The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
Issue link: https://comanpub.uberflip.com/i/888498
NOVEMBER 2017 THE WOLVERINE 85 BY JOHN BORTON V incent Smith never backed down from any behemoths on the foot- ball field, despite standing only 5-7. He's finding other fields to conquer these days. Although he's not getting any taller, Smith and his work continue to grow. Smith is co-director of Team Gar- dens, a non-profit outfit looking to provide healthy food for neighbor- hoods and reach out to urban youth. From his hometown of Pahokee, Fla., to Flint, Mich., Smith is seeking to be- come the Johnny Appleseed of fruits and vegetables. He and co-founder Sonya Suther- land partner with established orga- nizations to plant seeds of produce in the ground and possible success in young minds. All of it, Smith noted, began to germinate on the playing fields of Michigan. Smith ventured north from the Sunshine State along with a host of other Floridians during Rich Rodri- guez's short tenure as head coach. An early enrollee at Michigan, Smith arrived in the winter of 2009, ready for a host of new experiences. One of them required wardrobe en- hancement. "It was one of the worst winters ever," he recalled. "It was totally a shocker for me — my first time touching snow. Snow, by the way, is overrated. But I got used to that pretty quick. "There were a couple of times, waking up at 5:30 a.m., walking in the snow on the way to Schem- bechler Hall, that I had a couple of little thoughts [about leaving]. But I got over it." Seeing the field as a true freshman didn't hurt. Michigan transitioned from power football to a spread look in those days, allowing Smith an opportunity to rush for 276 yards while making 10 receptions as a true freshman. "That was a major aspect of it — playing early, getting that excitement of playing in The Big House, show- ing the speed and everything that came with it," he said. "That gave me a whole different comfort level." Invading Wisconsin's Camp Ran- dall Stadium can cause plenty of dis- comfort for visitors, but Smith loved it, in the penultimate contest of his freshman season. "It was the first time playing an away game, in front of that crowd," Smith recalled. "It was a total eye- opener. That was an exciting chal- lenge." A bigger challenge lay a week ahead, and in the weeks that fol- lowed. Michigan lost 21-10 at home to Ohio State, capping a 5-7 season. The news only worsened when train- ers told Smith he'd torn an anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. He injured it scoring Michigan's only touchdown of the game. "It was a shocking thing," Smith admitted. "It didn't bother me much, so I put a sleeve on it, but the knee kept going out, so I just sat out. Af- ter that, it completely caught me off guard, coming in as a freshman at Michigan and tearing your ACL." Plenty of worrisome thoughts crept in. He thought about having to sit out the following season, of trav- eling the 1,281 miles from Pahokee to Ann Arbor, just to wind up sidelined. Smith converted his fears into hard work. By the time fall camp rolled around, he'd rehabilitated both his knee and his outlook. "I started feeling a little bit more strength and speed kicking back in," he said. "The confidence started roll- ing around, and I gained a healthy 12 pounds and got faster. I knew dur- ing that camp — I was pretty much WHERE ARE THEY NOW? Vincent Smith Stands Tall In Post-Football Life During his four years (2009-12) in Ann Arbor, Smith rushed for 1,269 yards and 10 touchdowns, while also hauling in 46 receptions for 435 yards and seven scores. PHOTO COURTESY MICHIGAN ATHLETIC MEDIA RELATIONS The Vincent Smith File Michigan Accomplishments: Rushed for 1,269 yards and 10 touchdowns for Michigan from 2009-12 … Also caught 46 passes for 435 yards and seven scores … Performed for the 2011 U-M squad that went 11-2, beating Notre Dame, Ohio State and Virginia Tech in the 2012 Sugar Bowl. Professional Accomplishments: Founded Team Gardens, a non-profit organi- zation that works through existing charities and community centers to provide spaces for the growing of fruits and vegetables. It also involves at-risk kids in its outreach program. Michigan Memory: "It's going to the University of Michigan, getting that degree, and being able to have conversations with such great Michigan Men as Lloyd Carr, Jim Hackett and Warde Manuel. "Hearing their voices, knowing what it's like to be Leaders and Best, knowing the talent you have inside yourself, and being able to put that same energy out in the world and impact others. That's my total Michigan experience right there." Education: Earned a BA in African-American studies in 2012, minoring in sociology. Family: Smith noted: "The only sweet girl I'm married to right now is Team Gardens, and the good fruits and vegetables she provides. That's the only one, and she has all my time."