Douglass' Smith thankful for football

By Todd Holcomb

For the AJC

Garrison Smith was little embarrassed Friday night. He was worried about what fans might think of him.

His team, Douglass, lost to Stephenson 44-6 and finished its season 1-9. That’s the worst record for any program in Georgia that has a prospect the caliber of Smith, the top-rated defensive tackle in the state. Smith has committed to the University of Georgia.

But that wasn’t what bothered Smith.

Smith couldn’t play because of a little tussle in the Luella game. He was assessed a one-game sit-out penalty by the Georgia High School Association.

‘’I pancaked the boy [in last week’s game against Luella], and the boy started punching and swung and grabbed my face mask,’’ Smith said. “The ref said he threw me out because I was on top.’’

Let’s just say it has been a bad season, but it couldn’t be found in Smith’s attitude. By all accounts, any altercation was out of character. He has a 3.5 GPA and has scored over 1,000 on the SAT.

‘’It’s been frustrating,’’ Smith said of his final season, “but at same time, it’s a blessing to play this game, even though we’re losing. Some people never get to play. The team has never given up. They’re still fighting hard. They’re still trying to get a victory. They’re out there grinding, playing their hearts out.’’

Of the top 25 prospects in Georgia, most will be in the playoffs next week. Smith has been in the playoffs just once.

Smith, dressed in khaki pants and a black sweatshirt, spent some time on the sidelines but watched most of the game with his father, Greg Smith, a former Douglass player from the 1970s. He was listening to his iPod.

“Lil’ Boosie,’’ he said when asked what he was listening to.

Douglass, a proud city-of-Atlanta program, is down to about only 30 players. The team is overmatched, and Smith can do only so much.

“When I was a kid watching Douglass and what I see now, it’s a different time,’’ said Smith, who remembers watching Jamal Lewis playing at Douglass as a small kid. “It’s not what I grew up watching.’’

Smith said the 30 players on the current roster are committed, but that’s not enough to compete in Georgia’s highest classification. Many who grew up playing football with him in rec leagues are playing at other schools.

“We’re all spread out,’’ Smith said.

Smith played with an injured ankle the first half of the season. His team is 1-9, its worst record in 25 years. Smith had started 41 straight games, but even that streak ended Friday.

Smith felt sorry about it. But he was thankful for his senior season, despite the adversity.

“My parents have always brought me up to know that football is just a game,’’ Smith said. “I’m just real humble, just thankful for God letting me play this game. There’s nothing better than being out on that football field.’’

Produced by Georgia High School Football Daily