by outsidethesidelines on April 11, 2011 8: 04 CDT in footballA sad news to start this morning as we learn former ' offensive coordinator from Bama Homer Smith died yesterday morning. Smith had been battling cancer in recent years, but even as of a few months ago was still active in the community as a coach. Cecil Hurt has a nice column looking back at his time in Alabama:
"I was blessed with two big offensive coordinators, Mal Moore and Homer Smith," former quarterback Jay Barker said on Sunday. "But it was coach Smith which really opened my eyes to the possibilities in the game of step." Earlier, he had coaches that tell you something and maybe give it a test. But head coach Smith would stop at the meeting and actually teach. He would go through the comprehensive guide. Sometimes it would face an hour-and-half board, but his theory was, if you can teach it, i.e., that he knew. "And because, when it was in the field, easily."
Smith's crimes accumulate record numbers in 1988 and 1989 with David Smith and Hollingsworth to field marshal. His return to staff of Gene Stallings was more limited success, as some of his ideas were at odds with the approach more conservative of Stallings. Even so, he had Barker breaking records and what makes New York as a Heisman Trophy finalist and winning one of the most memorable games in the history of Alabama, a classic of 29-28 on Georgia.
Although Smith only spent a few years in Alabama, the most offensive coordinator of Alabama is possibly in the era post-Bryant, and their crimes were generally as productive imaginative. His offense was very much the driving force behind the two recent Bill Curry combined teams to win 19 games, and the offensive of 1989 is possibly one of the best in the history of the school. His return to Tuscaloosa in 1994 to form the so-called Dream Team as a personal coach Gene Stallings and Bill Oliver did not go as planned, but yet still transformed Jay Barker pedestrian player to come from a major injury to a contender for the Heisman Trophy in good faith, and remained a fan favorite.
Beyond of their successes in the field, however, most impressive for Smith may have been its achievements in the classroom. Smith was a Manager by trade, but that did not prevent him from winning a title at Princeton economics, an MBA from Stanford, a Ph.d. in theology at Harvard. It is not surprising given that backdrop, was held in high regard by their peers in football as one of the most innovative offensive of its day. Everything is a sad day for college football, as we lose one of the best coaches and the majority of individuals only.
More information: Alabama Crimson Tide
No comments:
Post a Comment