Harry Smith (American football) explained

Harry Smith
Position:Guard
Number:33
Birth Date:August 26, 1918
Birth Place:Russellville, Missouri, U.S.
Death Place:Columbia, Missouri, U.S.
Height Ft:5
Height In:11
Weight Lbs:215
College:USC
Draftyear:1940
Draftround:5
Draftpick:36
Pastteams:
Highlights:
Pfr:SmitHa22
Collegehof:1576

Harry Elliott "Blackjack" Smith (August 26, 1918 – July 30, 2013) was an American football player who anchored the line from the guard position on the University of Southern California's Rose Bowl teams in 1938 and 1939 seasons, and earned All-American honors each year.[1] [2]

Early Life

Smith was born in Russellville, Missouri and played scholastically at Chaffey High School in Ontario, California.[3]

College career

The 1938 team finished 9-2-0 and defeated Duke University. The next season, the Trojans finished 8-0-2 as national champions, including a 14-0 Rose Bowl conquest of the University of Tennessee. USC also defeated Notre Dame University in each of those seasons. Smith was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.[4]

Harry Smith also played for USC Rugby during his collegiate career.

Professional career

Following graduation, Smith was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 1940 NFL draft.[5] He played one year for the Lions,[6] earning Pro Bowl honors.[7]

Coaching career

He then served as an assistant coach at University of Missouri and USC before becoming head coach of the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Death

In his last few years Smith had suffered a stroke that saw his health decline.[8] He died in the morning on July 30, 2013, at Columbia, Missouri. He was 94.[9]

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: All-America Board Team . Springfield (MA) Daily Republican . December 11, 1938 . 2B . Newspapers.com.
  2. Web site: Football Award Winners . National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) . 2016 . May 24, 2024 . 7 .
  3. Web site: Harry Smith Stats . Pro Football Reference . May 24, 2024.
  4. Web site: Harry Smith (1955) . College Football Hall of Fame . May 24, 2024.
  5. Web site: 1940 NFL Draft Listing . 2023-03-30 . Pro-Football-Reference.com . en.
  6. Web site: Harry Smith Stats . Pro Football Archives . May 24, 2024 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20230127212649/https://www.profootballarchives.com/players/smit17800.html . January 27, 2023.
  7. News: Players Nominated for Pro Bowl Game at L.A. . Ventura County Star (CA) . December 10, 1940 . six . Newspapers.com.
  8. Web site: MU aide Smith dies . Joe . Walljasper . Columbia Daily Tribune . July 30, 2013 . July 11, 2014.
  9. Web site: Ex-MU football assistant Harry Smith dies at age 94 . Terez A. . Paylor . The Kansas City Star . July 31, 2013 . 11 July 2014.