Auburn.
“This is how I play. I come with a little fire with me, ”said Smith. “I’m pretty sure the coaches over there are telling them to do this just to get in my head.”
Muschamp does not encourage and does not necessarily approve of it. It is part of the package.
He will have magnificent performances on Saturdays and if a defense gets in Smith’s face, Smith will not give up. And if Smith has to remember the players he won on Instagram, as he did on Saturday with a photo of his tank destroyer and a caption of reprimand, that is part of it.
“Without a doubt Shi is a tough guy and he shows it and talks,” said Taneyhill. “You do this with all the kids who are the best.”
The best comes with an advantage. It is discovered from time to time.
Follow David Cloninger on Twitter @DCPandC.