This is how it was supposed to be. This is how it should have been. This is what he waited for. Kent Smith finally has what he wanted. All eyes on him.

“Being a quarterback, there’s always going to be pressure because games
are won and lost on your shoulders,” the junior quarterback said. “The
crowd points the finger right at the quarterback whether it’s his fault
or not. I want that responsibility, and I drive off of that.”

The six-foot five-inch junior from Toledo has plenty of eyes on him
after the Chippewas came from behind in the fourth quarter to beat Kent
State 24-21 last Saturday.

Smith has accounted for eight of the Chippewas 10 offensive
touchdowns this season. Four of those were rushing and the other four
through the air.

But it was Smith’s legs that bailed the Chippewas out against the
Golden Flashes.

“That’s a kids dream,” he said. “To win a close game like that in
the closing seconds, and on fourth down as well — you can’t ask for a
better situation.”

But it hasn’t always been easy. Smith appeared in four games as a
redshirt freshman, including a start against Western Michigan. Last
season, Smith did not play in a single game.

For the all the success Smith is enjoying, things could have been
much different. A talented high school basketball player, Smith was
told by former coach Mike DeBord that he could play both sports at CMU.

“That was basically his trick to get me here because I could have
gone elsewhere and played basketball and football,” Smith said. “At the
time, Scott Loeffler was here and that was the reason I came here
because I knew he could develop me and potentially take me to the next
level.”

Unhappy with the way things were going, Smith contemplated
transferring elsewhere. He had friends that played at Florida A&M
and he also had the option of returning home to Toledo.

Smith points to his father for helping him through the situation. He
said the way he was raised, taught him to be a good person.

“There really wasn’t a clear reason as to why I wasn’t playing and
that kind of had me upset, and I was looking elsewhere,” Smith said.
“But that’s not what I wanted to do with my life. My dad helped me
realize that football is what pays the bills, and I am here on a
football scholarship. Growing up he raised me to have thick skin.”

Smith would need thick skin throughout spring ball and much of
training camp.

Senior Grant Arnoldink was getting most of the reps with the first
team offense, and even started in the Chippewas season opener at
Indiana.

But Smith understood why he wasn’t the No. 1 quarterback right away.

“I couldn’t really complain because Grant did a pretty good job in
training camp this summer,” Smith said. “He did outperform me, but I
knew what I was capable of doing. I couldn’t blame anyone but myself,
and I knew in my heart I should be the starter.”

It didn’t take long for Brian Kelly to take notice either. In the
second half of the season opener, the Chippewas were trailing, and
Smith entered the game and went 10-of-17 passing for 148 yards. He led
CMU to its only score — a six yard touchdown toss to Troy Peyerk.

Kelly said Smith has been working hard to learn his form of the
spread offense and that Smith works hard each and every week.

Kelly even compares Smith to a certain NFL quarterback.

“Kent has had much better leadership, much better presence,” Kelly
said. “Obviously in that fourth down situation against Kent State he
had an opportunity to complete a pass, but saw an opportunity to score
instead. Those are the competitors. Brett Favre does that. The fiery
competitors find a way to get it in the endzone, and one thing I like
about Kent is he’s competing.”

Smith is seventh overall in the MAC in total yards and averages
203.5 per game. The Chippewas offense is ranked fifth in the conference
in total offense with 382.2 yards per game.

Kelly said Smith prepares himself well off the field by watching
game film of himself and of the upcoming opponent.

After getting shunned by DeBord’s offense, Smith is happy to be
getting another shot. It’s a chance with an offensive scheme that
showcases his talent.

“I am now able to show what kind of ability I have,” Smith said.
“You can’t really show anybody when you are on the bench. Coach has
given me the opportunity to go out and play, and I feel that I am
making great strides.”

Now that everything is going like it was supposed to, Smith is
concentrating on the most challenging goal CMU has — winning a MAC
Championship.

The first true test is Saturday’s game against heavily favored
Bowling Green.

And Smith knows all the eyes and pressure will be on him — exactly
how he wants it.

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