Colleges

Staying might be his best move

After a frustrating start to his collegiate career, Antone Smith ready to help revitalize Seminoles' ground game.

By Brian Landman
Published August 14, 2007

TALLAHASSEE

Heralded Florida State tailback Antone Smith saw an opening that day a couple of years ago and prepared to speed through it, barrel his way if need be.

He'd break free for the longest of runs, measured not in mere yards but miles.

"I was ready to leave," the former Pahokee star recalled matter-of-factly. "Actually, I had my bags packed and everything."

Smith, frustrated with his limited role as a freshman, ultimately decided to stay and now, entering his junior year, has the chance to help revitalize a moribund running game.

The Seminoles averaged 94 rushing yards a game 109th in major college football in 2005 and then 96.5 (103rd) last season, the worst statistical seasons in coach Bobby Bowden's tenure.

New offensive line coach Rick Trickett has reshaped a unit that has been criticized for being too soft, and new offensive coordinator Jimbo Fisher has installed an offense predicated on a balance between the pass and the run. Smith, a rare blend of speed and strength, is the first option for the latter.

"He's got big-play ability, and he'll put his nose right in the middle of it and compete on a day-to-day basis," Fisher gushed.

Bowden thinks the missing element the past few seasons has been that game-breaking player such as a Charlie Ward or Peter Warrick or Warrick Dunn. Could Smith fall into that mold? Well, Bowden simply said the player he'd hate to lose more than any other would be Smith.

"This," Smith said with a broad smile showing all 14 of his gold teeth, "is my time to shine."

Frustrating times

Antone (pronounced An-TAWN) has titillated FSU fans almost from his first practice, when he burst around the edge, showing off his dizzying 4.3 speed and leaving defenders gawking helplessly.

Fans envisioned Dunn-like production (Dunn rushed for more than 1,000 yards three times - no back has hit that mark since he left for the NFL after the 1996 season) from the moment the 5-9, 188-pounder signed. Nicknamed "Deuce," (his prep jersey number), Smith was hailed as the nation's No. 1 back by some recruiting services.

"He's a legend in Pahokee," said his prep coach, Leroy Foster.

That didn't help him in Tallahassee. The Seminoles had talented backs, Leon Washington, a senior in 2005, and Lorenzo Booker, a junior.

Smith, seemingly promised on a weekly basis he would get more of a shot, usually ended Saturdays with pants devoid of grass stains.

"I thought I'd be given the chance to compete for the starting position, and (then) I didn't get the amount of carries I thought I should have," he said.

"It was at the boiling point," Foster said. "We had several talks, and I said I would support him but that I didn't think he should walk away. It was humbling for him, coming from an area where he was THE man. I told him he needed to be a man and wait for his time to come and when he gets it, make them not want to take him out."

Bowden made those same points, emphasizing that others have had to play the waiting game. Smith unpacked his bags.

"I made the decision to come here," he said, "and I was going to stick to it."

Adversity to prosperity?

Patience began to pay off last year as he alternated with Booker and averaged more than 5 yards a carry, scoring five touchdowns. And he caught 20 passes for 176 yards through 10 games.

But as the offense sputtered, the coaches made a bold move against Western Michigan in Week 11: They shifted Booker to receiver and started Smith in the backfield. The grand experiment lasted all of two plays.

Smith dislocated his right elbow and missed the rest of the season.

"Oh, man, that was tough," said Smith, 21, a two-time all-ACC academic performer as a sport management major. "Everything happens for a reason, and I thought, maybe there was something about that (role) I wasn't ready for."

Once healthy, Smith worked harder than ever. He was named the team's most valuable offensive player in the spring and, more recently, put up some staggering conditioning numbers: a 445-pound bench press, a 315-pound power clean and a 36-inch vertical leap.

"There's not too much he can't do," quarterback Xavier Lee said.

"He's not necessarily the guy screaming and yelling out there and trying to get everybody up, but actions speak louder than words, and it's a very true statement with him," quarterback Drew Weatherford said. "Day in and day out, he works extremely hard in the weight room, extremely hard on the field. ... He's a very special player."

One who sees an opening and is ready to take off.

Without packing, that is.

"Now that I'm THE guy," Smith said, "I have to do my best to make my team proud and make us win. Right now, everybody's pretty happy with what's going on at Florida State. I think we have a little something we can run with."

Brian Landman can be reached at landman@sptimes.com or (813) 226-3347. Read his blog at blogs.tampabay.com/seminoles.

[Last modified August 13, 2007, 23:48:05]