Harry Smith (American football)

Not to be confused with Harry Smith (coach).
Harry Smith
No. 33
Position:Guard
Personal information
Born:(1918-08-26)August 26, 1918
Russellville, Missouri, U.S.
Died:July 30, 2013(2013-07-30) (aged 94)
Columbia, Missouri, U.S.
Height:5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight:215 lb (98 kg)
Career information
High school:Chaffey (Ontario, California)
College:USC
NFL draft:1940 / round: 5 / pick: 36
Career history
Career highlights and awards
Stats at Pro Football Reference
College Football Hall of Fame

Harry Elliott "Blackjack" Smith (August 26, 1918 – July 30, 2013) was an American football player who anchored the line from the guard position on the University of Southern California's Rose Bowl teams in 1938 and 1939 seasons, and earned All-American honors each year.[1][2]

Early life

Smith was born in Russellville, Missouri and played scholastically at Chaffey High School in Ontario, California.[3]

College career

The 1938 team finished 9-2-0 and defeated Duke University. The next season, the Trojans finished 8-0-2 as national champions, including a 14-0 Rose Bowl conquest of the University of Tennessee. USC also defeated Notre Dame University in each of those seasons. Smith was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955.[4]

Harry Smith also played for USC Rugby during his collegiate career.

Professional career

Following graduation, Smith was selected by the Detroit Lions in the 1940 NFL draft.[5] He played one year for the Lions,[6] earning Pro Bowl honors.[7]

Coaching career

He then served as an assistant coach at University of Missouri and USC before becoming head coach of the Canadian Football League's Saskatchewan Roughriders.

Death

In his last few years Smith had suffered a stroke that saw his health decline.[8] He died in the morning on July 30, 2013, at Columbia, Missouri. He was 94.[9]

References

  1. ^ "All-America Board Team". Springfield (MA) Daily Republican. December 11, 1938. p. 2B – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  2. ^ "Football Award Winners" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2016. p. 7. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  3. ^ "Harry Smith Stats". Pro Football Reference. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  4. ^ "Harry Smith (1955)". College Football Hall of Fame. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  5. ^ "1940 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  6. ^ "Harry Smith Stats". Pro Football Archives. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved May 24, 2024.
  7. ^ "Players Nominated for Pro Bowl Game at L.A." Ventura County Star (CA). December 10, 1940. p. six – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon
  8. ^ Walljasper, Joe (July 30, 2013). "MU aide Smith dies". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved July 11, 2014.
  9. ^ Paylor, Terez A. (July 31, 2013). "Ex-MU football assistant Harry Smith dies at age 94". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved July 11, 2014.


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