I have been looking for Michigan running back Vincent Smith for weeks since that crushing hit he took from South Carolina All American Jadeveon Clowney in the Outback Bowl.
I felt bad for Smith, made Jokes about him and wasn’t sure he would ever reappear. Smith is alive and well according to ESPN.
Smith sat down the network to discuss all things Clowney and how being a victim of the hit of the decade has change his life and the world.
“I couldn’t duck or try anything,” Smith said. “My head wasn’t even down and that’s why my helmet popped off.”
Smith says he’s watch the video 3 or 4 times since it went viral and was even brave enough to suggest that he didn’t even feel the hit. that it wasn’t that hard.
“It looked worse than it was.”
“Oh yeah, it did,” Smith said. “I saw it and was like, ‘Dang.’ “
One South Carolina defender said it sounded like a “car wreck.” Michigan receiver Roy Roundtree said he could tell by the crowd that something huge at happened but it wasn’t until he saw the hit in his hotel room that he had an “oh gosh,” moment.
Smith said before the play even fell apart he thought he would have to shake a tackle.
“I saw it coming and I couldn’t do anything about it,” Smith said. “When Devin gave me the ball, he was looking behind him so he didn’t even see. He looked back and he handed me the ball as I was making my pocket.”
Smith stated that his brother took the hit harder than him, stating that he kept watching it over and over, and grew tired of people talking about it.
“He was just saying he was tired of seeing the video and people talking about it,” Smith said. “You know how a big brother is over their little brother. I’m like, ‘You’re good, man. You’re acting like you’re the one who got hit. I’m straight, man.’
Smith has been a good sport about the hit, and says he’s been asked countless times if he’s alright. He says he is.
“You’ve got to get it out of your head because I’m going to bounce back and turn it into a positive,” Smith said. “I saw it later on ESPN and yeah, he got me. And I forgot about it.”
I just have one question, have they found his helmet yet? Being as such that it didn’t hurt him, I’m sure Vincent won’t mind if we watch it one more time.