Clemson star’s perseverance draws from military grandfather: ‘He’s a hero in my eyes’
Day after day, week after week, year after year, Clemson linebacker Chad Smith waited and worked for an opportunity to earn a larger role on the Tigers’ defense.
Smith arrived at Clemson as an Army All-American and one of the top linebackers in the country, and he planned to play early on for the Tigers. Instead, he redshirted as a freshman and played mostly on special teams from 2016-18.
But Smith never complained and never considered transferring. He embraced his role and worked to get better, a trait he learned in part from his grandfather and World War II veteran Eben Smith.
“He’s a hero in my eyes,” Chad said. “He was part of the greatest generation in America, went to war, came back. Words can’t even express how much I appreciate him and everything he’s done in his life and the type of work ethic that he has passed down to me.”
Chad comes from a family with deep military roots. Both of his grandfathers served in the military, including Eben, who spent seven months in a German prisoner-of-war camp during World War II.
Chad’s father is retired Col. John Smith, who works at the Pentagon, and he has uncles who are Vietnam War veterans. Chad’s brother was in the Air Force and his sister is currently active duty in the Air Force. In the Smith family, when things get tough you stick it out and keep fighting, whether you’re in the military or on a football team.
Chad could have left Clemson as a grad transfer earlier in his career to seek out more playing time elsewhere. Instead, he put his head down and went to work, being recognized by the team for his special teams work before finally earning a starting linebacker job for the Tigers as a senior in 2019. He was named the Fiesta Bowl Defensive MVP after recording a game-high 12 tackles in a 29-23 win against Ohio State to send the Tigers to the national title..
“He could’ve left two years ago, but that never entered Chad’s mind. He was literally the definition of all in,” said his father, John. “It was part of the culture that he grew up with in this family. ... Part of the military tradition is you work as a team. You understand your role and responsibility. And I think the seeds of that were brought up in the family. And the environment at Clemson gave him an opportunity to develop and fully express himself.”
The Fiesta Bowl performance was just the latest example of what has been a “special” senior season for Smith.
After last year’s national title win over Alabama, defensive coordinator Brent Venables proclaimed “we’re gonna unleash the beast next year.”
A year later Smith enters the national championship game against LSU third on Clemson’s team in tackles with 80. He also has five tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks and eight quarterback pressures. For Smith it has been a long time coming.
“Opportunities that I thought would happen, in regards to getting some playing time, didn’t happen in certain games, certain situations. But at that time I just gotta understand that my time will come,” Smith said. “I looked at this year like this is going to be my last season here. And who knows, this could be my last game ever playing football. … I’ve just been truly appreciating every moment I get to suit up and go out there and play this game.”
Perhaps the most special moment of the season for Smith came during the Wake Forest game, but it wasn’t a certain play that was made. It wasn’t football play at all.
Eben Smith, who is 96 years old, made the trip down from Virginia to watch his grandson play in person for the first time in Chad’s college career. Eben was also honored during the game and received a standing ovation as he was recognized for flying numerous military aircrafts more than 13,000 hours. Eben has been awarded several medals, including the Legion of Merit and Purple Heart.
“It was special, for sure. It’s one of those things that was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for him and for me,” Chad said. “It was a little emotional for me being able to see my grandfather get the recognition that he had in front of the best fans in the nation and in my last home game.”
Chad is hoping to end what has been a special season with one more special moment in Monday’s national title game against LSU. Starting the CFP championship game is a moment he has worked for and always had faith would come, thanks to traits he learned as a child.
“Wrong is wrong even when everyone else is doing it. Right is right even when no one is doing it. That’s one of the big things my family taught me throughout my life,” Chad Smith said. “And just making sure you be the example, whether it’s in the classroom, off the field with your friends or in sports. Be the example. Be a leader. Bring people with you. From a military background, that’s some of the things you can expect.”
When does Clemson play LSU?
Who: Clemson vs. LSU
When: 8 p.m. Monday
Location: Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans
TV channel: ESPN
Betting line: LSU by 5.5
This story was originally published January 11, 2020 at 5:55 PM.
