Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Good morning, It's eight oh five in news radio eight
forty WHS. You know, I have great people that I
had a chance to cover throughout my lifetime. Great coaches
both at the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky.
Of course, you know Denny Crome, beloved by everybody, and
(00:20):
also John L. Smith, who really turned the fortunes or
the misfortunes or whatever are around with the new stadium
and coach.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
It's great to see Tony Cruz.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
How's my man doing?
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Every time I see you, put a smile on my
face because we have we have a history that's way
way goes way back before I even was at WHAS
and before you were at the University of Louisville. And
what I remember is that I forgot about this. Two
teams played against Eastern Kentucky University in the National Championship,
(00:59):
both of them in Richmond. One of I forgot that
you were a coach with Dennis Ericson at Idaho, the
Idaho Vandals.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Right we came, we came back, we came into Eastern
and played Eastern as well up there in Richmond. And
the first one though, what was that you were there
University of Nevada.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
I was in.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
I was at both of those games, were at both
of them. It was about eighteen degrees. It was the
first I don't know if it was the only one
double a playoff that ever went into overtime.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Yeah, and at that time, I want to say, there
was maybe eight teams selected. Remember it started out at
the core and then it went to eight, and then
it went sixteen. Now it's one hundred and ninety.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
For one or now for FCS football. But the funny
thing about this, well what I didn't know. You were
the defensive coordinator for what is now the University of Nevada.
It was the University of Nevada, Areno. And you had
a linebacker who I have become great friends with many Rodriguez,
who worked at try caddy Ford as a sales manager. Yes,
(02:06):
and we started getting into big debates as to you know,
our team won. We went on and won the national championship. Right,
But you had a little caveat where O contrere.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
So we get to come into we get to come
into Richmond, We get to come in and see the Colonels, yes,
as you always called the Colonels. Anyway, Roy kidd I
think was the coach at that time, and what a
great guy, and what a great coach, and they killed
us with kindness. Yeah right, what I didn't The night
before the game, they had a big kind of banquet
(02:37):
for us, and they wind us and dined us and
then took us out to the field and kicked our butt.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Well, the first half we were pretty dominant, but the
second half, you guys came back with a vengeance and
your guy, as I understand it, we blocked an extra
point at the end of the game to send it
into overtime, and so there was a kicking issue there
for you guys, I guess.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
But but then in overtime, yeah, we got to kick
one right to win the game, right, And I can't
remember what we were down.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Just you were just well we were tired at that
time and then and you were kicking the field. Go
you missed it and we made ours. But to put this,
uh a little bit on ice here, Manny was very
mad at your kicker.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
Man, yes, man, and he was going to kill him,
that's true. He wasn't gonna let him on the plane.
He made him, made him walk to renal.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
He tried to well what he did, as he described it,
he goes, he missed the kick and as a result,
he wound up. Uh. The guy was on the plane.
He said, I guess it wasn't God's will. And many started.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
To joke came and almost killed him that.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
The whole team had taken That was many many many
was out of control at times.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
He could play.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Yeah, he was a good player.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
He was a good player, and but buffed and could.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Run and oh yeah he was strong. He was very good,
I'm remembering. And then that night after the game though,
what happened, there was some kind of party that happened
that was before.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Well it was after yeah, before we flew out. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Yeah, the uh Eastern guys felt so so sorry for
our guys.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
They invited them all out to Uh.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
To go to the bars.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
And so anyway, you got to get up and bail
him out in the morning and get on the plane.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
And well, so you had a guy that what was
on some ladies front lawn or something like that.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Yeah, he got discovered with his pants down on some
lady's front lawn.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Well see, and the problem was in Richmond at that time.
Is I understand that the police said that you don't
get out of the tank.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Right for twenty four hours?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Right?
Speaker 1 (04:55):
And what did you how did you get him out
because you were the one, you were the promise coordinator.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
Yeah, promise I have him out of this town before
the twenty four If you promise he's out here, you
can take him.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
That's how you got him out. So that's just one
of the crazy kind of stories that ever since then.
Once we knew that, you know, I'd gone to EKU,
you kind of would roast at every press, what about
how we cheated.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
Here's the deal you Colin ELL's would get somebody from
I think there had to be Hazard County or I
don't know, I don't know where those officials came from
that you guys would get. But back then, you know,
the one double A was as cheap as they could be.
So I know you got him out of the backwoods,
you got him some some holler back there, you pulled
(05:43):
in some officials and whatever always ended up getting this.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Well, you know, Eastern Western used to have their moments too,
but you became the coach at the University of Well,
let's we'll come back with that and some of the
stories that we have on that as well, here come
out up with the coach John L. Smith on news
radio A forty.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
W h A S. Talking to a dear friend, John L.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Smith, the former coach of the University of Louisville and
Michigan State University.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
More than that later, yeah, a little bit.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
The end of that was.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Well discuss So let's talk about some of the guys
that you coached with and have gone on with great success.
Scott Lenahan was your offensive coordinator. I remember already Valero,
Artie Valero.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
He ended up finishing up coaching actually out in New
Mexico with Greg mcawaine. Mcawayane, who was here with me,
had gone on to Colorado State was the head coach,
and then at the University of Florida, and then from
the University of Florida, he went up and finished up
at Western Michigan.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Was that Jim mcawaane or yeah, Jim mcaway Mcawayneah, Yeah,
he was here, he was here, ling Chris smiling Smith.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
Yes, me went back I can coach for her army,
and he was here with me for a long time
and finished up coaching. In fact, he came back and
they they moved back here. He and his wife Barb
and they coached with me out at Kentucky State. Yeah,
and we had a good couple of years out there,
(07:20):
you know, kind of the two of us, and that
was about it.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Yeah, well it was fun.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
But we had Scott E.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
Lenahan, who's who you say, he's a head. He was
the head coach at the Rams and now he's back.
He's coaching with New Orleans Saints. Joel Thomas, who was
one of our running back coaches here.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
And Dave were going. Who played for you?
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Is where Dave were going? As the quarterback coach at
the l A Rams. Well, that's an easy job.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
He's got one of the best quarterbacks in the way.
He's like, look, look good for a goal.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
He says, I'm going to hang on here a couple
of years around this guy. He's pretty good.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
So Nick Holt defensive line coach.
Speaker 4 (07:59):
Yeah, NICKI went on, Uh, he's just I think he's
going to get out now. But he's coached over and
he went to Italy and was the head coach over
there and one couple I don't know what they are
over in Italy, but championships. But he and his wife Julie.
His wife Julie who was just a stud. She would
knock the crap out a nick. She won the world championship.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
CrossFit really what.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
Yes, the world championship for over I want to say
it was over forty at that time.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
That's fifty. And anyway, she's just as she's a stud.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
What about here.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
The craziest coach I knew on your staff, but then
was one of the nicest guys off the field.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
That was Mike Cox.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Mike Cox, he's Marchay Coxy Coxy.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
Well, he played for me at Idaho, Okay, and then
the coach for me at Idaho, and then every place
I was, you know, he was with me. And uh
then he finished finished up out in Texas. L Passo
and his kids went, both of them got scholarships, I
want to say.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
To.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
Kansas or Kansas State, one of them. Anyway, so they
live they live out there. I want to stay in
Manhattan and his wife Julie. And he's one of the
greatest guys ever, the most loyal, hard work and just
super coach.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
And yeah, he was the great individual.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
He was a tough guy, but he could recruit really
nic Yeah, he could recruit.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Yeah, that's exactly right.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
So tell me what what prompted you to come to
U of L. Were you just what? You and Tom jurorch.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
Right, Tom and I had a relationship. We were out
in the Big Sky and he was the athletic director
at Northern Arizona, right, And of course I was the
head coach at Idaho, and we we kind of at Idaho.
We dominated the league, you did. We had dougna Smeyer
who was Player of the Year, John Frees who was
Player of the You're in the nation.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
So did you come in after.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
Well, Dennis go to Miami, Yes, and I didn't go
to Miami with him, and I stayed there and got
the Idaho job.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Yeah, well deservedly so, yeah, and what was it about you?
Because a lot of defensive coaches. Of course, you guys
really expanded something about college football. I don't think right
that you all get enough consideration about this wide open offense.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
Right, Well, it actually started with John Elway's high school coach,
and then Jack Alway who was at the University of Montana,
and then I coached the University of Montana, and then
Dennis Erickson was at Montana State. Anyway, long story short,
Dennis ends up going to work for Elway. This is
when Alway's down in California. Now he's at cal State
north Ridge and then San Jose State, So Dennis is
(11:00):
coaching for him down there, and they ran this wide
open offense where you know, it actually started as a
two back offense, but then you would set one guy
out and then you would motion the other guy, so
you ended up empty in the backfield, you know, and
people out there didn't know what to do with it
at that time. Right They're going to all these guys
running out and it was like stealing. I mean, you
(11:22):
picked the open guy and throw him the ball.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
And so I've always wondered why more defensive coordinators don't
make for better offensive mind particularly in the National Football
League from the standpoint, I mean, you know, I love Tomlin.
I'm a big Pittsburgh Steelers fan, but you know, I
wish they would, you know, put more into their offense.
But it seems to me, I'm philosophically speaking, you being
(11:46):
a really great defensive coordinator that well, what's the toughest
offense that that creates? And gives me the biggest concern
that you would employ that to be you know, yeah,
part of your own.
Speaker 4 (11:59):
And we carried that over, you know, I have with
Dennis doing what he did, and he got a lot
of credit, maybe not enough, but he went on to Miami,
you know and running the spread offense like this and
ended up winning a national championship, but at Miami, and
we'd go out and visit with him every year and
spend at least a week with he and his staff
(12:19):
keeping up on you know, offense, defense, those type of things.
And so we continued to run that and then when
you know, we rented a didahoe and then we rent
her to the Utah State and then we came out
here and we ran it. And Bobby Petrino was offensive
coordinator when I first got here. And they don't do
(12:39):
as much of it anymore, but it was it was
tough to defend because they just at that time, you're
asking linebackers to go out and cover guys that they
can't cover right, you.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Know, and but they still do a form of it.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Now it's tight ends get a chance to get behind
those guys, you know, just it's even more spreading away
because tight ends usually just be walking eys or maybe
take a two yard pass or.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Something to that hybrid.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
That hybrid tied end wing back type guy that can
catch and he can out muscle little guys if they're
going to put a dB on him or yeah, he's
more a linebacker.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
It's always funny when teams try to face now option teams,
like you know, you go to Navy or Air Force
or something like that. And then also, e ku, we
had to play against Tubby Raymond in the in Delaware
and nobody knew what the wing tea was was about,
and it was kind of crazy stuff back then. Oh yeah,
(13:35):
but if you used it today in high school football,
you probably win a lot of games. No, you would,
because nobody knows how to how to I tell you what.
Speaker 4 (13:42):
I think a lot of teams should get back and
start to run the option. You know, we played at
that time at Idaho when I was head coach. We
played out at Georgia Southern. Yeah, and that's when they
run the handball.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
That's exactly right, and they would.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Run that triple.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Was that coach's name?
Speaker 3 (13:58):
Oh God, you shouldn't have asked me.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Ballheaded guy man, he's old guy. Uh So, anyway, we
got to take a break. We'll come back here in
just a little bit with Coach Smith John L. Smith
joining Tony Benett is going to.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Be on board here as well.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
All Right, we're coming back at the news radio A
forty w h A S.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Good morning.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
I'm Tony Cruz along with John L. Smith and Tony Bennetti.
We're talking to the former U of L football coach
who just happens to be one of our favorite because
he's a character.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
I mean, that's honest. You're you're a character. Yeah, you
are so our Valero. You and are Valero.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
You go running with the bulls, you get Tell me, I.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Want to know about that story.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
How did you and you went to kill him in
Jarro too, didn't you?
Speaker 4 (14:54):
All right, go ahead, well, one time at Idaho. I
think it was up at Idaho already. I'm saying, it's
about midnight. We're looking at film and doing some things,
and he goes, Coach, I just got through watching on
TV the Running.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Of the Bulls. He says, we got to go do that.
I said, okay, I'll hold you to that. We'll go
do that.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
So we get out here and then uh alreadie. Well,
I don't know who brought it up, but we said, okay.
Speaker 5 (15:19):
You're going to go.
Speaker 6 (15:20):
It's time did you see the video where they get
the speared in the stomach right, Well, only if you
get in a way.
Speaker 4 (15:27):
Yeah, you were hauling huh oh it was it was
out of control, you know. So we fly to Spain
and uh, you know, we went into Madrid and did
some terrain and then went up to Pamplona.
Speaker 6 (15:39):
Did you bring the managers? He's taping your ankle, he's uh,
did you wear the right shoes?
Speaker 3 (15:44):
Brought my oldest son and I had him do that.
Speaker 6 (15:47):
I guarantee it. And what shoes are we wearing for this?
Let's see what the turf looks like. It's stone, right
is it?
Speaker 5 (15:54):
Is it brick you're running on? Or is it just
a regular street.
Speaker 4 (15:56):
Cobblestone cobblestone through the streets and all that and this
in there?
Speaker 3 (16:00):
What's yeah building?
Speaker 4 (16:02):
But yeah, you go down and when if you first
meet in the center, the center square of Pamplora, which
is kind of a big open, open area and all
of the English speaking people are here and the Spanish
here and from different countries all over, so y'all migrate
to find out what's going on.
Speaker 6 (16:19):
And everybody, right, everybody's nervous or drunk, either one there.
There's a lot of drinking going on, I guarantee it, right,
So there's so John Ellsmith, that's when L's up came out, right,
So that's the and it still happened today. But now
the L's up has turned into the favorite els down
(16:41):
from the University of Kentucky. Their fans use it as
a negative now as they l's down.
Speaker 5 (16:45):
They love doing it.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
Well, you would expect them to do that, that's right, right,
I mean that's a It was a well, I don't
know if it was a rivalry when we got here
because the first year we played him, you know, that
was the first game in Papa John and they beat
us one hundred and sixty a pretty good quarterback back
yeah right, So anyway, people were fainting in that game.
(17:10):
But after that we the worm turned. Yes, yes, the
wormer's back.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
So let's talk about the worm of that game because
it became even more and more important because especially when
finally both U of L and UK had real offenses.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
Right, you know, right, power work.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
Eventually, we you know, we got and how mommy, where
were you with mommy? While he was the coach at
U K? And then you don't did you later? Become
friends or did you work it.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
We were semi friends, as close as you can be
with your rival when we were here playing, and we
became much closer afterwards. In fact, I tried to hire
his son one time. But anyway, we would do different
functions together, fundraisers, you know, sisters of the poor, golf tournament,
things like that. We did get together. So, yeah, we
(18:00):
were friends, and uh, not necessarily as much when we
were playing.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
You know, we knew how to poke the bear because
I remember, oh, Lexington and that they invented football there,
do you.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
Well they thought they did, you know, and they thought
we were the redheaded stepchild. Now that the first year
we were yeah, they beat us that bad. Well, well
they hopeful we changed the color of our hair, Yes
we did.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (18:24):
And the famous statement that the little brother is six
four two forty now exactly so wasn't there a knee
somebody took a knee right or didn't take a knee
in the year before, and then they had the same
opportunity the next year. I thought it was us or
dam I can't remember that. But those were those were
good games. Those were fun.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
There were some great games.
Speaker 5 (18:41):
There were some fun game.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
There's some great games. They had a great call out
goal line, you know, when they couldn't get it in
from round quarterback sneak out of the shotgun.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
Right, nice call.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
There we go. It's still there.
Speaker 5 (18:55):
Nice, I still there, It's still there.
Speaker 6 (18:59):
But you turned a whole program around. The stadium was new,
and you and we were we were used to going
to the games. They were the same time every Saturday
because we're never on TV and we're playing Eastern Carolina
and all those and losing a lot. So we made
it a party. And then you show up five wide
ready to go and start winning, and we're like, well,
(19:20):
we got to change our whole philosophy. We can't drink
as much in the parking lot.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
Uh, well, you guys still show up after we after kickoff.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
I know, I know, speaking the worst.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Speaking of kickers, I mean, you had some great kickers.
Why do you hate kickers?
Speaker 3 (19:33):
I don't hate kickers.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Oh you used to say that.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
I only I only hate them when they missed another
man to do. Other than that, I love them.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
Really, I guess I should say I warmed up to
them people to Yeah, Johnny Hilberte, who's still here in town,
and his kids can both kicks. You're a no akers
had gotten through prior year prior, Okay, that's coming. But
(20:05):
he would come back in the summer and work.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
With Oh yes, I remember watching him practice.
Speaker 6 (20:10):
Man, have you ever thought about writing a book?
Speaker 5 (20:15):
The title?
Speaker 3 (20:15):
But I don't know if I can remember him put
all these things.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
That's exactly right where they make it legal.
Speaker 6 (20:23):
Ask you why, but I got the title. The players
are playing their butts off and the coaches are screwing
it up.
Speaker 5 (20:32):
That's the title of your book. That's the title of.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
You guys had to bring that up. That's one of
the all time quotes.
Speaker 6 (20:40):
It's our afternoon guy on seven ninety. That's now going
to replace Tony he uses in his open every single day.
Speaker 5 (20:45):
Yeah, every single day. It's a great quote.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
It's a great kuds. You're playing their butts off.
Speaker 5 (20:50):
And the coaches that's the title of your book.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
And that's exactly what happened.
Speaker 6 (20:56):
Right.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
What game was that? After?
Speaker 3 (20:57):
That?
Speaker 1 (20:58):
Was?
Speaker 4 (20:58):
That was Ohio State? Now right prior to prior to
halftime at Ohio State. Now, I think we're even leading.
So it's third down and we're running out of time,
and I don't know that we had a time out left.
We didn't, so we call our last time out and
we said, okay, we're gonna we're going to run the
ball over there. We're going to run go out and
(21:20):
uh run fast field goal. So we had fast field
goal ready and we changed it. Okay, just run the
ball over here. And anyway, long story short is, we
had the quarterback, moved the ball to the center of
the field, you know, you with it, and all of
a sudden, I look up and here comes fast field goal.
(21:41):
And I had not called for you know, and our
assistant was in charge of that. I never gave him
the word. You know, we're not going to do that.
He was supposed to be on the phone listening. Anyway,
So here they come and they line up and we
got one guy short. And you know, the kickers taught
never to snap the ball unless everybody's out there.
Speaker 5 (22:05):
Yeah right right, Levin count them up, so they block it.
Speaker 4 (22:08):
Oh you know, so they end up beating us. Anyway,
that was a bad day for them for the sparches
the coaches.
Speaker 6 (22:17):
Football is different than I think any other sport when
it comes to camaraderie, and that's why guys play too long.
Probably in the NFL and all that. They don't want
to it's not necessarily the game. It is being with
the boys, right, right, And that's what you probably remember
through the wins and losses and everything else. It's the
camaraderie of the huddle and all that.
Speaker 4 (22:36):
Right, it's that brotherhood that the only thing I could
relate it to, and you know I didn't serve would
be like the army.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
Amen, being in the military.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
That's right, and you got his back and he's got
your back, and you rely on each other that must
and you, hey.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
You have to. No one's gotta I gotta trust this
guy next to me because.
Speaker 6 (22:56):
Right, and no one's healthy after game three. Everyone plays
hurt for nine straight games.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
Right, That's part of the deal in puting the coaches.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
We've got to take it break. We'll come right back
and wrap up with John L. Smith here on news
Radio eight forty w h A s all right eight
forty seven and news Radio A forty w HS wrapping
up our time with coach John L.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
Smith.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
Who's kind enough to come in?
Speaker 3 (23:17):
Are we wrapping up already?
Speaker 1 (23:19):
Well, there's too many stories. I mean, you need to
write a book. We need you to write a book.
We'll come over and we'll just take notes and stuff
and then you know, put it together. Just put put it,
put it down on your phone.
Speaker 6 (23:34):
Alright, So say thank him for years of covery University
of Louisville.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
Before he's a legend. It's like I told him, I
can't believe he's retiring.
Speaker 5 (23:45):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
They finally got smart to kick your butt out.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
That's exactly people.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
How you do?
Speaker 3 (23:52):
How'd you last that long?
Speaker 2 (23:54):
Because I was cheap?
Speaker 3 (23:58):
Oh you were the best man have been. Uh you
what a person.
Speaker 4 (24:03):
And the thing about media and the things that you
guys did and the interviewing and all of those things
is I would just ask, is this is this guy fair?
And you were more than fair and your questions were
not ambush. Wasn't an exactly not an ambush? And like,
but I love it anyway, but I love.
Speaker 6 (24:26):
You all fairness to us that interviewed you, you would
all fairness. You would say we suck today.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
There were several days.
Speaker 5 (24:38):
Makes our off easier, like okay on sugarcoated.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Well, that's the one thing that was kind of refreshing
from this guy that came out from the West. I
guess you guys are a little bit more honest about
you know who you are, your team's coach exactly, because
you know everybody else wants to try and.
Speaker 5 (24:55):
Said, who the hell is? Guy said, where the hell
is Louisville.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
Yeah, well I remember one time. So so you went
to what a horseshoe, Virginia or something like that, and
they said they call them mountains.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
We were real deffer, Yeah, we're cruting.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
Coach North's taking me. It was just like my North
and he's awesome, my fishing buddy.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
Anyway, he goes, Coach, we've got to go through the mountains,
because we'll go through I said mountains. I said, damn,
these are these are hills there like foothills, these are mountains.
So he went out west a couple of years ago
with his kids and anyway, there's grandkids and you. He said, Utah, Wyoming,
Montana up through there. But he said, yeah, I see
(25:37):
what you mean about mountains.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
You're still ski anymore.
Speaker 4 (25:41):
I try to make it really, you know, you bet,
but the problem is I can ski out here because
they're hills.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
They're not really skiing out No.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
Yeah, the best deal is to fly in the Salt
Lake and ski park City. But we usually go up
to Michigan and skiboard. Oh okay, and it's a nice
little hill. You're still pretty athletic.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Then, uh do you run? Do you walk?
Speaker 3 (26:05):
I walk, and I left about three days a week.
Speaker 5 (26:10):
Yeah, I'm not wrestling.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
You try to.
Speaker 4 (26:12):
Stay, try to stay in some kind of shape. But yeah,
this good old We're good for you. Yeah, keep after it.
Speaker 6 (26:19):
And your family loved fell in love of Louisville, your
most your family stay exactly.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Yeah, everybody was my final question. Really, it was just
how do we put this on the boat? Why here?
Why Shelbyville? Why why stay here?
Speaker 4 (26:31):
Well, when we went to Michigan State, Uh, Nick came
up to begin with, and any way, he had to
come back, so he came back and coached with Bobby,
and then my daughter husband would travel up there every
They weren't married at the time, but so they're gonna
move back here.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
And then my my son married.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
So they all married Louisville people, and now we had nowhere.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Else to go.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
So when we left Michigan State, die I came down here.
It's not relation.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
How she doing she's still good.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
Yeah, she's doing good. She's still she's still a pain
to live with.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
I don't think that that's right. I think she got
that wrong.
Speaker 5 (27:09):
She keeps kicking me in the but there's a support group. Coach.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
No, that's good.
Speaker 4 (27:16):
So that's the reason we moved back and we got
a place in Shelbyville, and I kept it when we
went out to Colorado on coach and places and so
we just she remodeled that. She stayed here and remodeled it.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
Best coach you ever faced.
Speaker 4 (27:31):
Oo boy, oh boy, oh boy, I'll tell you what. Yeah,
because we got our butt kicked by a lot of
them at Arkansas. It was oh you know we got
kickbu saving Alabama.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
Yeah, they got after SEC defensive lines man.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Yeah, we can.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
That was the difference to me, you know between the
Big ten. The Big ten played, of course, and I
still think it's somewhat the same. I mean, you had
to have safety, so you had to have some guys
that come up and right force uh the attack.
Speaker 5 (28:03):
But the big dan was SEC D lines They make that.
Speaker 3 (28:08):
They can run.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Yeah, it's like everybody can run and they have rotations
three D.
Speaker 6 (28:12):
Look at the first round the NFL Draft, it's all
SEC defensive lineman.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
Yeah right, coach.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
I love you guys.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
Coach John L. Smith here with us here on Kentucky
Anais Morning News. You've got a little jocularity this morning. Yeah,
with a real jock. He climbed kill him in Jarrow.
Speaker 5 (28:31):
See what you got to do is rip the rear
view mirror off. It's what you gotta do. Still say
that today.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Go car Sam, go blue Bellies.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
That's enough of that. We'll see you tomorrow for the
final wrap. Here on this show, Kentucky Anda's Morning News.
Good morning, It's eight oh five in news radio eight
forty WHS. You know, I have great people that I
had a chance to cover throughout my lifetime. Great coaches
both at the University of Louisville and the University of Kentucky.
Of course, you know Denny Crome, beloved by everybody, and
(00:20):
also John L. Smith, who really turned the fortunes or
the misfortunes or whatever are around with the new stadium
and coach.
Speaker 2 (00:31):
It's great to see Tony Cruz.
Speaker 3 (00:34):
How's my man doing?
Speaker 1 (00:35):
Every time I see you, put a smile on my
face because we have we have a history that's way
way goes way back before I even was at WHAS
and before you were at the University of Louisville. And
what I remember is that I forgot about this. Two
teams played against Eastern Kentucky University in the National Championship,
(00:59):
both of them in Richmond. One of I forgot that
you were a coach with Dennis Ericson at Idaho, the
Idaho Vandals.
Speaker 4 (01:06):
Right we came, we came back, we came into Eastern
and played Eastern as well up there in Richmond. And
the first one though, what was that you were there
University of Nevada.
Speaker 3 (01:17):
I was in.
Speaker 1 (01:18):
I was at both of those games, were at both
of them. It was about eighteen degrees. It was the
first I don't know if it was the only one
double a playoff that ever went into overtime.
Speaker 4 (01:30):
Yeah, and at that time, I want to say, there
was maybe eight teams selected. Remember it started out at
the core and then it went to eight, and then
it went sixteen. Now it's one hundred and ninety.
Speaker 1 (01:44):
For one or now for FCS football. But the funny
thing about this, well what I didn't know. You were
the defensive coordinator for what is now the University of Nevada.
It was the University of Nevada, Areno. And you had
a linebacker who I have become great friends with many Rodriguez,
who worked at try caddy Ford as a sales manager. Yes,
(02:06):
and we started getting into big debates as to you know,
our team won. We went on and won the national championship. Right,
But you had a little caveat where O contrere.
Speaker 4 (02:17):
So we get to come into we get to come
into Richmond, We get to come in and see the Colonels, yes,
as you always called the Colonels. Anyway, Roy kidd I
think was the coach at that time, and what a
great guy, and what a great coach, and they killed
us with kindness. Yeah right, what I didn't The night
before the game, they had a big kind of banquet
(02:37):
for us, and they wind us and dined us and
then took us out to the field and kicked our butt.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
Well, the first half we were pretty dominant, but the
second half, you guys came back with a vengeance and
your guy, as I understand it, we blocked an extra
point at the end of the game to send it
into overtime, and so there was a kicking issue there
for you guys, I guess.
Speaker 4 (03:04):
But but then in overtime, yeah, we got to kick
one right to win the game, right, And I can't
remember what we were down.
Speaker 1 (03:14):
Just you were just well we were tired at that
time and then and you were kicking the field. Go
you missed it and we made ours. But to put this,
uh a little bit on ice here, Manny was very
mad at your kicker.
Speaker 4 (03:30):
Man, yes, man, and he was going to kill him,
that's true. He wasn't gonna let him on the plane.
He made him, made him walk to renal.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
He tried to well what he did, as he described it,
he goes, he missed the kick and as a result,
he wound up. Uh. The guy was on the plane.
He said, I guess it wasn't God's will. And many started.
Speaker 2 (03:55):
To joke came and almost killed him that.
Speaker 1 (03:58):
The whole team had taken That was many many many
was out of control at times.
Speaker 3 (04:03):
He could play.
Speaker 1 (04:03):
Yeah, he was a good player.
Speaker 3 (04:05):
He was a good player, and but buffed and could.
Speaker 1 (04:08):
Run and oh yeah he was strong. He was very good,
I'm remembering. And then that night after the game though,
what happened, there was some kind of party that happened
that was before.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
Well it was after yeah, before we flew out. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Yeah, the uh Eastern guys felt so so sorry for
our guys.
Speaker 3 (04:26):
They invited them all out to Uh.
Speaker 2 (04:29):
To go to the bars.
Speaker 4 (04:31):
And so anyway, you got to get up and bail
him out in the morning and get on the plane.
Speaker 1 (04:34):
And well, so you had a guy that what was
on some ladies front lawn or something like that.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Yeah, he got discovered with his pants down on some
lady's front lawn.
Speaker 1 (04:46):
Well see, and the problem was in Richmond at that time.
Is I understand that the police said that you don't
get out of the tank.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Right for twenty four hours?
Speaker 2 (04:54):
Right?
Speaker 1 (04:55):
And what did you how did you get him out
because you were the one, you were the promise coordinator.
Speaker 4 (04:58):
Yeah, promise I have him out of this town before
the twenty four If you promise he's out here, you
can take him.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
That's how you got him out. So that's just one
of the crazy kind of stories that ever since then.
Once we knew that, you know, I'd gone to EKU,
you kind of would roast at every press, what about
how we cheated.
Speaker 4 (05:22):
Here's the deal you Colin ELL's would get somebody from
I think there had to be Hazard County or I
don't know, I don't know where those officials came from
that you guys would get. But back then, you know,
the one double A was as cheap as they could be.
So I know you got him out of the backwoods,
you got him some some holler back there, you pulled
(05:43):
in some officials and whatever always ended up getting this.
Speaker 1 (05:48):
Well, you know, Eastern Western used to have their moments too,
but you became the coach at the University of Well,
let's we'll come back with that and some of the
stories that we have on that as well, here come
out up with the coach John L. Smith on news
radio A forty.
Speaker 2 (06:03):
W h A S. Talking to a dear friend, John L.
Speaker 1 (06:08):
Smith, the former coach of the University of Louisville and
Michigan State University.
Speaker 2 (06:12):
More than that later, yeah, a little bit.
Speaker 3 (06:15):
The end of that was.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Well discuss So let's talk about some of the guys
that you coached with and have gone on with great success.
Scott Lenahan was your offensive coordinator. I remember already Valero,
Artie Valero.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
He ended up finishing up coaching actually out in New
Mexico with Greg mcawaine. Mcawayane, who was here with me,
had gone on to Colorado State was the head coach,
and then at the University of Florida, and then from
the University of Florida, he went up and finished up
at Western Michigan.
Speaker 1 (06:51):
Was that Jim mcawaane or yeah, Jim mcaway Mcawayneah, Yeah,
he was here, he was here, ling Chris smiling Smith.
Speaker 4 (06:59):
Yes, me went back I can coach for her army,
and he was here with me for a long time
and finished up coaching. In fact, he came back and
they they moved back here. He and his wife Barb
and they coached with me out at Kentucky State. Yeah,
and we had a good couple of years out there,
(07:20):
you know, kind of the two of us, and that
was about it.
Speaker 2 (07:22):
Yeah, well it was fun.
Speaker 3 (07:24):
But we had Scott E.
Speaker 4 (07:25):
Lenahan, who's who you say, he's a head. He was
the head coach at the Rams and now he's back.
He's coaching with New Orleans Saints. Joel Thomas, who was
one of our running back coaches here.
Speaker 2 (07:39):
And Dave were going. Who played for you?
Speaker 3 (07:41):
Is where Dave were going? As the quarterback coach at
the l A Rams. Well, that's an easy job.
Speaker 2 (07:47):
He's got one of the best quarterbacks in the way.
He's like, look, look good for a goal.
Speaker 4 (07:51):
He says, I'm going to hang on here a couple
of years around this guy. He's pretty good.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
So Nick Holt defensive line coach.
Speaker 4 (07:59):
Yeah, NICKI went on, Uh, he's just I think he's
going to get out now. But he's coached over and
he went to Italy and was the head coach over
there and one couple I don't know what they are
over in Italy, but championships. But he and his wife Julie.
His wife Julie who was just a stud. She would
knock the crap out a nick. She won the world championship.
Speaker 2 (08:24):
CrossFit really what.
Speaker 4 (08:27):
Yes, the world championship for over I want to say
it was over forty at that time.
Speaker 3 (08:33):
That's fifty. And anyway, she's just as she's a stud.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
What about here.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
The craziest coach I knew on your staff, but then
was one of the nicest guys off the field.
Speaker 2 (08:43):
That was Mike Cox.
Speaker 3 (08:45):
Mike Cox, he's Marchay Coxy Coxy.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
Well, he played for me at Idaho, Okay, and then
the coach for me at Idaho, and then every place
I was, you know, he was with me. And uh
then he finished finished up out in Texas. L Passo
and his kids went, both of them got scholarships, I
want to say.
Speaker 3 (09:07):
To.
Speaker 4 (09:09):
Kansas or Kansas State, one of them. Anyway, so they
live they live out there. I want to stay in
Manhattan and his wife Julie. And he's one of the
greatest guys ever, the most loyal, hard work and just
super coach.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
And yeah, he was the great individual.
Speaker 1 (09:27):
He was a tough guy, but he could recruit really
nic Yeah, he could recruit.
Speaker 2 (09:31):
Yeah, that's exactly right.
Speaker 1 (09:32):
So tell me what what prompted you to come to
U of L. Were you just what? You and Tom jurorch.
Speaker 4 (09:40):
Right, Tom and I had a relationship. We were out
in the Big Sky and he was the athletic director
at Northern Arizona, right, And of course I was the
head coach at Idaho, and we we kind of at Idaho.
We dominated the league, you did. We had dougna Smeyer
who was Player of the Year, John Frees who was
Player of the You're in the nation.
Speaker 1 (10:01):
So did you come in after.
Speaker 4 (10:05):
Well, Dennis go to Miami, Yes, and I didn't go
to Miami with him, and I stayed there and got
the Idaho job.
Speaker 1 (10:18):
Yeah, well deservedly so, yeah, and what was it about you?
Because a lot of defensive coaches. Of course, you guys
really expanded something about college football. I don't think right
that you all get enough consideration about this wide open offense.
Speaker 4 (10:37):
Right, Well, it actually started with John Elway's high school coach,
and then Jack Alway who was at the University of Montana,
and then I coached the University of Montana, and then
Dennis Erickson was at Montana State. Anyway, long story short,
Dennis ends up going to work for Elway. This is
when Alway's down in California. Now he's at cal State
north Ridge and then San Jose State, So Dennis is
(11:00):
coaching for him down there, and they ran this wide
open offense where you know, it actually started as a
two back offense, but then you would set one guy
out and then you would motion the other guy, so
you ended up empty in the backfield, you know, and
people out there didn't know what to do with it
at that time. Right They're going to all these guys
running out and it was like stealing. I mean, you
(11:22):
picked the open guy and throw him the ball.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
And so I've always wondered why more defensive coordinators don't
make for better offensive mind particularly in the National Football
League from the standpoint, I mean, you know, I love Tomlin.
I'm a big Pittsburgh Steelers fan, but you know, I
wish they would, you know, put more into their offense.
But it seems to me, I'm philosophically speaking, you being
(11:46):
a really great defensive coordinator that well, what's the toughest
offense that that creates? And gives me the biggest concern
that you would employ that to be you know, yeah,
part of your own.
Speaker 4 (11:59):
And we carried that over, you know, I have with
Dennis doing what he did, and he got a lot
of credit, maybe not enough, but he went on to Miami,
you know and running the spread offense like this and
ended up winning a national championship, but at Miami, and
we'd go out and visit with him every year and
spend at least a week with he and his staff
(12:19):
keeping up on you know, offense, defense, those type of things.
And so we continued to run that and then when
you know, we rented a didahoe and then we rent
her to the Utah State and then we came out
here and we ran it. And Bobby Petrino was offensive
coordinator when I first got here. And they don't do
(12:39):
as much of it anymore, but it was it was
tough to defend because they just at that time, you're
asking linebackers to go out and cover guys that they
can't cover right, you.
Speaker 2 (12:48):
Know, and but they still do a form of it.
Speaker 1 (12:51):
Now it's tight ends get a chance to get behind
those guys, you know, just it's even more spreading away
because tight ends usually just be walking eys or maybe
take a two yard pass or.
Speaker 3 (13:01):
Something to that hybrid.
Speaker 4 (13:02):
That hybrid tied end wing back type guy that can
catch and he can out muscle little guys if they're
going to put a dB on him or yeah, he's
more a linebacker.
Speaker 1 (13:14):
It's always funny when teams try to face now option teams,
like you know, you go to Navy or Air Force
or something like that. And then also, e ku, we
had to play against Tubby Raymond in the in Delaware
and nobody knew what the wing tea was was about,
and it was kind of crazy stuff back then. Oh yeah,
(13:35):
but if you used it today in high school football,
you probably win a lot of games. No, you would,
because nobody knows how to how to I tell you what.
Speaker 4 (13:42):
I think a lot of teams should get back and
start to run the option. You know, we played at
that time at Idaho when I was head coach. We
played out at Georgia Southern. Yeah, and that's when they
run the handball.
Speaker 1 (13:53):
That's exactly right, and they would.
Speaker 3 (13:55):
Run that triple.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
Was that coach's name?
Speaker 3 (13:58):
Oh God, you shouldn't have asked me.
Speaker 1 (14:01):
Ballheaded guy man, he's old guy. Uh So, anyway, we
got to take a break. We'll come back here in
just a little bit with Coach Smith John L. Smith
joining Tony Benett is going to.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Be on board here as well.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
All Right, we're coming back at the news radio A
forty w h A S.
Speaker 2 (14:26):
Good morning.
Speaker 1 (14:26):
I'm Tony Cruz along with John L. Smith and Tony Bennetti.
We're talking to the former U of L football coach
who just happens to be one of our favorite because
he's a character.
Speaker 2 (14:36):
I mean, that's honest. You're you're a character. Yeah, you
are so our Valero. You and are Valero.
Speaker 1 (14:43):
You go running with the bulls, you get Tell me, I.
Speaker 2 (14:48):
Want to know about that story.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
How did you and you went to kill him in
Jarro too, didn't you?
Speaker 4 (14:54):
All right, go ahead, well, one time at Idaho. I
think it was up at Idaho already. I'm saying, it's
about midnight. We're looking at film and doing some things,
and he goes, Coach, I just got through watching on
TV the Running.
Speaker 3 (15:06):
Of the Bulls. He says, we got to go do that.
I said, okay, I'll hold you to that. We'll go
do that.
Speaker 4 (15:12):
So we get out here and then uh alreadie. Well,
I don't know who brought it up, but we said, okay.
Speaker 5 (15:19):
You're going to go.
Speaker 6 (15:20):
It's time did you see the video where they get
the speared in the stomach right, Well, only if you
get in a way.
Speaker 4 (15:27):
Yeah, you were hauling huh oh it was it was
out of control, you know. So we fly to Spain
and uh, you know, we went into Madrid and did
some terrain and then went up to Pamplona.
Speaker 6 (15:39):
Did you bring the managers? He's taping your ankle, he's uh,
did you wear the right shoes?
Speaker 3 (15:44):
Brought my oldest son and I had him do that.
Speaker 6 (15:47):
I guarantee it. And what shoes are we wearing for this?
Let's see what the turf looks like. It's stone, right
is it?
Speaker 5 (15:54):
Is it brick you're running on? Or is it just
a regular street.
Speaker 4 (15:56):
Cobblestone cobblestone through the streets and all that and this
in there?
Speaker 3 (16:00):
What's yeah building?
Speaker 4 (16:02):
But yeah, you go down and when if you first
meet in the center, the center square of Pamplora, which
is kind of a big open, open area and all
of the English speaking people are here and the Spanish
here and from different countries all over, so y'all migrate
to find out what's going on.
Speaker 6 (16:19):
And everybody, right, everybody's nervous or drunk, either one there.
There's a lot of drinking going on, I guarantee it, right,
So there's so John Ellsmith, that's when L's up came out, right,
So that's the and it still happened today. But now
the L's up has turned into the favorite els down
(16:41):
from the University of Kentucky. Their fans use it as
a negative now as they l's down.
Speaker 5 (16:45):
They love doing it.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
Well, you would expect them to do that, that's right, right,
I mean that's a It was a well, I don't
know if it was a rivalry when we got here
because the first year we played him, you know, that
was the first game in Papa John and they beat
us one hundred and sixty a pretty good quarterback back
yeah right, So anyway, people were fainting in that game.
(17:10):
But after that we the worm turned. Yes, yes, the
wormer's back.
Speaker 1 (17:15):
So let's talk about the worm of that game because
it became even more and more important because especially when
finally both U of L and UK had real offenses.
Speaker 3 (17:28):
Right, you know, right, power work.
Speaker 1 (17:29):
Eventually, we you know, we got and how mommy, where
were you with mommy? While he was the coach at
U K? And then you don't did you later? Become
friends or did you work it.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
We were semi friends, as close as you can be
with your rival when we were here playing, and we
became much closer afterwards. In fact, I tried to hire
his son one time. But anyway, we would do different
functions together, fundraisers, you know, sisters of the poor, golf tournament,
things like that. We did get together. So, yeah, we
(18:00):
were friends, and uh, not necessarily as much when we
were playing.
Speaker 1 (18:04):
You know, we knew how to poke the bear because
I remember, oh, Lexington and that they invented football there,
do you.
Speaker 4 (18:10):
Well they thought they did, you know, and they thought
we were the redheaded stepchild. Now that the first year
we were yeah, they beat us that bad. Well, well
they hopeful we changed the color of our hair, Yes
we did.
Speaker 3 (18:24):
Uh.
Speaker 6 (18:24):
And the famous statement that the little brother is six
four two forty now exactly so wasn't there a knee
somebody took a knee right or didn't take a knee
in the year before, and then they had the same
opportunity the next year. I thought it was us or
dam I can't remember that. But those were those were
good games. Those were fun.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
There were some great games.
Speaker 5 (18:41):
There were some fun game.
Speaker 4 (18:42):
There's some great games. They had a great call out
goal line, you know, when they couldn't get it in
from round quarterback sneak out of the shotgun.
Speaker 3 (18:48):
Right, nice call.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
There we go. It's still there.
Speaker 5 (18:55):
Nice, I still there, It's still there.
Speaker 6 (18:59):
But you turned a whole program around. The stadium was new,
and you and we were we were used to going
to the games. They were the same time every Saturday
because we're never on TV and we're playing Eastern Carolina
and all those and losing a lot. So we made
it a party. And then you show up five wide
ready to go and start winning, and we're like, well,
(19:20):
we got to change our whole philosophy. We can't drink
as much in the parking lot.
Speaker 4 (19:23):
Uh, well, you guys still show up after we after kickoff.
Speaker 2 (19:27):
I know, I know, speaking the worst.
Speaker 1 (19:29):
Speaking of kickers, I mean, you had some great kickers.
Why do you hate kickers?
Speaker 3 (19:33):
I don't hate kickers.
Speaker 1 (19:34):
Oh you used to say that.
Speaker 3 (19:35):
I only I only hate them when they missed another
man to do. Other than that, I love them.
Speaker 4 (19:43):
Really, I guess I should say I warmed up to
them people to Yeah, Johnny Hilberte, who's still here in town,
and his kids can both kicks. You're a no akers
had gotten through prior year prior, Okay, that's coming. But
(20:05):
he would come back in the summer and work.
Speaker 1 (20:06):
With Oh yes, I remember watching him practice.
Speaker 6 (20:10):
Man, have you ever thought about writing a book?
Speaker 5 (20:15):
The title?
Speaker 3 (20:15):
But I don't know if I can remember him put
all these things.
Speaker 5 (20:20):
That's exactly right where they make it legal.
Speaker 6 (20:23):
Ask you why, but I got the title. The players
are playing their butts off and the coaches are screwing
it up.
Speaker 5 (20:32):
That's the title of your book. That's the title of.
Speaker 3 (20:36):
You guys had to bring that up. That's one of
the all time quotes.
Speaker 6 (20:40):
It's our afternoon guy on seven ninety. That's now going
to replace Tony he uses in his open every single day.
Speaker 5 (20:45):
Yeah, every single day. It's a great quote.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
It's a great kuds. You're playing their butts off.
Speaker 5 (20:50):
And the coaches that's the title of your book.
Speaker 3 (20:54):
And that's exactly what happened.
Speaker 6 (20:56):
Right.
Speaker 2 (20:56):
What game was that? After?
Speaker 3 (20:57):
That?
Speaker 1 (20:58):
Was?
Speaker 4 (20:58):
That was Ohio State? Now right prior to prior to
halftime at Ohio State. Now, I think we're even leading.
So it's third down and we're running out of time,
and I don't know that we had a time out left.
We didn't, so we call our last time out and
we said, okay, we're gonna we're going to run the
ball over there. We're going to run go out and
(21:20):
uh run fast field goal. So we had fast field
goal ready and we changed it. Okay, just run the
ball over here. And anyway, long story short is, we
had the quarterback, moved the ball to the center of
the field, you know, you with it, and all of
a sudden, I look up and here comes fast field goal.
(21:41):
And I had not called for you know, and our
assistant was in charge of that. I never gave him
the word. You know, we're not going to do that.
He was supposed to be on the phone listening. Anyway,
So here they come and they line up and we
got one guy short. And you know, the kickers taught
never to snap the ball unless everybody's out there.
Speaker 5 (22:05):
Yeah right right, Levin count them up, so they block it.
Speaker 4 (22:08):
Oh you know, so they end up beating us. Anyway,
that was a bad day for them for the sparches
the coaches.
Speaker 6 (22:17):
Football is different than I think any other sport when
it comes to camaraderie, and that's why guys play too long.
Probably in the NFL and all that. They don't want
to it's not necessarily the game. It is being with
the boys, right, right, And that's what you probably remember
through the wins and losses and everything else. It's the
camaraderie of the huddle and all that.
Speaker 4 (22:36):
Right, it's that brotherhood that the only thing I could
relate it to, and you know I didn't serve would
be like the army.
Speaker 3 (22:43):
Amen, being in the military.
Speaker 4 (22:45):
That's right, and you got his back and he's got
your back, and you rely on each other that must
and you, hey.
Speaker 3 (22:52):
You have to. No one's gotta I gotta trust this
guy next to me because.
Speaker 6 (22:56):
Right, and no one's healthy after game three. Everyone plays
hurt for nine straight games.
Speaker 3 (23:00):
Right, That's part of the deal in puting the coaches.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
We've got to take it break. We'll come right back
and wrap up with John L. Smith here on news
Radio eight forty w h A s all right eight
forty seven and news Radio A forty w HS wrapping
up our time with coach John L.
Speaker 3 (23:15):
Smith.
Speaker 1 (23:15):
Who's kind enough to come in?
Speaker 3 (23:17):
Are we wrapping up already?
Speaker 1 (23:19):
Well, there's too many stories. I mean, you need to
write a book. We need you to write a book.
We'll come over and we'll just take notes and stuff
and then you know, put it together. Just put put it,
put it down on your phone.
Speaker 6 (23:34):
Alright, So say thank him for years of covery University
of Louisville.
Speaker 4 (23:39):
Before he's a legend. It's like I told him, I
can't believe he's retiring.
Speaker 5 (23:45):
That's right.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
They finally got smart to kick your butt out.
Speaker 2 (23:49):
That's exactly people.
Speaker 1 (23:51):
How you do?
Speaker 3 (23:52):
How'd you last that long?
Speaker 2 (23:54):
Because I was cheap?
Speaker 3 (23:58):
Oh you were the best man have been. Uh you
what a person.
Speaker 4 (24:03):
And the thing about media and the things that you
guys did and the interviewing and all of those things
is I would just ask, is this is this guy fair?
And you were more than fair and your questions were
not ambush. Wasn't an exactly not an ambush? And like,
but I love it anyway, but I love.
Speaker 6 (24:26):
You all fairness to us that interviewed you, you would
all fairness. You would say we suck today.
Speaker 3 (24:34):
There were several days.
Speaker 5 (24:38):
Makes our off easier, like okay on sugarcoated.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
Well, that's the one thing that was kind of refreshing
from this guy that came out from the West. I
guess you guys are a little bit more honest about
you know who you are, your team's coach exactly, because
you know everybody else wants to try and.
Speaker 5 (24:55):
Said, who the hell is? Guy said, where the hell
is Louisville.
Speaker 1 (24:58):
Yeah, well I remember one time. So so you went
to what a horseshoe, Virginia or something like that, and
they said they call them mountains.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
We were real deffer, Yeah, we're cruting.
Speaker 3 (25:09):
Coach North's taking me. It was just like my North
and he's awesome, my fishing buddy.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
Anyway, he goes, Coach, we've got to go through the mountains,
because we'll go through I said mountains. I said, damn,
these are these are hills there like foothills, these are mountains.
So he went out west a couple of years ago
with his kids and anyway, there's grandkids and you. He said, Utah, Wyoming,
Montana up through there. But he said, yeah, I see
(25:37):
what you mean about mountains.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
You're still ski anymore.
Speaker 4 (25:41):
I try to make it really, you know, you bet,
but the problem is I can ski out here because
they're hills.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
They're not really skiing out No.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
Yeah, the best deal is to fly in the Salt
Lake and ski park City. But we usually go up
to Michigan and skiboard. Oh okay, and it's a nice
little hill. You're still pretty athletic.
Speaker 2 (26:03):
Then, uh do you run? Do you walk?
Speaker 3 (26:05):
I walk, and I left about three days a week.
Speaker 5 (26:10):
Yeah, I'm not wrestling.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
You try to.
Speaker 4 (26:12):
Stay, try to stay in some kind of shape. But yeah,
this good old We're good for you. Yeah, keep after it.
Speaker 6 (26:19):
And your family loved fell in love of Louisville, your
most your family stay exactly.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
Yeah, everybody was my final question. Really, it was just
how do we put this on the boat? Why here?
Why Shelbyville? Why why stay here?
Speaker 4 (26:31):
Well, when we went to Michigan State, Uh, Nick came
up to begin with, and any way, he had to
come back, so he came back and coached with Bobby,
and then my daughter husband would travel up there every
They weren't married at the time, but so they're gonna
move back here.
Speaker 3 (26:47):
And then my my son married.
Speaker 4 (26:50):
So they all married Louisville people, and now we had nowhere.
Speaker 2 (26:54):
Else to go.
Speaker 3 (26:55):
So when we left Michigan State, die I came down here.
It's not relation.
Speaker 2 (27:00):
How she doing she's still good.
Speaker 3 (27:02):
Yeah, she's doing good. She's still she's still a pain
to live with.
Speaker 2 (27:07):
I don't think that that's right. I think she got
that wrong.
Speaker 5 (27:09):
She keeps kicking me in the but there's a support group. Coach.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
No, that's good.
Speaker 4 (27:16):
So that's the reason we moved back and we got
a place in Shelbyville, and I kept it when we
went out to Colorado on coach and places and so
we just she remodeled that. She stayed here and remodeled it.
Speaker 1 (27:28):
Best coach you ever faced.
Speaker 4 (27:31):
Oo boy, oh boy, oh boy, I'll tell you what. Yeah,
because we got our butt kicked by a lot of
them at Arkansas. It was oh you know we got
kickbu saving Alabama.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
Yeah, they got after SEC defensive lines man.
Speaker 3 (27:51):
Yeah, we can.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
That was the difference to me, you know between the
Big ten. The Big ten played, of course, and I
still think it's somewhat the same. I mean, you had
to have safety, so you had to have some guys
that come up and right force uh the attack.
Speaker 5 (28:03):
But the big dan was SEC D lines They make that.
Speaker 3 (28:08):
They can run.
Speaker 1 (28:09):
Yeah, it's like everybody can run and they have rotations
three D.
Speaker 6 (28:12):
Look at the first round the NFL Draft, it's all
SEC defensive lineman.
Speaker 2 (28:16):
Yeah right, coach.
Speaker 3 (28:18):
I love you guys.
Speaker 1 (28:21):
Coach John L. Smith here with us here on Kentucky
Anais Morning News. You've got a little jocularity this morning. Yeah,
with a real jock. He climbed kill him in Jarrow.
Speaker 5 (28:31):
See what you got to do is rip the rear
view mirror off. It's what you gotta do. Still say
that today.
Speaker 3 (28:39):
Go car Sam, go blue Bellies.
Speaker 1 (28:45):
That's enough of that. We'll see you tomorrow for the
final wrap. Here on this show, Kentucky Anda's Morning News.
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