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QB Troy Smith (2006 Heisman Trophy Winner)

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what I like best about the Troy Smith (and Antonio Smith) stories.. it tells all recruits... If you have it.. we will find it... and you will play...

I don't think many schools can say that... too many seem to promise top recruits playing time... versus earning it... and we'll find you
 
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Troy Smith

Troy's proven it to me. He's the best OSU QB ever. I don't care about the Heisman. He beat Michigan three years in a row and just came up big again and again. I really can't say enough about the guy. Troy, I've been with you since the start. Way to go Baby! Not bad for a running quarterback, huh.:oh: :io:
 
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Troy Smith's case for Heisman
Updated 11/19/2006 8:50 PM ET E-mail | Save | Print | Reprints & Permissions | Subscribe to stories like this

By Kelly Whiteside, USA TODAY
COLUMBUS, Ohio ? The remarkable rise and transformation of Ohio State quarterback Troy Smith, who led his team back to the national championship game with a victory against Michigan on Saturday, in five chapters.

Chapter One: When Smith arrived on campus from Cleveland in 2002, his position was listed as "athlete," not quarterback. "With my situation, any tag was cool. I was happy to be here, and it didn't matter to me. It could have said 'defensive back.' Who cares? Now it's quarterback," says Smith, the last player to sign in his OSU class.

During his redshirt season, he was a tailback and kick returner on the scout team and prepared the Buckeyes defense for Miami's Willis McGahee by simulating the running back during practice for the national title game.

Chapter Two: As a freshman, Smith played in 10 games as a backup running back and kick returner; he didn't throw one pass.

Chapter Three: Halfway through 2004, after starting QB Justin Zwick was injured, Smith led the Buckeyes to a 4-1 finish. Known mainly as a runner, he led the Buckeyes to a comeback win against Michigan with a long scoring drive in the fourth quarter and then did the same the following year. But just before the Buckeyes left for the Alamo Bowl, Smith was suspended for two games for accepting $500 from a booster.

Chapter Four: Smith sat out the first game of the 2005 season, didn't start in the Buckeyes loss to Texas the following week, then took over in week three. During the second half of his junior season, he developed into one of the nation's top passers and led the Buckeyes to a 10-2 record, a share of the Big Ten championship and was named Fiesta Bowl MVP after beating Notre Dame.

Chapter Five: In 14 months, Smith, the player who once let his team down, became the leader who raised them up. "When you think of Troy, the first thing that comes to my mind is leadership," coach Jim Tressel says.

In Ohio State's 42-39 victory against Michigan on Saturday, Smith finished 29-of-41 for a season high 316 yards and 4 TDs, which matched his career best. He hit eight different receivers and kept Michigan's defense, ranked No. 3 entering the game, off balance.

Those who might want to quibble may point to the interception that Smith threw in the third quarter, a turnover that resulted in a Michigan field goal. Two snaps were also muffed in the second half but the first one was high (the turnover led to a Michigan TD) and the second one got caught in a divot, center Doug Datish said. But after a shaky third quarter, Smith found his composure again when the Buckeyes needed him the most. His 13-yard pass to Brian Robiskie near the far left of the end zone with 5:38 remaining proved to be the winning touchdown.

With a 25-2 record as a starter, including 19 consecutive victories, the 6-1, 215-pound senior has played his best against the Buckeyes' biggest rival. He became the first Ohio State quarterback since Tippy Dye in the mid 1930s to beat Michigan three times and the first Ohio State player to throw four TD passes in one game in the series.

No matter what Smith does in the national title game, his place in Ohio State history is secure, thanks to a 3-0 record against Michigan and his 1,051 yards of total offense in his three starts.

This season, Smith has thrown for 30 TDs ? an Ohio State single-season record ? and completed 67% of his passes with just five interceptions for 2,507 yards. His closest Heisman competitor, Notre Dame's Brady Quinn, has 32 TDS and completed 65.1% of his passes with just five interceptions for 3,004 yards.

Because Smith adeptly sidesteps most questions about the Heisman, it's up to others to tout his worthiness. Offensive tackle Kirk Barton: "Twelve and 0, best quarterback in the country, beat Michigan, beat all the rivals. The bigger question is, 'Why shouldn't he?' "

Tressel: "Well, I would think he clinched the Heisman Trophy. I don't think there'd be any question about that. I think he's the best player in college football."

Posted 11/19/2006 8:21 PM ET
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http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/bigten/2006-11-19-troy-smith-heisman_x.htm
 
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OSU Picture Archive

COLUMBUS, OH - NOVEMBER 18: Quarterback Troy Smith #10 of the Ohio State Buckeyes smiles as he points during warm- ups against the Michigan Wolverines November 18, 2006 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

061118_smith_pregame1-vi.jpg


Good snapshot of the chaos battle behind the line.

Heisman Trophy candidate Troy Smith of Ohio State settled into the pocket and completed 29 of 41 passes for 316 yards and four touchdowns against Michigan. (Photo: Bill Frakes/SI)

061118_smith_pocket-vi.jpg


Great play by Troy... this scramble set up the Robo catch and run.

(KIRTHMON F. DOZIER/DFP)

061118_smith_elusive-vi.jpg


Quarterback Troy Smith #10 of the Ohio State Buckeyes throws a pass against the Michigan Wolverines November 18, 2006 at Ohio Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State won 42-39. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

061118_smith_throw2-vi.jpg
 
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It has been an honor, Troy... you came here as a boy, you leave here as a man. We have all been very fortunate to watch you grow on so many levels over the years. JOB(s) WELL DONE! You sure are one classy act! We will all be with you in NYC, Glendale and wherever your future takes you. Thank you for the great memories!
 
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What kills me is how everyone says he's "too short" to play quarterback in the NFL or he wont be a QB in the NFL he'll be a WR/RB. The offensive line on a given Saturday for us is 6'8,6'8,6'5,6'4,6'6. NFL lines arent 7 footers! If he can play with this line in front of him, he can play with any. Bob Davie pretty much squashed the 2nd or 3rd round talk yesterday during the game when he said if Troy isn't in the top 10 picks there will be 22 very happy teams waiting on him.

I pray he lands around 10 with the Dolphins!
 
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BuckBojangles;666086; said:
Troy's proven it to me. He's the best OSU QB ever. I don't care about the Heisman. He beat Michigan three years in a row and just came up big again and again. I really can't say enough about the guy. Troy, I've been with you since the start. Way to go Baby! Not bad for a running quarterback, huh.:oh: :io:
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i gotta admit that this post got me a little choked up... then i looked at the sig pic, and thought about what a celebration the BCS title game is going to be... and for some reason i suspect we haven't seen Troy's best game yet. :wink:

Troy Smith: Greatest Buckeye QB of All Time.
 
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I suppose what impresses me most is that Smith probably also hit the lowest point that any QB in Ohio State history has hit, when he was suspended for accepting the $500. We lost a lot of history when this thread was lost. We had quite a debate about him versus Zwick, some of it got a bit heated.

Think about how high he was after the first TSUN whuppin'--how low he sank--and then how he reached the even greater heights where he is now.

I have total respect for Troy Smith. Not only his football skills and athleticism, but also for what he has done with his life. He has cut the rough edges and become a very polished communicator. He has become a leader. Whether in football or in other routes his life will take, one can only guess that he will achieve great things.

That is something any university could be proud of. It is evidence of a football program to which any parent could entrust a young man that they hope will achieve similar heights.
 
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Link


Ohio State quarterback takes cool to a new level
By JON SPENCER
Gannett News Service

The pre-game fun began with Troy Smith waiting his turn to run through a tunnel of ex-Buckeyes, the senior quarterback playfully pawing at the turf like a bull ready to charge. The post-game fun kicked in some three hours later, with Michigan waving more white flags than red capes.
Troy Smith had done it to the Wolverines again. He muffled "Hail to the Victors" with his magic and authored "Troy Story III," all to the sheer delight of a record Ohio Stadium crowd of 105,708. Smith must be floating on Cloud Ten today.

Yes, that high.
If he soared any higher in the superstar stratosphere, he'd come to an exit ramp marked "Pearly Gates."
Days before engineering Saturday's rollicking 42-39 victory and cementing his place among Ohio State immortals, Smith was asked what it must be like to be Troy Smith.
"It's cool," he said.
So cool he's almost hotter than LeBron. Certainly, between the shoe-horned crowd in the 'Shoe and the national TV audience, No. 10 had more witnesses Saturday.
How cool would it be to be in Troy's cleats right now?
It has to be cool knowing the only other Ohio State quarterback to go 3-0 against Michigan was Tippy Dye, and that the 91-year-old Dye was in the press box to see you match his feat.
Cool is becoming the first OSU quarterback to throw four touchdowns against Michigan and setting the school's single-season mark (30) at your archrival's expense.
Cool is taking a vicious late hit to the head, treating it like nothing more than a love tap and throwing the decisive touchdown pass three plays later.
Cool is knowing it doesn't matter what Notre Dame's Brady Quinn does against USC or that Quinn is a more NFL-ready quarterback. Only one of Columbus' favorite sons is carting off the Heisman in 19 days ... and it ain't Brady.
Cool is shredding Michigan's vaunted defense with 21 completions and three touchdowns - before halftime - while playing at a Montana, Elway or Marino level.
Cool is knowing there's never been another 1,000-yard back like you in school history. Sorry Archie and Eddie and Timmy and Keith, but did you amass 1,051 yards of total offense in your careers against Michigan? Didn't think so.
Cool is not losing your head when you turned into Stan Jackson during your third-quarter lapse. You could have folded after your interception and fumble as Michigan creeped back into contention. If anything, that blow to the head brought you back to your senses for the crucial final minutes.
Cool is not giving up two years ago when you were Justin Zwick's backup and figured less into Jim Tressel's game plan than the third-string long snapper. (The punt, after all, is the most important play in football.)
Cool is being down to your last strike because of off-field transgressions and not only not whiffing when given a third chance, but clearing the bases and cleaning up your soiled image.
Cool is an emotional pre-game hug for your head coach - the same guy who, during your less-humble bench-warming days, you accused of handling you like a puppet on a string.
"I think he's the best player in college football," Tressel said for the umpteenth time Saturday.
Cool is knowing your 100-plus teammates feel the same way.
"Nobody has affected his team more positively than Troy," Anthony Gonzalez said. "I said it before and I'll say it again, he's the greatest quarterback in the history of this team." How cool is that?
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