"I'm still in awe over this situation," he said, sporting dark three-piece suit with red pinstripes and a Buckeyes' scarlet and gray tie.
"I represent these colors to the fullest," he said.
It's been quite a journey.
"I'm proud of him and everything he's accomplished," Quinn, a fellow Ohioan, said of Smith. Knowing his background, knowing where he comes from, I think it's an important thing to understand why he's so driven and so deserving of such an award."
Smith came to Ohio State as part of a heralded recruiting class in 2002, but his signing was little more than a footnote. His claim to fame was being Ted Ginn Jr.'s quarterback at Glenville High School.
Smith was labeled an "athlete" coming out of high school, the type of player who might ultimately find a home at wide receiver or defensive back.
Even Tressel wasn't sure he'd play quarterback, but he saw potential.
But Smith, a foster child as a teen with a quick temper, also had a penchant for finding trouble. After getting kicked off the basketball team at a private high school for elbowing an opponent, he transferred out of the suburbs of Cleveland to inner-city Glenville High. Smith, who is black, said the white opposing player used a racial slur against him.
At Ohio State, Smith was involved in a fight outside a dorm in the fall of 2003 and found guilty of disorderly conduct.
On the field, Smith couldn't beat out Justin Zwick, the highly touted blue-chipper from the '02 class, at the start of the 2004 season. But when the Buckeyes lost three straight and Zwick got hurt, Smith got his chance and righted the Buckeyes with his running and passing.
Then he tripped himself up again.
An NCAA investigation determined he took $500 from an Ohio State booster in the spring of 2004. He could have been gone from the Buckeyes for good. Ultimately, he had to repay the money and sit out a bowl game and the first game of 2005.
Back from suspension, he finally became a star.
Smith finished the '05 season with consecutive 300-yard passing games in victories over Michigan and Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, essentially kicking off his '06 Heisman campaign.
Once known more for his speed and elusiveness, Smith's become the consummate pocketpasser. Accurate and poised, he's fourth in the nation in passer rating (167.9) with 2,507 yards passing and 30 TD passes.
He heads into the BCS championship game 25-2 as a starter, and — Gators beware — Smith has been at his best when the Buckeyes have needed him most.
The first Ohio State quarterback in 70 years to lead the Buckeyes to three straight victories over Michigan, Smith had 1,051 total yards with seven touchdown passes and another TD run against the Wolverines.
He's 11-1 as a starter against ranked opponents, with a chance to improve on that mark in the biggest game of his career in Arizona against Florida.
"Finally, now that's out of the way," Smith said. "Now let's move on to preparation for the University of Florida and the national championship."
Yes, American football. Sorry, Kap...I know how Euros are about their football. But you'll have to watch it sometime...they're starting to recruit soccer players as kickers.
Yes, American football. Sorry, Kap...I know how Euros are about their football. But you'll have to watch it sometime...they're starting to recruit soccer players as kickers.
Ok BloodThirstyWench!
I haven't USA channels to see American football. I have Eurosport - there is no American Football. Only soccer.
12-12-2006, 15:00
Re: Buckeye's Troy Smith Wins Heisman!!! 
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But you'll have to watch it sometime...they're starting to recruit soccer players as kickers.
