Atlanta Falcons coach Mike Smith has accomplished a lot in the past few years, most notably winning the NFL’s 2008 coach of the year award and taking his team to the NFC championship game last season.
Smith, though, likely wouldn't have reached those lofty heights without the time he spent in Johnson City, Tenn.
“I think your college experience is probably the second-most influential part of your life,” said Smith, an East Tennessee State University defensive standout from 1977-81. “Of course your parents first and foremost, but the things you live and learn in the college atmosphere are things that you take on forever.
“I love this region of East Tennessee. The people are wonderful and it probably had the biggest influence besides my mom and dad.”
Smith and a number of other luminaries in the sporting world, including NFL legends Dan Marino, Emmitt Smith and Bruce Smith, were in Bristol on Monday at The Virginian Golf Club for a charity event to benefit the Niswonger Children’s Hospital.
As of the morning news conference, more than $700,000 had already been raised for the hospital – and that number got a significant boost once the golfers hit the course as Marino won a car for recording a hole in one and donated the vehicle back to the cause.
Monday’s gathering came just three days after ETSU announced Carl Torbush as the new coach of its reinstated football program, which is set to field a team in 2015 for the first time since 2003. Torbush and former University of Tennessee coach Phillip Fulmer, who assisted ETSU in its coaching search, were also on hand along with Mike Smith.
“The first thing I know is as an alumnus and a former player, I’m very excited about football coming back,” Smith said. “I can’t tell you how thankful we are that we’ve got [ETSU president] Dr. Brian Noland. He put together quite a team in [athletic director] Dr. [Richard] Sander and Coach Fulmer in terms of fast-tracking the football team.”
Smith said his NFL duties keep him busy, but he added that he’ll be keeping close tabs on the Buccaneers.
“It’s going to be fun to watch,” he said. “I’ve got a pretty full schedule, but I want to be very supportive in every way that I can and I hope that all the former players and alumni will come together and support the restarting of our football program.”
Count at least one former Vol on board as well.
Dallas Cowboys tight end, former UT star and Elizabethton, Tenn., native Jason Witten was also golfing Monday at The Virginian and the revival of the ETSU program hasn’t escaped his notice.
“Obviously growing up in this community, I think football does a lot of great things,” Witten said. “It was unfortunate to hear [the ETSU program] go a decade ago, whatever it was, but I think it’s going to be great for the community.
“… I think it will be great for all these young kids, hopefully it will keep a lot of this talent in the area. I’m a fan and I want to help out any way I can.”
Witten is coming off the best statistical season by a tight end in NFL history as he snagged a league-record 110 catches at the position in 2012. He also was the recipient of the NFL’s 2012 Walter Payton Man of the Year award after the 2012 season, which honors a player for his on- and off-the-field contributions.
All of Witten’s achievements haven’t escaped the notice of Emmitt Smith, who won three Super Bowls with the Cowboys and still holds the league’s career rushing record nine years after his retirement.
“I love it,” Smith said. “I love the way he’s handling all of his success. Obviously to be awarded the man of the year, the Walter Payton man of the year, says a lot about him and what he’s done for his community as well as his career. It’s just a beautiful thing.”
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