2007 Wuerffel Trophy winner Paul Smith is back as the keynote speaker at the 2015 All Sports Association’s Buck Smith Fellowship of Christian Athletes Prayer Breakfast on Feb. 13.
Back, in that he was the main man at the 2009 FCA breakfast where the Smith, known also for his dry sense of humor along with his strong Christian faith, delivered the “zinger of all zingers.”
As he took the podium, he stared over at 2008 Wuerfel Trophy recipient, Tim Tebow, sitting with Danny Wuerffel and said, “It’s amazing to sit here on this stage with this college football rock star, a Heisman Trophy winner, a national champion. Everyone’s been up at the stage wanting his autograph, his picture. It’s awesome. Oh, and that Tebow guy is pretty cool, too.”
Smith’s a regular at the All Sports banquet. He comes back almost every year to welcome the new Wuerffel Trophy winner to the family. He’ll do so again this year with Ole Miss linebacker Deterrian Shackelford, who will be the 10th Wuerffel Trophy recipient.
“I am excited for another February trip to northwest Florida,” said Smith. “The All Sports Association does a tremendous job with all of the events that surround the annual banquet and I am honored to be the speaker at the this year’s FCA breakfast.
“I am always impressed with the turnout for the FCA breakfast and look forward to bringing a message that will both challenge and encourage the young men and women in attendance. We need more young people to take a stand for Jesus Christ and I pray that God can use me to better equip the youth in Northwest Florida for His kingdom,” he added.
Smith set a high school passing record in Oklahoma passing for 9,574 yards in four seasons.
The Owassa (OK) native stayed home and continued his career playing for the University of Tulsa. He led the Golden Hurricane to a Conference USA Championship his senior year. Smith’s accolades included Liberty Bowl MVP (2005), Armed Forces Bowl MVP (2006), GMAC Bowl MVP (2007), and Conference USA Player of the Year (2007). Paul also holds an NCAA record for throwing for more than 300 yards in 14 consecutive games.
He continued on with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2008-09 and with the Montreal Alouettes in 2011.
But, probably the best accolade that describes Paul Smith from his head coach at Tulsa at the time, Todd Graham (now of Arizona State), when he told the Wuerffel Trophy, “After practice he took off and was gone. He was out on hospital visits, off to work with the local youth and off to volunteer in the community. Serving others came first to Paul,” Graham said.
Smith lives in Tulsa with his wife Krista and sons Brody (4) and Braylen (2).
