Draft Choice and UDFA Profiles

By: Paul M. Banks
3/28/08

By the end of this interview I understood why Conference USA player of the year and Tulsa quarterback, Paul Smith won the 2007 Wuerffel Trophy, presented to the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with both athletic and academic achievement. I can say without hyperbole that he was by far the nicest and most respectful athlete out of the hundreds that I have interviewed in my young career. The Owasso, Oklahoma native established Conference USA single-season records for total offense, passing yards, and TD passes thrown. Smith also broke Tulsa program career and single-season records for passing, touchdown passes and total offense. Smith received ESPN The Magazine’s Academic All-America second team merits and was named C-USA's Scholar Athlete of the Year for football. He was also the MVP of the 2005 Liberty Bowl and currently holds the NCAA record with 14 consecutive games passing for more than 300 yards. He recently married former TU soccer varsity letter winner Krista Barker. I spoke with him about football, faith, Lovie Smith, and just life in general.

Paul M. Banks: With all your on and off-the-field accomplishments, what’s been the overall highlight of your football career?

Paul Smith: All the individual stuff is neat, not only personally but for the team. Going to three bowl games in my three years as a starter provided a level of consistency. As the starter at the position most people consider the leader of the team. Tulsa has a great history as a program, but the last time they went to a bowl game three years in a row before this was in the 1940s.

Paul M. Banks: You won the award named after Danny Wuerffel; is he someone you look up to as a favorite player?

Paul Smith: Absolutely, he was someone I watched growing up. Being raised in a household with Christian values, my dad taught me to emulate him, not just in football, but in life. He won the national championship and a Heisman trophy, and you can say so many great things about him as a football player and more importantly as a person. Danny Wuerffel is definitely someone I want to emulate in my life.

Paul M. Banks: Do you have a favorite Bible passage, and does it inspire you in your football career?

Paul Smith: Proverbs 21: 31 “The horse is prepared for the day of battle, But victory belongs to the LORD.” Just helps me to remember that it’s all in the Lord’s hands for my life and everyone’s life. I do all I can to believe in him, in my faith, and it’s my foundation. My wife is the same; we each hold the Lord in that regard and we are blessed with our ability as athletes.

Paul M. Banks: You’re known for accomplishing just as much off the field as you do on it. The academic accomplishments and of course your service: President of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes on campus, numerous speaking engagements for FCA and other church-affiliated and youth events,

Paul Smith: I got involved in that in high school. In college I started playing the guitar at campus FCA, and it was a way to stay involved with my faith during the week. I can play the guitar at FCA every Tuesday night on campus. It’s tough to get to church sometimes when you’re out of town every weekend. But I stayed involved and the director named me the president.

Paul M. Banks: Have you had any interactions with the legends of Tulsa football, Lovie Smith and Steve Largent?

Paul Smith: I met Steve Largent and I spoke with Lovie Smith a couple weeks before the combine; he was in town for the hall of fame dinner. I’ve spoken with him there, on the phone and at the combine. Proud to be associated with him and I hope this relationship carries on to the next level.

Paul M. Banks: No matter what field you go into, always good to make connections.

Paul Smith: Doing that doesn’t help your ability to play the game and make plays on the football field, but it certainly doesn’t hurt.

Paul M. Banks: The scouts, what do they say about your main strengths?

Paul Smith: They’re hard to read; they don’t tell me much. They talk to my coach and they compliment me saying I find a way to win; so obviously that is what you look for in a quarterback. You gotta have someone at qb that knows how to find a way to win.

Paul M. Banks: Conversely, what are some of the things you think you need to work on the most?

Paul Smith: They gave me about as much negative feedback as they did positive. I entered my senior year at 195 pounds, and most people wanted to see me put some weight on and be more physical if I needed to be. I gained some muscle, about 15 pounds. I weighed in at the combine at 208; my goal was to be at 205 to show that I could put on weight if I needed to. So to have surpassed that goal certainly helps.

Paul M. Banks: Your faith, service and accomplishments all make you a role model to many; what’s the best advice you can give to those who look up to you?

Paul Smith: Never believe the critics. They will always say you’re this or that. You’re too short, too slow, too skinny to do something. You just keep proving them wrong and keep giving God the glory.

Paul M. Banks: Solid advice that applies to the field of sports writing too!