Heartwarming story of Antone Smith

[AUJarhead 68]

Palm Beach Post

Smith picks FSU

By Greg Stoda

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Thursday, February 03, 2005

PAHOKEE — A mother's tears sometimes drown out the masses' cheers.

So it was Wednesday afternoon at Pahokee High School, where one woman's quiet sadness outside a small room was louder, and much more poignant, than anything happening inside.

The over-the-top choreography that has become part of national signing day — the culmination of the courtship of high school football stars by college programs — doesn't get much more distasteful than this.

Antone Smith is going to Florida State, and good for him and the Seminoles.

But bad on him for how he chose to make the announcement, which left Classie Smith all but inconsolable. She wanted her son, who was Florida's Mr. Football last season in leading the Blue Devils to a state title, to go to nearby Miami so she could easily attend all his home games.

No problem that Smith decided to go to Florida State, because a young man in his position has to do what he feels is best for himself above all else. His mother even acknowledged her own selfishness for wanting Smith to become a Hurricane.

The problem, though, had to do with her son's dramatic production in a big and theatrical tease.

Know when his mother found out he'd be going to Florida State? The same time everybody else did.

That's more than sad. That's callous and cruel.

"He never told me," she said after having composed herself. "I wish he had told me."

She deserved that much at the very least.

What she absolutely didn't deserve was to be reduced to the lead victim in her son's shell game.

Smith, who by most accounts is a good and decent kid, didn't hide the fact he enjoyed the attention throughout the recruiting process.

Again, nothing wrong there. Until, that is, he started pulling all the wicked strings Wednesday while seated at a table right there next to his mother with five invitations — one each from Florida State, Miami, Florida, Auburn and Rutgers — spread out in from of him.

"Any questions before I make a decision? Any questions? Any questions?" Smith asked.

Never mind that one of his friends said Smith knew Monday night after making a weekend visit to Florida State that he would pick the Seminoles.

Never mind, either, that it would be sheer folly for anyone to believe Smith waited until he had pen in hand to sign a binding document before making the absolute call on what supposedly had been an agonizing process.

This was a grand orchestration very much in keeping with the atmosphere of these moments.

"I won't let it blow my head up," Smith said.

Oh. It already hasn't?

Smith took obvious glee in turning over and pushing away the folders from Florida and Rutgers and Auburn, taking those schools out of the mix. He was building drama for everyone gathered in the room, and that was only the beginning.

It was down to Florida State, considered to be a long shot, and Miami, favored to land Smith all along.

"Champions, baby!" someone shouted.

"Which one has the best tradition of running backs?" yelled another voice.

And then something about all the money to be made as a pro.

Smith pushed away the Florida State pamphlet, listened to the celebration . . . and pulled it back. He pushed it away again, and pulled it back again. He studied the Miami papers, closed the folder and signed with the Seminoles to stunning effect as dozens of cellphones clicked open and into calls.

Moments later, his mother rushed from the room.

Leaning against a brick wall, her shoulders shaking with her sobs, she waved off friends: "Get away! Get away! I don't want any of this."

Her son's explanation was that Florida State is "where my heart was." Fine. But was there a need to break his mother's in satisfying his own?

The day has become too big. Enjoying the moment and basking in the glory of accomplishment and expectation aren't enough.

It's not much ado about nothing, of course, because high school players of Smith's caliber frequently become college and NFL stars. Anquan Boldin, a former Pahokee star and Mr. Football himself, went that route to Florida State and the Arizona Cardinals.

But shouldn't someone — a parent, a coach, an administrator, a confidant — guide an Antone Smith to understatement rather than aggrandizement?

"It was all up to me," Smith said. "It was my decision. I've been having people tell me what to do (and) what not to do, but it was my decision."

Maybe he heard demands rather than advice. And maybe too many voices angered or confused him. He deserves congratulations, no matter what, for making the difficult choice. But not for the presentation.

"I know it's his life," his mother said. "He'll be there three or four years. He needs to be where he wants to be."

She just wishes she had been told.

She just wishes her son — the one who scored 81 touchdowns and gained 6,431 yards — wouldn't have run over her on his way out.

[AURaptor 1,113]

Sounds like a real solid citizen.

Diddy did himself proud w/ that one. Good for Free Shoes U.

On the flip side, it should make the FSU/MIAMI game all that more entertaining to watch, and hopefully the D will get to face Mr Smith soon enough.

[mcgufcm 3,869]

to answer your question... yes. i still wish he had pushed away and pulled back the auburn folder. was it wrong to not include his mother in the process? yeah, but then again i don't really know his relationship with his mother. was it wrong for him to overhype the moment? yeah, but it's our fault for giving it so much attention. if we didn't, he wouldn't. i'd also like to point out that it is selfish for a parent to push their child to a school without consideration for the kid's wants. she admitted as much. it's also a little over the top to cry about a 5 hour drive to see a football game. i did it nearly every saturday of my childhood, and i wasn't even related to the players.

antone is "by most accounts is a good and decent kid." tubby obviously liked him b/c we were on him until the end, and tubby obviously liked his character b/c he's openly stated that character is one of the things he looks for in all his recruits. he even credited that character with putting this team where it is. so yeah, i still wish antone had signed with us; i wish him the best at fsu; i hope he and his mother reconcile.

[nanatiger 3]

As CTT said, we got the guys who will fit into our program, and better yet, the AUBURN FAMILY.

[AuNuma1 1]

Well, he should've kept his family in the know. That's his fault for doing that to his mother.

<rant>

What's not his fault is all the drama and attention we give to these HIGH SCHOOL KIDS. They haven't even stepped foot on a college football field and we treat them like Gods. Coaches call their house EVERY SINGLE FREAKIN NIGHT up until he signs his little name. You give kids like this and Willie Williams and Ernie Sims etc etc etc this much attention, it goes to their head. Changes them completely. It's ridiculous...wake me up when they do something on the college level, then I'll get excited. I'd rather hear about kids like Dontarrious Thomas, who start out as a "no-name" that barely gets recruited and ends up in the NFL. You can keep the hot head brats and your "recruiting national championships"...

</rant>

[GeauxTigers 0]

Well, he should've kept his family in the know.  That's his fault for doing that to his mother.

<rant>

What's not his fault is all the drama and attention we give to these HIGH SCHOOL KIDS.  They haven't even stepped foot on a college football field and we treat them like Gods.  Coaches call their house EVERY SINGLE FREAKIN NIGHT up until he signs his little name.  You give kids like this and Willie Williams and Ernie Sims etc etc etc this much attention, it goes to their head.  Changes them completely.  It's ridiculous...wake me up when they do something on the college level, then I'll get excited.  I'd rather hear about kids like Dontarrious Thomas, who start out as a "no-name" that barely gets recruited and ends up in the NFL.  You can keep the hot head brats and your "recruiting national championships"...

</rant>

144022[/snapback]

I am so sick of all of the hype these kids durig recruiting. The whole "shell game" they play with the hats. Are any of these kids raised with an ounce of humility?

[TopShelfTiger 0]

what a bad son!

[WarTim 3,293]

I am VERY glad that Coach Tuberville (The BEST Coach in AMERICA) signs the kids that are capable of becoming TIGERS. More importantly, that are capable of becoming Auburn MEN.

WAR EAGLE...O N E at a time.

[SCWarEagle 4]

I'll be the first to admit that I wanted this kid to come to Auburn until I read this story. Clearly, he BELONGS at FSU. Thank God he didn't come here. That's not the kind of kid we want or need - I don't care how many touchdowns he scored. I'd rather lose a few games than have this a**hole wearing an Auburn uniform.

[vatz22au 117]

Well...I am gonna look at this with unclouded eyes. I really dont see too much of a problem here. I mean his mom wanted him to play close to home...but hell hes going to florida st! Thats not as far away as auburn or other schools....thats like the closest next to Maimi. Every recruit does this, and we only have ourselves to blame. Look at how we treat the whole recruiting process! If his mom is gonna have some big dramatic episode because he "didnt tell her" well then shes just gonna have to get tougher right?

Hes still playing close to home, and basically this article is stretching the stupid fact he didnt tell his mom where he was going. Handcuff the guy and take him away, what a crime!

Ya he shouldve told her, but I dont think its as bad as this article makes it.

[moe 0]

can someone explain this "shell" game to me

[bigsixfive 327]

Her son's explanation was that Florida State is "where the money is."

[Jenny AU-92 0]

I'll be the first to admit that I wanted this kid to come to Auburn until I read this story. Clearly, he BELONGS at FSU. Thank God he didn't come here. That's not the kind of kid we want or need - I don't care how many touchdowns he scored. I'd rather lose a few games than have this a**hole wearing an Auburn uniform.

144049[/snapback]

I have a feeling that he would have gotten a VERY rude awakening in terms of his personal impression of what a hot stud he is if he had decided to come to AU. Attitude like his has no part on our team and I think the other more senior players would have taped him to a goal post until he came to his senses... At the very least, I think he is going to find out in a hurry that he ain't quite the hot poopie he thinks he is - this ain't high school anymore. Of course he IS going to Criminole U - his ego will probably just get more inflated...

And I am not just saying this about this kid - ANY kid that has such a high opinion of himself before so much as lacing up a collegiate cleat is looking for trouble. What monsters we create when we kiss butt to these young kids...

[jaydubb121 22]

Give the kid a break. It's his biggest moment in the sun to date. He should have had fun with it, and he did. Best of luck to him.

[SKCAUB 0]

Give the kid a break. It's his biggest moment in the sun to date. He should have had fun with it, and he did. Best of luck to him.

144067[/snapback]

With all due respect...I don't think that's the point here. He dissed his Mama. Bad son...BAD! We don't diss our Mama's at Auburn...period!

[Aubie16 1]

I think the thing with pushing the folders back and forth and playing games with it is a little over-top.

I also think he should have informed his mom before he told everybody else where he was going.

With that being said, I dont see anything wrong with making the decision for HIMSELF, where HE is going to spend the next 4 years of HIS life.

His mom needs to learn to live without her son because itll be happening pretty soon anyways.

It was definatley a decision he needed to make on his own. The fit that she threw was completely unneeded and looks to me like she wanted some of the attention herself.

If he has never had trouble with the law, never been talked bad about by any of his teamates/coaches I would have welcomed him on our campus if it is where he wanted to be.

[Guest Tigrinum Major]

I think the thing with pushing the folders back and forth and playing games with it is a little over-top.

I also think he should have informed his mom before he told everybody else where he was going.

With that being said, I dont see anything wrong with making the decision for HIMSELF, where HE is going to spend the next 4 years of HIS life.

His mom needs to learn to live without her son because itll be happening pretty soon anyways.

It was definatley a decision he needed to make on his own. The fit that she threw was completely unneeded and looks to me like she wanted some of the attention herself.

If he has never had trouble with the law, never been talked bad about by any of his teamates/coaches I would have welcomed him on our campus if it is where he wanted to be.

144083[/snapback]

My thoughts exactly.

[jaydubb121 22]

You show me a teenage boy who hasn't "dissed" his mother(from Auburn or anywhere else) and I'll show you a video of Mike Shula's signature wins.

What this boils down to is the fact that he didn't sign with Auburn so now he's "fair game" for the people who take the recruitment process way to seriously and so now they start to find faults with the child.

If he'd ended up signing here, it would all be good clean fun. Get over yourselves people. They're high school kids, having the time of their lives.

This is why I usually declare a moratorium on talking football in the offseason.

Let the moratorium begin!

[CarolinaTiger 0]

Florida State, Miami, Florida, Auburn and Rutgers

one of these is not like the others....

[stoic-one 1,493]

Florida State, Miami, Florida, Auburn and Rutgers

one of these is not like the others....

144096[/snapback]

And is brought to you by the number 5 and the letter K

[AURaptor 1,113]

...thats like the closest next to Maimi. Every recruit does this, and we only have ourselves to blame.  Look at how we treat the whole recruiting process!  If his mom is gonna have some big dramatic episode because he "didnt tell her" well then shes just gonna have to get tougher right? 

...... and basically this article is stretching the stupid fact he didnt tell his mom where he was going. 

Ya he shouldve told her, but I dont think its as bad as this article makes it.

144051[/snapback]

- Next closest to Miami? Get your mapquest out there, pal. I'd say Gainesville is a touch closer than Tallahassee.

- Every recruit does this? Hardly. That's why it was such an issue. I'll agree that far too much is made of this stuff, but that's not the point. Should it be ok for these kids to have a bit of fun after all they've gone through? Sure, but some of these 'kids' are just being a-holes for no damn good reason. If you're a coach or a player from a school and you've been up front and honest in your dealings w/ a recruit, and he pulls this crap on signing day...it's nothing but a slap in your face. Here's an idea.. how about showing an ounce of respect for all those schools that thought so highly of you as to make such an effort on your behalf ,instead of shoving it back in their face. - ... here's for showing me a good time and begging me to take a free ride from your major university - SCREW YOU! Yeah, that's top notch.

- Did you even read the article? Did ya see the photo of this guys mom? She was an emotional wreck! ..she just gonna have to get tougher right ....please! You have no clue what this was like for her, except her own WORDS. Even if she's a drama queen, why put her through that anyway? Take her to the side and reassure her, at the very least. How pathetic.

[The Prowler 1]

This is my take on this Whole debacle......Mom wanted her son Close to her. Period.........Like my Mom when I decided to join the Military (Air Force), she couldn't control herself.......It's just that Mom didn't want her Little Boy to go to far away from home.......But, what I don't understand is this........FSU is in Florida, it's not like he Commited to The RUTGERS or anything.......I'm thinkin' he didn't tell his Mother is one, for this very reason and two, he knows his Mom best....meaning she might be a Cacklin' Hen at the locale Hair Salon........Who knows? Hell, Coach Coker might've promised her money if he commited to them .......Again, who knows the Entire story? He's a Seminole, I'll be getting his Signed 8x10 whenever they come out on Ebay.......Let's all look into the Crystal Ball for next year's Recruits....I'm pretty sure there'll be a Stud Hot Shot recruit coming out of Florida that we'll go after and not get because we'll be competing against the RUTGERS.......We just can't hang with the Scarlet Knights .......I don't understand how Rutgers is able to even have their name on the list with some of the High Profile recruits out of Florida.....That's just Asinine

[one 2]

Didn't Carnell do the ole switch around trick himself? He showed that the antics involved do always reveal character but fun.

Don't know much about his relationship with his mom either. She might have been a Jonny come lately.

Obviously CTT, a pretty good judge of character if nothing else, thought the guy was classy enough to be on a team where character is the most important trait. The fact we all rushed to our computers on Wednesday says more about us than this does about this kid. We make the recruiting hype, not them. We how subsrcibe to Recruiting sites, who watch the shows, who long for "one more five star," who put off playing with our kinds or dating our spouses just see who might end up being a big star at . We alone are to blame for this guys antics.

[AURaptor 1,113]

We alone are to blame for this guys antics.

Yes, these kids are helpless, mind numbed robots, incapable of independent thought, what so ever.

[chuck 0]

seriously, this whole thing just reeks of sour grapes. Did this "journalist" truly write an entire article on how this recruit disobeyed his mommy? Are you serious?

Ben Obomanu did the cap switch thing - with bama and Auburn - as have 100's of recruits who went to AU, bama, Florida, FSU, UM, etc. Its not that big of a deal. But if this was an Auburn guy who had done this (we have signed plenty of athletes who went to a school his mom or dad didn't want) and Cecil Hurt of Finebaum had written this . we would be going BALLISTIC.

Let's put this in perspective . .