“Playing O-line you have to take your ego, put it in your back pocket, and zip it up,” “When you win, you had nothing to do with it. Lose; it’s all your fault. You play against first- and second-down defensive linemen, third-down rushers, specialists coming in and out — 70 or so plays, and if you’re successful 68 times, with two plays being a sack and a tackle-for-loss, you failed.”
This is the mentality displayed by one of Maryville’s al-time best in the trenches.
In 1990, Thomas Smith, a 6’, 255 pound immovable force arrived in the Highlands from Darlington High School in Rome, Georgia. Benching 350 pounds and squatting over 500 as a rookie collegian, Smith quickly found the Scots’ starting lineup after impressing his coaches.
Coach Pavao, although directing the defense noticed Smith’s earliest attributes. “Thomas was an excellent athlete and one of the strongest players I have ever had the opportunity to work with and may have been one of the best Offensive Lineman in Maryville College history.”
His path to greatness was delayed after his first collegiate game. In the first quarter of the 1990 season opener against Rhodes, Smith suffered a knee injury that would sideline him for the remainder of the season.
In 1991, Smith’s efforts along with his teammates led the Scots to a 7-3 record. The line was a close band of brothers. It takes a tight, close line to be effective. And it’s hard to find a tighter group than these giants making way for their backs. MC’s offense was ranked in the top 20 within the NCAA Division III, averaging an amazing 248 yards a game on the ground. Smith and his line opened holes for Brian Wright, Scoval Blevins, as well as quarterback Kelly Moore. His performance against Tennessee Wesleyan earned him offensive player of the week honors. The seven wins the Scots earned was the most of any squad since the 1979 season and had only been repeated twice more since in 1999 and 2007. Smith’s powerful run blocking along with his relentless pass blocking made him one of the best offensive linemen in the entire country. He helped his Fighting Scots to key Division III wins over Rhodes, Centre and Methodist while taking down scholarship schools Lambuth, Clinch Valley, and Tusculum during his first full season in the orange and garnet.
Following a breakout freshman campaign, Smith did not allow a sophomore slump. He simply dominated among a line that worked in synch throughout the year. Smith’s line performed hard things in cohesion without even speaking, the ephemeral realm where the whole becomes far greater than the sum of its parts. It is an offensive lineman’s vision of perfection. “You’ll be on the road where it’s loud and hostile, and all five guys are on the same page, and you play nonverbally,” says Smith. “To not even talk? To go off of looks? Unless you’re an offensive lineman, you don’t know.”
Thomas Stephens took advantage of MC’s line cohesion and exploded for 989 yards and seven touchdowns. Ron Silver found himself running behind a path cleared by Smith for an additional seven scores. Smith graded out at an amazing 90% for the season and went the entire season without letting his quarterback, Jon Berry Cox, get sacked one time. This performance earned him Kodak First Team All-American honors as well as being named a Champion All-American. Smith was MC’s offensive player of the week against both Centre and Emory & Henry. He helped the Scots take down rivals Centre, Rhodes, and Methodist en route to a 5-5 season.
Running backs Greg Shelton, Ron Silver, and Charsie Robertson could not wait to dart through the holes Smith would create during his junior season in 1993. For the third consecutive season under Smith’s guidance, MC rushed for over 215 yards per challenge. Quarterback Jon Berry Cox finished his second consecutive season with a clean uniform, as Smith did not allow his opponent to sack the MC signal caller. Smith’s dominance was recognized once again by coaches and fans and was named a Kodak All-American for the second consecutive season. Behind Smith’s blocking, Charsie Robertson was able to scamper for a 75 yard touchdown run against Centre, a performance that is still the 5th longest runs from scrimmage in MC history. In a game against Methodist, his line opened holes for Greg Shelton to where he amassed a 202 yard rushing day, the 4th best single game rushing effort in MC history. The Scots finished Smith’s junior campaign with a 6-4 mark with key wins over Centre, Sewanee, Rhodes, and Methodist as well as a big win over Emory & Henry by the score of 29-28.
Entering his senior season, Smith was ready to finish his amazing career on a high note. As a team captain and game captain for nine games, the Orange and Garnet finished 5-5 on the season. For the third season in a row, Smith did not allow a sack. His performances against centre and Clinch Valley earned him offensive player of the week accolades. Charsie Robertson dashed into third place into the MC record books with an 80 yard TD scamper behind Smith’s surge against Davidson. Robertson capitalized on Smith’s dominance with a 224 yard rushing effort against Kentucky Wesleyan, ranking as the second best single rushing day in MC history. Smith’s relentless blocking al year earned him the title as the team’s most valuable player, a feat very rare for many offensive linemen. To this day, Smith stands alone as the only athlete in Maryville College history to be named an All-American on three occasions.
During his tenure on the offensive line, Smith helped numerous Scots to break MC career marks. Armond Akiboh, Thomas Stephens, and Jon Berry Cox each rank in MC’s top ten in career carries. Stephens, Akiboh, Silver, and Robertson are in the top 10 in career rushing yards. Cox and Ron Silver are in the top six in career rushing touchdowns. The common denominator to this success on the ground….run behind the best guard in MC history.
After graduating from Maryville, Thomas pursued his dream of being a coach by traveling to Mobile, Alabama. He has been at St. Paul’s Episcopal School for the past 15 years coaching and preparing students as their strength and conditioning coach. His pride and joy are his son Cooper Thomas and daughter Elizabeth Day. He is proudly joined today by his parents, his line coach Bill Sliwa, and his head Coach Phil Wilks. Thomas is coaching this evening in Alabama, but wanted to thank everyone including the committee for this distinction.
Ladies and gentlemen, a 1992 Champion and Kodak All-American, a 1993 Champion/Kodak/and Don Hansen All-American, and 1994 College Football Preview Pre-Season All-American, please welcome Thomas Smith to the 2012 Maryville College induction class.
