Post by Okwes on Oct 30, 2006 11:38:29 GMT -5
FAU lineman gets support from Seminole Tribe By Marcus Nelson
<http://us.f279.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=marcus_nelson@pbpost.com>
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Tuesday, October 24, 2006
www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/content/sports/epaper/2006/10/24/a5c\
_fauextra_1024.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=46
<http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/content/sports/epaper/2006/10/24/a5\
c_fauextra_1024.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=46> BOCA RATON �"
When Florida Atlantic plays at home, junior offensive lineman Jarrid
Smith doesn't know where all the members of the Seminole Tribe who are
there cheering for him are sitting, but he knows they are there.
Smith, a member of the Seminole Tribe, is the reason dozens make the
long trips from various reservations in South Florida to support one of
their own. More on the Owls [FAU football photos]
<http://postpix.palmbeachpost.com/pages/gallery.php?gallery=308934>
[Photos] Game photos
Louisiana-Lafayette
<http://postpix.palmbeachpost.com/pages/gallery.php?gallery=308934>
(Oct. 18)
Southern Utah
<http://postpix.palmbeachpost.com/pages/gallery.php?gallery=308723>
(Oct. 12)
La. Monroe
<http://postpix.palmbeachpost.com/pages/gallery.php?gallery=306699>
(Sept. 30)
OSU <http://postpix.palmbeachpost.com/pages/gallery.php?gallery=295487>
(Sept. 16)
K-State
<http://postpix.palmbeachpost.com/pages/gallery.php?gallery=285318>
(Sept. 9)
Clemson
<http://postpix.palmbeachpost.com/pages/gallery.php?gallery=274647>
(Sept. 2)
[Photos] Share your pics
<http://postpix.palmbeachpost.com/user/member_admin.php>
[Inside FAU]
<http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/faub\
log> .
More in Sports
<http://www.palmbeachpost.com/panthers/content/sports/panthers/> There
are older Seminoles who know Smith as the grandson of former Tribal
President Fred Smith, but Smith's following also includes kids, who may
want to grow up in Smith's footsteps as an American Indian who plays
football. "People say I'm a role model, but I've never really thought
of myself like that," said Smith, who played for Okeechobee High School
while he lived at the Seminole Tribe Reservation in Brighton. "I guess
maybe some good does come out of me playing." Smith gets the most
enjoyment when he is helping younger Seminoles. He has been a speaker
for youth teams that are forming in some of the reservations. And this
summer, Smith was a guest instructor and coach for the Jim Thorpe Indian
All-Star Football Classic, a weeklong football clinic and game held in
Oklahoma each year. "That was a great experience," Smith said. "There
were kids from all over the country, and it was amazing how different
they were but how similar we all are because we are Native American."
It was part of a busy summer for Smith, who also played basketball in
the Indigenous Games, a sports and cultural festival for Aboriginal
people in North America that was held in Denver. Basketball is more
popular on the reservations than football because it is easier to form a
team with small numbers, and Smith is believed to be one of a handful of
American Indians playing I-A college football. Smith said he is not
offended by teams with "Indians" as their nicknames such as Arkansas
State, FAU's opponent this week. "I never really had a problem with
it," Smith said. "Names like Seminoles and Indians aren't offensive to
me. I don't really like teams called the Redskins, so I can see where
the NCAA is coming from, especially when we are a society based on
equality. I can see where they wouldn't want names like that around."
FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger, who has spoken before the Seminole
Tribe's council on Smith's value to the team, believes Smith is a
natural leader. "He's very proud of his heritage and the makeup of the
tribe," Schnellenberger said. "He's a serious minded person and has
demonstrated maturity and is a pillar of the offensive line." Smith is
somewhat reserved, but he forms strong bonds with his teammates. "He's
quiet, but he says just enough," said offensive lineman Antes Perkins,
who has gotten to know Smith well. Perkins visited the Brighton
reservation with Smith this summer and enjoyed his visit with one of the
tribe's favorite sons. "He showed me around, and it was real cool,"
Perkins said. "There is a lot of unity out there. They are all about
helping each other. Everybody knew Jarrid, and he's very well-respected
there." Although Smith doesn't say much, he makes his words count,
said his mother, Camellia Osceola. "He doesn't say a lot, but when he
does say something it's meaningful," Osceola said.
<http://us.f279.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=marcus_nelson@pbpost.com>
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Tuesday, October 24, 2006
www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/content/sports/epaper/2006/10/24/a5c\
_fauextra_1024.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=46
<http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/content/sports/epaper/2006/10/24/a5\
c_fauextra_1024.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=46> BOCA RATON �"
When Florida Atlantic plays at home, junior offensive lineman Jarrid
Smith doesn't know where all the members of the Seminole Tribe who are
there cheering for him are sitting, but he knows they are there.
Smith, a member of the Seminole Tribe, is the reason dozens make the
long trips from various reservations in South Florida to support one of
their own. More on the Owls [FAU football photos]
<http://postpix.palmbeachpost.com/pages/gallery.php?gallery=308934>
[Photos] Game photos
Louisiana-Lafayette
<http://postpix.palmbeachpost.com/pages/gallery.php?gallery=308934>
(Oct. 18)
Southern Utah
<http://postpix.palmbeachpost.com/pages/gallery.php?gallery=308723>
(Oct. 12)
La. Monroe
<http://postpix.palmbeachpost.com/pages/gallery.php?gallery=306699>
(Sept. 30)
OSU <http://postpix.palmbeachpost.com/pages/gallery.php?gallery=295487>
(Sept. 16)
K-State
<http://postpix.palmbeachpost.com/pages/gallery.php?gallery=285318>
(Sept. 9)
Clemson
<http://postpix.palmbeachpost.com/pages/gallery.php?gallery=274647>
(Sept. 2)
[Photos] Share your pics
<http://postpix.palmbeachpost.com/user/member_admin.php>
[Inside FAU]
<http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/content/shared-blogs/palmbeach/faub\
log> .
More in Sports
<http://www.palmbeachpost.com/panthers/content/sports/panthers/> There
are older Seminoles who know Smith as the grandson of former Tribal
President Fred Smith, but Smith's following also includes kids, who may
want to grow up in Smith's footsteps as an American Indian who plays
football. "People say I'm a role model, but I've never really thought
of myself like that," said Smith, who played for Okeechobee High School
while he lived at the Seminole Tribe Reservation in Brighton. "I guess
maybe some good does come out of me playing." Smith gets the most
enjoyment when he is helping younger Seminoles. He has been a speaker
for youth teams that are forming in some of the reservations. And this
summer, Smith was a guest instructor and coach for the Jim Thorpe Indian
All-Star Football Classic, a weeklong football clinic and game held in
Oklahoma each year. "That was a great experience," Smith said. "There
were kids from all over the country, and it was amazing how different
they were but how similar we all are because we are Native American."
It was part of a busy summer for Smith, who also played basketball in
the Indigenous Games, a sports and cultural festival for Aboriginal
people in North America that was held in Denver. Basketball is more
popular on the reservations than football because it is easier to form a
team with small numbers, and Smith is believed to be one of a handful of
American Indians playing I-A college football. Smith said he is not
offended by teams with "Indians" as their nicknames such as Arkansas
State, FAU's opponent this week. "I never really had a problem with
it," Smith said. "Names like Seminoles and Indians aren't offensive to
me. I don't really like teams called the Redskins, so I can see where
the NCAA is coming from, especially when we are a society based on
equality. I can see where they wouldn't want names like that around."
FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger, who has spoken before the Seminole
Tribe's council on Smith's value to the team, believes Smith is a
natural leader. "He's very proud of his heritage and the makeup of the
tribe," Schnellenberger said. "He's a serious minded person and has
demonstrated maturity and is a pillar of the offensive line." Smith is
somewhat reserved, but he forms strong bonds with his teammates. "He's
quiet, but he says just enough," said offensive lineman Antes Perkins,
who has gotten to know Smith well. Perkins visited the Brighton
reservation with Smith this summer and enjoyed his visit with one of the
tribe's favorite sons. "He showed me around, and it was real cool,"
Perkins said. "There is a lot of unity out there. They are all about
helping each other. Everybody knew Jarrid, and he's very well-respected
there." Although Smith doesn't say much, he makes his words count,
said his mother, Camellia Osceola. "He doesn't say a lot, but when he
does say something it's meaningful," Osceola said.