Former Nittany Lion, Seahawk fights for life

WOODWARD, Pa. – Twenty years after Steve Smith helped Penn State win the 1986 national title, the former fullback is fighting for his life.

Smith’s body is failing him, ravaged by Lou Gehrig’s disease. Former college teammates are coming together to help the former Nittany Lions captain, who went on to play for the Oakland Raiders.

“You talk to Marcus Allen, you talk to Bo Jackson, or any running back that had him as a fullback, you never had to worry,” former Penn State teammate D.J. Dozier said. “This man had his block. Whatever he needed to do, he was going to get it done.”

Smith was one of four captains on the 1986 team – the last squad to win coach Joe Paterno a national championship. College buddies use words such as “team player” and “led by example” to describe his style.

That’s why the three other captains from that squad – quarterback John Shaffer, linebacker Shane Conlan and defensive lineman Bob White – traveled to a lodge in rural Woodward one recent morning to sign a lithograph depicting a scene from the tense 14-10 win over Miami in the Fiesta Bowl that secured Penn State’s 1986 title.

Dozier, who ran behind Smith’s blocks, organized the effort. He said a portion of the profits will go to Smith’s family to help pay medical bills.

“He was a hard, hard worker,” Shaffer said of Smith. “He was unbelievably talented, able to do whatever needed to help the team win.”

Now Smith needs help to take care of his most basic needs.

Lou Gehrig’s disease is a degenerative nerve disease, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS, which gradually destroys the ability to control movement, but their minds remain unaffected.

Reliant on a ventilator, Smith cannot talk. He has been fed formula through a feeding tube since May. He can’t leave home, given all the medical machinery.

“Despite the situation, he’s holding steady,” said his wife, Chie Smith, who was reached at the couple’s home in Richardson, Texas.

“His spirits are much better than his body is,” she said.

Smith pounded away at opposing defenses while at Penn State from 1983-86, running for 1,246 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Fullbacks back then ran the ball more often than in today’s multiple receiver-focused offenses.

“It was a great tandem on the field,” Dozier said.

Pro scouts noticed. The Raiders drafted him in the third round of the 1987 draft and he spent much of his time in silver and black blocking for the talented tailback tandem of Allen and Jackson.

Smith moved to Seattle in 1994, where he played two seasons for the Seahawks before a back injury cut short his career, and he retired in the summer of 1996.

His forte was blocking, though Smith ended his NFL career with 1,627 yards and nine touchdowns on 429 carries. He also caught 131 passes for 1,250 yards and 13 touchdowns.