Smelley steps into leadership role

Blake Mitchell is talented, there can be no questioning that. His performance at the end of last season and what he did in 2005 speaks for its self. However, one thing Blake Mitchell cannot be called is a leader. Mitchell's off the field antics and repeated troubles with law enforcement, the athletic department, and with coach Spurrier are all well documented. The purpose of this blog is not to rehash them, but simply to state that at most successful program, the quarterback is the leader of the team. Generally that means that his teammates hold that player in high regard.

The leader of a football team is not always a vocal leader, but is always a person and player that leads by example. Two cases in point are Steve Taneyhill and Phil Petty. Taneyhill was a boisterous leader, a rah-rah cheerleader guy that played the game with great emotion. How many will ever forget the home run swings and him signing the paw in Death Valley?

Sure, Taneyhill liked to have a good time, but his teammates loved him because of the passion he had for the game. You could see it every time he took the field. Steve developed his leadership skills as he matured and develop during his career. He was not a saint, but he didn't make it a habit of getting into trouble either. Taneyhill is one of my all time favorite Gamecocks.

There couldn't be anyone more un-like Steve Taneyhill than Phil Petty. Phil was a quiet kid that took his lumps at Carolina early on, but never complained. In 2000 and 2001, Phil Petty led the Gamecocks to the best back to back seasons in the history of Carolina football. Phil was not spectacular, but he knew when to throw the ball away to avoid a sack, and he never made a catastrophic play to cost the team a football game. Phil was quiet, but because of his work ethic and the way he approached the game, his teammates believed in him. In 2001 at Georgia, after the Dawgs took a late lead, Petty went into the huddle and said, "let's go win the football game."

Petty did just that, leading the Gamecocks on a touchdown drive that culminated on his touchdown pass to Brian Scott for a 14-9 victory that night in Athens. Phil capped his career with an MVP performance in the Outback Bowl. He went out a big winner.

Chris Smelley is neither Steve Taneyhill, Phil Petty or Blake Mitchell. For that matter, he is not Danny Wuerfell either. But Chris Smelley does have all the right stuff that leaders are made of. He has a quiet confidence about him. That was evident in post game interviews last weekend in Baton Rouge. Smelley appears ready for this weekend's game against Mississippi State. He carries himself like a winner. His post practice interview spoke volumes of his confidence and character. I was extremely impressed.

As a 14 year coaching veteran, sometimes it is easy for me to see some things other fans may not notice, or to have a feel for certain things going on in the program. My observation from the press box in Baton Rouge was that the offense had a quicker tempo when Smelley came into the game. The offensive line seemed to play with a greater sense of urgency and with a quicker tempo. They hustled up to the line of scrimmage, and the protection was better in the second half.

My feel for the situation is that the players respect Chris Smelley. He is a person that is worthy to lead this football team. Chris Smelley has never made headlines since his arrival at USC. That is because he's never been caught underage drinking in 5 points, or running from the law, slugging a bouncer, or keying a visiting professor's car for taking his parking spot. Those are the things that get you in the headlines at The State newspaper.

Chris Smelley is a fine christian young man. I have been told that he is a leader at all FCA events and that he prays for others. Chris Smelley walks the walk. Smelley is also an excellent student and his GPA bears that out. Smelley is also a student of the game. He studies film, he diagrams plays and goes over defenses. When he was in high school, Smelley played in a no huddle spread offense, and his coach had so much confidence in him that he allowed Smelley to call his own plays from his sophomore year on. (Smelley started as an 8th grader on the varsity at Tuscaloosa American Christian Academy)

I have to admit, I am anxiously awaiting Saturday's game and seeing what Smelley is capable of doing versus a good Mississippi State defense. I'm looking forward to how much Spurrier opens up the offense. I'm looking forward to seeing Chris Culliver, Mark Barnes, and Dion Lecorn making some plays on offense and special teams. I'm looking forward to seeing how Tyrone Nix and the USC defense responds to losing Brinkley, and to see Marvin Sapp and Melvin Ingram at the Mike linebacker spot.

It is a great time to be a Gamecock. See you on Saturday at The Brice!