Coach remembers his playing days as a Raider

Column published in a recent issue of the Madison County Journal's feature of "Where are they now." To subscribe to the Journal visit: www.mainstreetnews.com

Raider Head Coach Chris Smith

By Dallas Bordon

dallasb32@yahoo.com

Madison County graduate Chris Smith is no stranger to the Red Raider community. Smith, a former quarterback (4 year letterman) for Madison County is now leading the Red Raiders on the gridiron as Head Football Coach. Smith was a 3 sport athlete at Madison County. He played football for under the direction of two different head coaches; 2 years for Brady Siegler and 2 years for Larry Milligan who is now the football coach at Oglethorpe County. Smith also was a 2 year letterman in basketball as a shooting guard and a 3 year letterman in baseball as a third baseman/outfielder for the Red Raiders.

After leaving Madison County, Smith continued his football career on an athletic scholarship at Presbyterian College where he graduated Cum Laude in 1997. He returned to the Madison County High school to teach and has served as an assistant football coach for the past 14 years. Smith will begin his first season as Head Coach of the Red Raiders this fall. Chris married former Lady Raider tennis and softball player Tonya (Culberson) Smith in 1999. They live in the Colbert area and have two sons; Colby age 10 and Camden age 6.

The Smiths are familiar faces around the athletic fields in Madison County. “Between my two sons and football, I am usually always at a field watching or coaching. They both love to play football, basketball, and baseball; therefore, we are involved in sports year round,” said Smith.

Despite the fact that Smith was a three sport athlete while wearing the Red and Grey, football is one he is most passionate about and the same sport that he will be teaching and leading this fall on the gridiron at Raider Stadium. “Football has been a huge part of my life. I have played the game since I was seven years old and I’m blessed to have been able to play at the youth level, high school level, and college level,” said Smith.

While at Madison County, Smith and his Red Raider football team struggled during his freshman and junior seasons. Finishing with a combined 1-19 record during his first two seasons, the Raiders bounced back to finish with a 5-5 record in his sophomore season and a 7-3 record his senior season just missing a spot in the playoffs. “We had a great group of seniors; Lee Bales, Gavin Griffith, Dale Abercrombie, Matt McElroy, Alan Simmons, Joe Alewine, Dewight Witcher, Phil Westbrook, Jeff Allen, Jonathan Cooper, and me,” said Smith. One of the highs of his senior season came during a run when the Raiders opened the year at 5-0 and ranked 10^th in the state in AAA. A loss to Winder-Barrow was the stumbling block that kept the Raiders out of post season that year. “Every one of us played a key role in the success of the team that year,” said Smith who also recalls seeing the stands pack every home game of his senior season.

Smith’s days on the baseball diamond included a senior season run that included winning the region tournament and finishing as state runners-up. Guys such as Joe Alewine, Clay Strickland, Joey Cheek, and Smith served as the only four seniors on the squad that season. “It was a special year for me. I was blessed to be a part of a great football and baseball team and I was blessed with the opportunity to play college football. Now I am blessed to with the opportunity to coach our young men in Madison County and help teach them a game that has been so good to me,” said Smith.