Can’t keep him down

Luke Smith-Anderson is a firm believer that everything happens for a reason, a belief that has been tested way too often the last five years.

The University of Idaho tight end has played in a grand total of 23 games the last five seasons, three of which were essentially lost because of injuries. His string of misfortune started with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee nine days before the 2002 season opener. He tore the ACL in his left knee in the fourth quarter of the 2003 season opener against Washington State. He suffered a ruptured spleen during practice about two weeks before last year’s season opener.

If the football gods are trying to tell Smith-Anderson something, it’s not getting through, perhaps because he’s been too busy rehabilitating from his numerous medical procedures. He’s back healthy – again – as the Vandals wrap up spring drills with the annual Silver and Gold game tonight at 7 at the Kibbie Dome.

“It’s not my style to quit,” said Smith-Anderson, a Lake City High graduate. “I started something and I’m going to finish it. Plus, I love football and it’s hard to walk away from something you love.”

Smith-Anderson, who became an impact player in his first year at Idaho in 2001 and led the Vandals with four touchdown catches in 2004, said the only time he considered quitting was after his spleen was torn in half when he was hit in the ribs as he extended his arms to catch a pass last fall.

“I had a lot of lengthy discussions (with family) about it and it was all mixed (opinions),” he said. “I talked to them about quitting and my mom was kind of relieved. Then I told her I wasn’t quitting, but she wasn’t upset because she supports me. My father is just worried about my safety. He wants me to come out of football healthy and able to live my life.”

The hiring of new coach Dennis Erickson in February reinforced Smith-Anderson’s belief that the months spent rehabbing his knees, the surgery to repair a broken bone in his wrist, and the weeks of sleeping in a chair because he had 40 staples in his stomach after his splenectomy have been worth it.

“All through my career, through all the injuries, I’m a firm believer that everything happens for a reason,” Smith-Anderson said. “It was really hard to see why everything was happening to me, but now I’m starting to see that I’m really happy I get to play for Coach Erickson. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

Smith-Anderson said his physical conditioning is fine, but he was rusty at the outset of spring drills. He doesn’t wear braces on either knee, but he will wear a thin layer of padding around his ribs. He has a picture of his torn spleen on the wall of his room as a reminder of what he’s endured.

“What I have to work on is my technique, that’s something you can’t just come back and pick up,” he said. “It’s not like getting back on a bike at all. It’s weird people say I haven’t played a lot of football, but I have. Every time I get hurt, I go through spring ball and all the practices. It’s just the seasons I’ve missed.”

It’s believed Smith-Anderson is the only player left at UI from his recruiting class. He arrived in Moscow with the likes of Michael Harrington, Mike Anderson and Jeff Edwards, all seniors a year ago. Smith-Anderson will graduate next month, but he has two years of eligibility remaining, thanks to a favorable ruling from the NCAA.

“I really want to leave this program winning, that’s what I’ve been trying to do the whole time here. I want us to succeed and say I’m part of that,” he said. “I’m looking forward to every single game, every single play. … I feel like I know more about Moscow than anybody. I just met with a guy about taking graduate classes. I’m going to get my money’s worth.”