Jarrid Smith Closes Season, Football Career Victorious

By Chris Jenkins

By now, most have seen or possibly heard of Tribal citizen Jarrid Smith’s football accomplishments in The Seminole Tribune. As one of the Tribe’s most celebrated young adults, he is a success story on the gridiron as well as in college, with more to come in his future.

The Season

In the up and down world of college football in 2007, Smith, 22, accomplished a lot while playing for Florida Atlantic University (FAU). As a senior offensive lineman, and a team co-captains this season, his career couldn’t have ended any better even if it was scripted.

FAU was one of 64 teams left standing for post season play in the National Collegiate Athletic Associations newly named Division I FBS (Football Bowl Subdivision), formerly Division 1-A. With an 8-5 record on the season, over last year’s 5-7 mark, the team would claim their first conference championship going 6-1 in conference play, splitting the title with the Troy State University Trojans and make their first bowl appearance.

As a model of consistency, starting in every game since 2005, his friends, family and parents Curtis Osceola and Camellia Smith-Osceola, have all been there in support. He says one great memory was hitting the road in week 10 to face the 2006 national champions and nationally ranked University of Florida Gators in “the Swamp.”

This was the first ever match-up between the two schools but it held a great importance to Smith. At an early age he grew up as a Gator fan, being first introduced by his grandfather and former President Fred Smith. Attending Gator youth camps would help further his love for the sport and the team.

“It was really great being there,” he said. “It was, in a lot of ways, how I remembered it [in growing up] over the years.”

“Everyone on the team was excited about it,” he added.

Coming in he said he felt that the task would be a tough one in pulling off an upset, but his squad gave it their best in a 59-20 loss.

“We lost because they were a better team, and whatever momentum we had [only down 35-20 at the half] we lost in the second half,” Smith admitted.

It was on and upward the following week as the team rebounded nicely in an offensive explosion over Florida International University in the annual Shula Bowl, 55-23. The winner receives the Shula Trophy for the next year which is named after legendary former Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula.

Next, was a showdown facing Troy for the Sun Belt Conference Championship on the road to end the regular season. Winless in three prior visits, FAU hung on in the waning seconds to pull off a dramatic 38-32 win.

Smith saidt getting the victory meant more to him than any other in the season because of the stakes involved.

“We were a better team this year than in years past,” he explained. “I knew it was going to be a close game even while we were ahead throughout, they were too good of a team not to come back in that game.”

Their victory would earn them an automatic bid into the post-season in the seventh R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl in the “Big Easy” New Orleans, La., facing the Conference USA’s University of Memphis Tigers coming in with a 7-5 record.

In a dominating 44-27 blowout victory to end the 2007 campaign Smith says it was all he could have hoped for.

“It was a great experience,” he said. “The whole week was great, practicing at the Saints facilities; the night life of New Orleans, but [celebrating] after the game was the best.”

Though a leader for FAU, Smith garnered individual recognition as well. As a pre-season all-conference selection he was also nominated as one of 10 finalists for the Awards and Recognition Association (ARA) National Sportsmanship Award.

Given annually to the Division I football player who is a starter or significant contributor on his team, the candidate must demonstrate respect for their competitors and school. Volunteering for the Jim Thorpe Native American All-Star Game and teaching football to kids through his work with the Chaka Stars Foundation are some of his off the field activities.

Smith was also considered for the Danny Wuerffel Award, which is given to a player who excels in athletics and academics, and also gives back to the community through various service projects.

He has also blazed new paths in other areas of his playing career. He was FAU’s first to graduate and seek a second degree within the football program. He is also their first Native American and was one of only five known Native Americans who have played in Division I FBS college football.

He will carry away many memories of the 2007 season, but he and the 2003 team — the last class to compete in the NCAA’s Division 1-AA, now known as the Football Championship Subdivision or FCS — will also share memories of going into the FAU Hall of Fame.

Their achievements included: becoming the fastest start-up program in NCAA history to register its first win over a Division I FBS opponent defeating Middle Tennessee (20-19), winning 10-straight games (finishing 11-3), and hosting the NCAA Division 1-AA national semifinal game finishing the season ranked fourth in the nation and being invited to join the Sun Belt Conference.

As for his teammates, many have maintained the same consistent thoughts respecting him as a friend who will be missed on the team.

“He’s one of the best friends you could have,” FAU senior running-back and five year teammate B.J. Manley said.

The Future

The political science graduate, who also has a minor in history, is currently working on a second degree in communications. Smith has said in the past that he plans to come back to work for the Tribe in a leadership role on the Tribal Council.

In the meantime, Smith plans to attend George Washington University, taking classes and interning as part of the Native American Political Leadership program. The opportunity will offer experience and information in the election and legislative process.

Mother Smith-Osceola said she has enjoyed all the experiences with him in his journey.

“It has been so awesome to see him do something he loves all these years and the two [football and college] have gone hand-in-hand somehow,” Smith-Osceola said.