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UW football: Smith grew up around greatness in Warren, Ohio
By Mike Lucas
University of Wisconsin freshman tailback Lance Smith, who won't turn 19 until December, was pondering the influence role models had on him while he was growing up. Smith is from Warren, Ohio, which claims, among its most famous residents, Roger Ailes (the head of Fox News) and Catherine Bach (the actress who played Daisy Duke in the old "Dukes of Hazzard" TV show). Paul Warfield and the late Korey Stringer hailed from Warren, too, and both went on to star for the Ohio State Buckeyes, some 30 years apart.
Warren can also lay claim to at least one infamous resident and Smith could barely get the first name out of his mouth - "Mau...rice" - before he stopped in mid-breath, realizing this was not the most timely or politically correct answer. But since he had been asked to identify a bigger-than-life celebrity during his formative period as a high school athlete, he pressed on and answered the question. "I can say Maurice Clarett," Smith said reluctantly. "But he got into trouble - again, again, again."
Smith was reflecting on his Warren background during last Wednesday's media showcase at Camp Randall Stadium. That same day, in the early morning hours, Clarett, who was raised in Youngstown, Ohio, visited the dark side...again, again, again. At the time of his latest police encounter - for driving erratically and fleeing arrest - he had three semi-automatic handguns and an assault rifle in his possession. He was also wearing a bulletproof vest. A Columbus, Ohio, judge has set Clarett's bond at $5 million for the felony gun charge.
"When Clarett was a high school senior (at Warren Harding High School), he was a celebrity because he was so good and we had exchanged some words," said Smith, who went to Howland High School. "But I haven't talked to him since he went to Ohio State (in 2002). To see Clarett go down like this again is kind of heartbreaking. But he did it on his own."
MICHELLE STOCKER/THE CAPITAL TIMES
P.J. Hill (left) leads the race for the No. 1 tailback spot, but newcomers such as freshman Lance Smith are still in the running.
Asked if there was anything someone could learn from Clarett's saga - which included a national championship with the Buckeyes during his freshman season - Smith said, matter of factly, "Keep your mouth closed and only accept things that you should accept."
Exhibiting his civic pride, Smith concluded, "Being from Warren, it's disappointing because we've had a lot of people with good success."
Smith referenced Michigan sophomore wide receiver Mario Manningham, another Harding graduate, who accounted for 27 catches and six touchdowns last season as a true freshman. Manningham had a season-high 106 receiving yards against Wisconsin. Smith singled out Ohio State offensive lineman Doug Datish, a Howland graduate, who has 22 career starts at three positions: tackle, guard and center. Smith also pointed out that another Howland grad, Tony Davis, looms as a starting cornerback at Penn State.
In this context, what does Smith see for himself?
"It's a big-time adjustment - adjusting from high school to college," said Smith, implying the two were miles apart. As such, perhaps, the distance could be measured in hours. "As a matter of fact, I was late getting here. I took a bus and it took me 11 hours," he said of his trip from Warren. "But as long as I hit the weights, work hard and dedicate myself to this program, I'll be all right. I'm going to come in with the idea (of playing). But first things first, I've got to learn the plays and know what I've got to do to be successful. Hopefully, I can contribute on Saturdays...one day."
Nobody is rushing to judgment or putting a timetable on Smith's development. "He has a lot to learn," said UW running backs coach John Settle. "He's got to realize college football is a different game. It's a faster game. Some of the things that he got away with in high school, he can't get away with here. The linemen at this level run too well for him to stutter his feet and try to make the big play every time. All those things will come with growth."
Settle conceded that Smith was probably overloaded with information last week. Starting today, when the Badgers resume practice, he's hoping some offensive concepts will just naturally crystallize in his mind and make more sense. "He's explosive. I like his ability to run," Settle said. "When he gets his shoulders squared to the line of scrimmage, he can execute things the way we want them done. He carries himself well. When he gets in there, he's not rattled. I like his confidence. But we have a lot of offense to put in, and he's got a lot of learning to do."
Settle feels like the next few weeks - leading up to the Sept. 2 opener against Bowling Green - will be very telling as far as sorting out the tailback rotation. Wisconsin offensive coordinator Paul Chryst was in total agreement and stressed that this week, in particular, will be critical to the evaluation process. "This is the true test, this is camp, this is when we have to make some strides, this is a big week for us," said Chryst. "We have to solidify who's going to get the most reps at tailback and kind of narrow that thing down."
The Badgers have five candidates for playing time: P.J. Hill, Jamil Walker, Dywon Rowan, Jerry Butler and Smith. What is workable? "I've been in a system where you've had to have running-back-by-committee, and we were able to make it work," Settle said. "But I'd love to have a go-to guy...and a reliable backup. I'd love to have a clear-cut No. 1 and No. 2."
Hill looks like the starter. Yet, he still looks a little out of shape - "still," because he was definitely out of shape in the spring after missing last season with a broken leg. "I don't think he's game-ready; he's about 85 percent," Settle said. "Whenever we call on him, though, he seems to make something happen in practice. We don't have to play tomorrow. We don't have to play next week. And I have all the confidence in the world that by the time we get to game day that he'll be 100 percent and we'll be able to rely on him."
Settle hasn't dwelled on Hill's listed weight of 242. "If he can carry it, and as long as it's not a problem, I won't say a word to him," Settle said.
A more weighty issue, so to speak, is identifying a No. 2 tailback. "That's a close competition," Settle said. "We're rolling those guys in and out and trying to get a feel for who's that next guy and who can come in and handle protections, if it comes down to that. It's a tight battle. I let them all know this thing is wide open. But we have to find out who we can count on. So, you might get a lot of reps this week, but that might change next week."
Where does that leave Lance Smith? "He's a gifted athlete," Chryst said. "We just have to keep testing him and see how much he can handle."
The 5-foot-10, 190-pound Smith sounds like he could pass a test, a history test - Badger football history. "I know a lot about Chris Chambers and Lee Evans," he said of two former Ohio-bred receivers who had success at Wisconsin. "But since I'm a running back, I was paying attention to Ron Dayne, back in the day, when he was playing here. Brian Calhoun was great last season. He produced the way Anthony Davis used to produce. I also know they've always had real good offensive linemen at Wisconsin. What running back wouldn't want to come here?"
Smith had some options. Penn State and Iowa were on his short list. And he said that Ohio State coach Jim Tressel contacted him after the Buckeyes landed a verbal from Chris Wells, the No. 1 tailback prospect in the nation. By then, though, Smith was already sold on the Badgers, thanks to the recruiting efforts of UW assistant coach Henry Mason, who was responsible for Chambers and Evans, too. "It was a tough decision leaving Ohio, but you've got to do what is best for you," Smith said. "Plus, I figured there's nothing I could get at Ohio State that I can't get at Wisconsin."
Playing time being a universal selling point. "Hopefully when my time comes," Smith said, "I'll take advantage of it."
