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Smelly Transfering to Alabama!
Posted on 1/10/09 at 9:40 am
Posted on 1/10/09 at 9:40 am
Smelley transferring to Alabama
South Carolina quarterback wants to play baseball, football for Tide
(AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain) Tuscaloosa native Chris Smelley, a former American Christian Academy player, said he will transfer from South Carolina to the University of Alabama.
By Andrew Carroll Sports Writer
Published: Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, January 9, 2009 at 10:55 p.m.
Chris Smelley, who spent three seasons playing quarterback for Steve Spurrier at South Carolina, has been granted a release and will transfer to the University of Alabama.
Chris Smelley’s Passing satisticsYear Comp. Att. Yards TD INT
2006* 9 15 112 0 0
2007 92 162 1,176 9 7
2008 169 302 1,922 14 15
Totals 270 479 3,210 23 22
* medical redshirt
Smelley, who grew up in Tuscaloosa, said he hopes to play baseball and possibly football for the Crimson Tide. His brother, Brad, recently completed his freshman season as a tight end on the Alabama football team.
“I’m super proud about my brother,” Smelley said. “I couldn’t be happier for him, but that didn’t have much of an impact on my decision at all. I decided it was best for me to have a change of scenery and move on.
“It’s been a difficult decision, something I’ve been thinking and praying about for a while. I’m leaving South Carolina with a lot of memories and great relationships that will last a lifetime. I’m very thankful to the university and to Coach Spurrier for the opportunity to play for the Gamecocks and wish my teammates the very best.”
Smelley earned All-State honors as a catcher for the American Christian Academy baseball team. He also earned All-State recognition as a quarterback and played linebacker and defensive back.
“My plan is to come back to the University of Alabama and finish my athletic career,” he said. “I grew up loving Alabama athletics, the tradition and everything about it.
I’ll do my very best to be an ambassador for the university on and off the field. Regardless of what happens, it feels good to be back in Tuscaloosa. I’m excited about my future here.”
Smelley said he will enroll for the spring semester and hopes to meet the requirements to play baseball this year.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Smelley was a redshirt sophomore in 2008. He played in 12 games, passing for 1,922 yards and 14 touchdowns. He completed 169 of 302 passes (56 percent) and threw 15 interceptions.
Stephen Garcia, a redshirt freshman, started at quarterback for South Carolina in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1. Iowa defeated the Gamecocks 31-10, but Smelley completed 16 of 31 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown.
“It didn’t have anything to do with playing time,” Smelley said. “I’ve been playing a lot since I’ve been there. I was just a sophomore. I would have expected to see a lot of playing time next year. I just feel like this is the best thing for me. It’s what God is wanting me to do at this point in my life.
“There were great times in South Carolina, times I’ll never forget and people that I met that I’ll never forget. I feel like I’ve really grown up a lot and matured. The experience of college football that I’ve had so far made me a better man.”
Smelley played in 21 games with the Gamecocks and had a 9-6 record as a starting quarterback.
“We admire the character, integrity and the way Chris Smelley has handled himself both on and off the field as a Carolina football player,” Spurrier said in a South Carolina release. “He has helped us win a lot of games over the past two years. We wish Chris much success in the future.”
Smelley was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week after leading South Carolina to a 31-24 win at Ole Miss in 2008. He completed 22 of 32 passes for a career-high 327 yards and three touchdowns.
In 2007 he was named the SEC Freshman of the Week as South Carolina defeated Mississippi State and Kentucky in consecutive games.
Smelley, who played football for Stephen Hooks at ACA, was a Super 12 All-State selection by the Alabama Sports Writers Association in 2005. He set an AHSAA record with 59 touchdown passes during his senior season. He holds AHSAA records for most touchdown passes in a career (134); most passing yards in a game (565); and most passing yards in a season (4,120). He ranks second in the AHSAA with 10,385 career passing yards.
Playing baseball for his father, Bart, Smelley helped the Patriots win Class 1A championships in 2004, 2005 and 20006. He was the most valuable player in the 2005 AHSAA finals.
“His mom (Sissi) and I have always been proud of Chris,” Bart Smelley said. “We trusted him to make good decisions, and we’re certainly behind him on this one.
“He feels strong about this, and I support him 100 percent. For Chris to be able to finish his education and his athletic career at Alabama is a thrill.”
Sports Editor Cecil Hurt contributed to this story.
South Carolina quarterback wants to play baseball, football for Tide
(AP Photo/Mary Ann Chastain) Tuscaloosa native Chris Smelley, a former American Christian Academy player, said he will transfer from South Carolina to the University of Alabama.
By Andrew Carroll Sports Writer
Published: Saturday, January 10, 2009 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Friday, January 9, 2009 at 10:55 p.m.
Chris Smelley, who spent three seasons playing quarterback for Steve Spurrier at South Carolina, has been granted a release and will transfer to the University of Alabama.
Chris Smelley’s Passing satisticsYear Comp. Att. Yards TD INT
2006* 9 15 112 0 0
2007 92 162 1,176 9 7
2008 169 302 1,922 14 15
Totals 270 479 3,210 23 22
* medical redshirt
Smelley, who grew up in Tuscaloosa, said he hopes to play baseball and possibly football for the Crimson Tide. His brother, Brad, recently completed his freshman season as a tight end on the Alabama football team.
“I’m super proud about my brother,” Smelley said. “I couldn’t be happier for him, but that didn’t have much of an impact on my decision at all. I decided it was best for me to have a change of scenery and move on.
“It’s been a difficult decision, something I’ve been thinking and praying about for a while. I’m leaving South Carolina with a lot of memories and great relationships that will last a lifetime. I’m very thankful to the university and to Coach Spurrier for the opportunity to play for the Gamecocks and wish my teammates the very best.”
Smelley earned All-State honors as a catcher for the American Christian Academy baseball team. He also earned All-State recognition as a quarterback and played linebacker and defensive back.
“My plan is to come back to the University of Alabama and finish my athletic career,” he said. “I grew up loving Alabama athletics, the tradition and everything about it.
I’ll do my very best to be an ambassador for the university on and off the field. Regardless of what happens, it feels good to be back in Tuscaloosa. I’m excited about my future here.”
Smelley said he will enroll for the spring semester and hopes to meet the requirements to play baseball this year.
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Smelley was a redshirt sophomore in 2008. He played in 12 games, passing for 1,922 yards and 14 touchdowns. He completed 169 of 302 passes (56 percent) and threw 15 interceptions.
Stephen Garcia, a redshirt freshman, started at quarterback for South Carolina in the Outback Bowl on Jan. 1. Iowa defeated the Gamecocks 31-10, but Smelley completed 16 of 31 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown.
“It didn’t have anything to do with playing time,” Smelley said. “I’ve been playing a lot since I’ve been there. I was just a sophomore. I would have expected to see a lot of playing time next year. I just feel like this is the best thing for me. It’s what God is wanting me to do at this point in my life.
“There were great times in South Carolina, times I’ll never forget and people that I met that I’ll never forget. I feel like I’ve really grown up a lot and matured. The experience of college football that I’ve had so far made me a better man.”
Smelley played in 21 games with the Gamecocks and had a 9-6 record as a starting quarterback.
“We admire the character, integrity and the way Chris Smelley has handled himself both on and off the field as a Carolina football player,” Spurrier said in a South Carolina release. “He has helped us win a lot of games over the past two years. We wish Chris much success in the future.”
Smelley was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Week after leading South Carolina to a 31-24 win at Ole Miss in 2008. He completed 22 of 32 passes for a career-high 327 yards and three touchdowns.
In 2007 he was named the SEC Freshman of the Week as South Carolina defeated Mississippi State and Kentucky in consecutive games.
Smelley, who played football for Stephen Hooks at ACA, was a Super 12 All-State selection by the Alabama Sports Writers Association in 2005. He set an AHSAA record with 59 touchdown passes during his senior season. He holds AHSAA records for most touchdown passes in a career (134); most passing yards in a game (565); and most passing yards in a season (4,120). He ranks second in the AHSAA with 10,385 career passing yards.
Playing baseball for his father, Bart, Smelley helped the Patriots win Class 1A championships in 2004, 2005 and 20006. He was the most valuable player in the 2005 AHSAA finals.
“His mom (Sissi) and I have always been proud of Chris,” Bart Smelley said. “We trusted him to make good decisions, and we’re certainly behind him on this one.
“He feels strong about this, and I support him 100 percent. For Chris to be able to finish his education and his athletic career at Alabama is a thrill.”
Sports Editor Cecil Hurt contributed to this story.
5
Posted on 1/10/09 at 9:41 am to Mississippi Tiger35
quote:
he hopes to play baseball and possibly football
Won't he have to sit out two years of football for transferring within the SEC?
Posted on 1/10/09 at 9:42 am to Mississippi Tiger35
SEC board,
Carolina fans are thrilled with this news.
Carolina fans are thrilled with this news.
Posted on 1/10/09 at 9:50 am to Mississippi Tiger35
(no message)
This post was edited on 4/11/23 at 6:21 am
Posted on 1/10/09 at 10:11 am to msutiger
quote:
Won't he have to sit out two years of football for transferring within the SEC?
No, transferring anywhere requires either a release or a one year suspension from play, because USC gave him a release he does not have to sit out a year.
Posted on 1/10/09 at 10:15 am to rabend1
quote:
because USC gave him a release he does not have to sit out a year.
The article already says he's not eligible until 2010, meaning he would have to sit out one year. I was just under the impression that the SEC had rules in place to discourage transferring inside the conference by requiring players to sit out 2 seasons.
Posted on 1/10/09 at 10:19 am to rabend1
quote:
No, transferring anywhere requires either a release or a one year suspension from play, because USC gave him a release he does not have to sit out a year.
Wrong. You always have to sit out one year if you stay in division 1. See Jevan Snead for example. Conferences have their own rules too, like the big 10 if you want to transfer within the conference then you can't be on scholarship. I don't know what the SEC's rules are.
Posted on 1/10/09 at 10:22 am to Mississippi Tiger35
quote:
I’m super proud
:gay:
Posted on 1/10/09 at 10:25 am to Stagg8
quote:
The article already says he's not eligible until 2010, meaning he would have to sit out one year. I was just under the impression that the SEC had rules in place to discourage transferring inside the conference by requiring players to sit out 2 seasons.
The SEC does have the 2 yr rule, but the extra year can be waived if the school you're transferring from grants it. I don't think that the basic 1 year NCAA rule can be waived except under certain hardship situations like a verifiable need of needing to get closer to home because of a serious family illness (I think the lb from Ark...Stoltz I think...got this waiver).
Posted on 1/10/09 at 10:29 am to Indiana Tiger
He iwll never play QB at Alabama.
Posted on 1/10/09 at 10:53 am to BamaScoop
quote:What's the rule on the scholarship restrictions in this case. Bama is already short on scholarships for this class. So does that mean they will have to cut yet another player?
He iwll never play QB at Alabama.
Anyone know?
I am Ron Burgundy?
Posted on 1/10/09 at 10:57 am to LSUTigerguy789
quote:
Bama is already short on scholarships for this class. So does that mean they will have to cut yet another player?
my guess is he's on baseball scholly until he plays football.. so they can worry about it later
Posted on 1/10/09 at 11:04 am to Mississippi Tiger35
quote:
It’s what God is wanting me to do at this point in my life.
If God ever tells me to move I hope its not to Tuscaloosa.
Posted on 1/10/09 at 1:04 pm to rabend1
Smelly has, well, lived up to his name in football so far. KC.
Posted on 1/10/09 at 1:31 pm to Indiana Tiger
If he stays in Div1A he has to sit out year for football and since he has already redshirted he loses that year.
Posted on 1/10/09 at 1:35 pm to baytiger
quote:
my guess is he's on baseball scholly until he plays football.. so they can worry about it later
A baseball scholly is not going to be a full ride. And I doubt Ala is interested in a QB that can only give them one year.
Posted on 1/10/09 at 1:38 pm to TigerintheNO
it was a medical redshirt, i think he can still redshirt this year, could be wrong.
Posted on 1/10/09 at 7:07 pm to Alabama Slim
The dude sucks arse so does it really matter?
Posted on 1/10/09 at 8:15 pm to LSUalum2000
Not that he is any good anyway or even worthy of being talked about, but if he has no eligibility left for football, why is he stating in the article that he wants to play football @ bama? Surely he's not that dumb to think he can play if he cannot.
Posted on 1/10/09 at 9:30 pm to Governor
never been a fan of the way spurrier develops quarterbacks, get smelly in a different system and he may excel
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