BeeDee
08-25-2005, 02:34 PM
http://cmsimg.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcsi.dll/bilde?Site=B2&Date=20050825&Category=SPORTS03&ArtNo=508250452&Ref=AR&Profile=1002&MaxW=160'Psycho' back driving offenses crazy
UK corner Smith isn't afraid to hit
By Michael Smith
The Courier-Journal (http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050825/SPORTS03/508250452/1002/SPORTS)
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The collision could be heard across the football field.
University of Kentucky cornerback Bo Smith put his shoulder square into the chest of running back Terrell Bankhead, and his helmet lined up perfectly on the ball.
Smith was so enthralled with picking up Bankhead and slamming him to the turf that he didn't notice the ball pop 6 feet into the air.
"Did you see me pick him up? Did you see me pick him up?" Smith asked anyone who would listen when he returned to the sideline.
"I picked him up."
Physical and cornerback are words that aren't often used together. Unless you're talking about Smith.
His teammates call him "Psycho." He's not one of those prissy, Deion Sanders-type cornerbacks who love to cover but fall noticeably absent on running plays.
"He's a good run-support guy. He'll hit you," UK receiver Keenan Burton said.
It wasn't long ago, though, that doctors told Smith he might not play football again. In the summer of 2004, Smith was hit in the head with a baseball bat during an altercation in Oldham County. The bat landed just over the top of his left eye, shattering his orbital bone and fracturing his skull.
Doctors told Smith that if he had been hit by the bat at a different angle, more toward the back of his head, he probably would have been killed.
Several hours of surgery and metal plates were required to piece his face back together. At a time like that, you might think football was the last thing on his mind. Instead it was the first. Whether he'd play the game again occupied his mind for the next several months while he sat out the 2004 season.
"Football is very important to Bo," UK defensive coordinator Mike Archer said. "Sitting out affected him mentally. It affected him physically."
Smith, the picture of fitness most of his life, was ordered to remain inactive during his recovery. He gained about 20 pounds, up to 210. He watched games on television. He was able to attend only two games.
"It was terrible," he said. "I jumped up and down and screamed at the TV."
By the time UK started spring practice, Smith had recovered enough that doctors cleared him for full contact. He lost the excess weight in about two weeks, once he returned to working out. It took about three or four spring practices, Smith said, before he felt back in the swing of things.
Smith played well enough to regain his starting job at left corner. Now, he says, he's a better player than before the head injury.
"I think I'm better because I have more confidence and, also, I have a second chance now," Smith said. "I work harder in practice, I work harder during drills, I'm just so happy to be back on the field now, and I want to take advantage of every opportunity I get."
Added Antoine Huffman, the starting right corner: "Bo's back. 'Psycho' is definitely back."
Perhaps the highest compliment a defender can earn is a challenge from an offensive player. Receivers like Burton want to go against Smith in drills because he'll provide the best test. Quarterback Andre Woodson said he loves throwing against Smith in practice because he knows that's how he'll get better.
"He's tremendous," Woodson said. "He has all of the capabilities to be one of the best in the SEC. When he's out there, that's who I'm trying to go after, that's how I get better, practicing against him. He makes my release quicker; he makes my timing more precise. He breaks on the ball so well, he makes you more accurate."
The next and final step in Smith's recovery will come Sept. 4 in the opener against the University of Louisville, when he makes his first appearance in a game since Nov. 22, 2003.
That's when Archer thinks Smith will be better.
"He's a game player," Archer said. "The bigger the game, the better he played. Against Florida here two years ago, he played wonderful. Against Alabama down there, he was very good. When we played big-time teams, he showed up and I think he will again."
UK's season ticket sales have topped 42,000, putting it almost on pace with last season. A few single tickets remain available for the opener against Louisville.
A crowd of 430 UK supporters gathered at Galt House East yesterday for the Jefferson County kickoff luncheon with coach Rich Brooks and athletic director Mitch Barnhart. Among the handouts from the Jefferson County alumni group was a poster of offensive coordinator Joker Phillips with the heading, "Joker's Wild."
"I hope he's really wild on Sept. 4," Brooks said.
Brooks added that three previously injured tailbacks, Rafael Little, Arliss Beach and Draak Davis, have been cleared to return to practice today.
UK corner Smith isn't afraid to hit
By Michael Smith
The Courier-Journal (http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20050825/SPORTS03/508250452/1002/SPORTS)
LEXINGTON, Ky. -- The collision could be heard across the football field.
University of Kentucky cornerback Bo Smith put his shoulder square into the chest of running back Terrell Bankhead, and his helmet lined up perfectly on the ball.
Smith was so enthralled with picking up Bankhead and slamming him to the turf that he didn't notice the ball pop 6 feet into the air.
"Did you see me pick him up? Did you see me pick him up?" Smith asked anyone who would listen when he returned to the sideline.
"I picked him up."
Physical and cornerback are words that aren't often used together. Unless you're talking about Smith.
His teammates call him "Psycho." He's not one of those prissy, Deion Sanders-type cornerbacks who love to cover but fall noticeably absent on running plays.
"He's a good run-support guy. He'll hit you," UK receiver Keenan Burton said.
It wasn't long ago, though, that doctors told Smith he might not play football again. In the summer of 2004, Smith was hit in the head with a baseball bat during an altercation in Oldham County. The bat landed just over the top of his left eye, shattering his orbital bone and fracturing his skull.
Doctors told Smith that if he had been hit by the bat at a different angle, more toward the back of his head, he probably would have been killed.
Several hours of surgery and metal plates were required to piece his face back together. At a time like that, you might think football was the last thing on his mind. Instead it was the first. Whether he'd play the game again occupied his mind for the next several months while he sat out the 2004 season.
"Football is very important to Bo," UK defensive coordinator Mike Archer said. "Sitting out affected him mentally. It affected him physically."
Smith, the picture of fitness most of his life, was ordered to remain inactive during his recovery. He gained about 20 pounds, up to 210. He watched games on television. He was able to attend only two games.
"It was terrible," he said. "I jumped up and down and screamed at the TV."
By the time UK started spring practice, Smith had recovered enough that doctors cleared him for full contact. He lost the excess weight in about two weeks, once he returned to working out. It took about three or four spring practices, Smith said, before he felt back in the swing of things.
Smith played well enough to regain his starting job at left corner. Now, he says, he's a better player than before the head injury.
"I think I'm better because I have more confidence and, also, I have a second chance now," Smith said. "I work harder in practice, I work harder during drills, I'm just so happy to be back on the field now, and I want to take advantage of every opportunity I get."
Added Antoine Huffman, the starting right corner: "Bo's back. 'Psycho' is definitely back."
Perhaps the highest compliment a defender can earn is a challenge from an offensive player. Receivers like Burton want to go against Smith in drills because he'll provide the best test. Quarterback Andre Woodson said he loves throwing against Smith in practice because he knows that's how he'll get better.
"He's tremendous," Woodson said. "He has all of the capabilities to be one of the best in the SEC. When he's out there, that's who I'm trying to go after, that's how I get better, practicing against him. He makes my release quicker; he makes my timing more precise. He breaks on the ball so well, he makes you more accurate."
The next and final step in Smith's recovery will come Sept. 4 in the opener against the University of Louisville, when he makes his first appearance in a game since Nov. 22, 2003.
That's when Archer thinks Smith will be better.
"He's a game player," Archer said. "The bigger the game, the better he played. Against Florida here two years ago, he played wonderful. Against Alabama down there, he was very good. When we played big-time teams, he showed up and I think he will again."
UK's season ticket sales have topped 42,000, putting it almost on pace with last season. A few single tickets remain available for the opener against Louisville.
A crowd of 430 UK supporters gathered at Galt House East yesterday for the Jefferson County kickoff luncheon with coach Rich Brooks and athletic director Mitch Barnhart. Among the handouts from the Jefferson County alumni group was a poster of offensive coordinator Joker Phillips with the heading, "Joker's Wild."
"I hope he's really wild on Sept. 4," Brooks said.
Brooks added that three previously injured tailbacks, Rafael Little, Arliss Beach and Draak Davis, have been cleared to return to practice today.