Garrison Smith’s last trip to the Georgia Dome was a memorable one, however unpleasant it may have been. It was the 2012 SEC Championship Game, and it was a heartbreaker.
The former Bulldog defensive end returned to the Dome Friday night for the first time since that fateful game to make his debut as a defensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins. The Atlanta native couldn’t have been happier to begin living out his dream in front of his family, even if it ended in a 16-10 loss to the Falcons.
“Everybody was there,” Smith said. “They’re in the family section waiting for me so I’m about to go kiss ‘em and hug ‘em. You know, all that good stuff.”
Smith graduated from Douglass High School a short five miles down the road from the Dome and played three games on this field as a Bulldog, including two SEC championship games.
“It was amazing you know, right where it all started, and it started again in Atlanta,” Smith said. “That’s big for me man, that means a lot.”
Smith played several snaps during the third quarter and dropped Falcons rookie running back Devonta Freeman for a four-yard loss.
“I did my job,” Smith said. “There’s always room for improvement so I’ve got to keep getting better but for the amount of snaps I got, I’m happy with that. I’m just going to keep getting better.”
As one of 18 undrafted free agents signed by the Dolphins in May Smith was able to join Bulldog teammate and fifth-round draft pick Arthur Lynch in Miami.
Lynch did not see the field Friday. His practice reps have been limited throughout training camp after sustaining an undisclosed injury. Smith said he did not know the extent of Lynch’s injury.
“He’s OK — he’s in good spirits,” Smith said of Lynch. “He’s just trying to get back out there.”
