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Home > Terence Moore > Archives > 2008 > September > 10
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Likable Smith treats players, others well
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Who knows whether Mike Smith will succeed or fail as Falcons head coach since he is in his first season as an NFL head coach, period?
This is what we do know:
You pull for him.
You hope for the best.
You wonder why other football coaches can’t be as affable as this guy with the quickest smile in the league.
And, now, after Smith’s first game ever as an NFL head coach, he is 1-0. Granted, the Falcons’ opponent on Sunday at the Georgia Dome was a toothless bunch of Detroit Lions, but you still have to applaud the Vince Lombardi lookalike.
Or, if you prefer, Smith is a younger clone of Steve “wild and crazy” Martin, especially since the 49-year-old Smith said somebody once chased him down an airport concourse thinking he was the 63-year-old comedian.
Smith is a welcomed sight around Flowery Branch since the Dan Reeves era ended with Reeves’ firing in 2003. He was respected and likeable as a veteran coach who owned a down-home style, straight from his native Americus.
That was opposed to his successor, Jim Mora who owned a highly suspicious style, straight from paranoia.
Speaking of paranoia, Bobby Petrino was the king of it before bolting the Falcons last year with three games left to play. He replaced the fired Mora before the 2007 season, and to hear Falcons players tell it, Petrino treated them as kindergarteners in shoulder pads.
If Smith is paranoid, he hides it well. He also treats his players and everybody else like grown ups.
What a concept.
Just hope it continues.
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