Zeke Smith

[wareaglexx 34]

Saw this posted else where thought some of the old timers here might remember him.  http://www.auburntigers.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072216aaa.html

July 22, 2016

By Charles Goldberg
AuburnTigers.com

AUBURN, Ala. — Zeke Smith was one of the big names in Auburn football in the 1950s, and so it was his bigger-than-life banner hung with the likes of Pat Sullivan, Bo Jackson and Cam Newton at Jordan-Hare Stadium.

Smith, who helped Auburn win the 1957 national title and who won the Outland Trophy in 1958, is again being remembered as one of the school's stars after passing away Friday at age 79.

Smith won the Outland Trophy in 1958 as the top lineman in the country. The Tigers never forgot his accomplishments. Each year Auburn's top defensive player is given the Zeke Smith Award.

"He set a high bar for Auburn football players to try to obtain, and very few have reached a level in college football that he did," said Jay Jacobs, Auburn’s Director of Athletics. "The great thing is that as great a football player as he was, he was a finer man and always an inspiration to be around. The Auburn family will miss him, but his legacy and his expectations for all of us will never be forgotten"

Smith played in the NFL, in 1960 and 1961 and in the CFL in 1962 and 1963. He was inducted into the Alabama Sports Hall of Fame in 1982.

"Zeke Smith is one of Auburn's most iconic players as our first national award winner and member of the 1957 national champions," coach Gus Malzahn said. "He has and will continue to be a representation of what an Auburn football player should strive to be. We are saddened by his passing and our thoughts and prayers are with he and his family."

He was born Roger Duane Smith, but became "Zeke" when his high school coach called him that because he ran like a pro quarterback of the day, Zeke Bratkowski. He came to Auburn from Uniontown, Ala., and like his teammates, played on offense and defense.

"Those were the toughest of the athletes because they played both ways," Jacobs said, "and they didn’t have the benefit of the equipment we have today, the nutritionists and the sports medicine and the training. Those guys just gutted it out. They created an opportunity for those behind them.

"He demonstrated what being a great football player was all about."

Charles Goldberg is a Senior Writer at AuburnTigers.com. Follow him on Twitter:

[augolf1716 21,122]

Yep sad day pops would have a story or two to tell about Zeke

[im4aual 487]

Zeke was a good and true Auburn Man. A friend of mine dated Zeke at Auburn.  She told me that she broke up with him because he was going to play pro football, and there "wasn't much money to be made playing pro football".  My how times have changed.  RIP Zeke.

[milehighfan 1,240]

Simply put, Zeke Smith was a man.

[Tigerbelle 5,299]

RIP Zeke.

[Slammer1 409]

I remember Zeke very well. I think the gal he dated used to come to our fraternity house for our date night dinner. We called her "Steamshovel" because she could really scarf the food down. Spoke with a lisp and a lot of fun to talk to and good lookin'. After she started dating Zeke we didn't see much of her. Sad to hear of Zeke's passing. One hell of a football player. RIP Zeke. WDE!!!

[homersapien 11,370]

1 hour ago, Slammer1 said:

I remember Zeke very well. I think the gal he dated used to come to our fraternity house for our date night dinner. We called her "Steamshovel" because she could really scarf the food down. Spoke with a lisp and a lot of fun to talk to and good lookin'. After she started dating Zeke we didn't see much of her. Sad to hear of Zeke's passing. One hell of a football player. RIP Zeke. WDE!!!

Now that's funny!  

Never met Zeke, but I knew of him.

[auburn4ever 1,266]

Wish we had guys like Zeke Smith on this years team.