Injuries behind him, Smith is Colgate's 'D-Train'

Colgate fullback DaymonColgate fullback DaymonSmith has overcome twoColgate fullback DaymonSmith has overcome twomajor injuries in his career When watching sports on television, listening to them on the radio or reading about them in newspaper, it has become cliche to talk about the obstacles and adversity the athletes have overcome to make it onto the playing field. But at a small school like Colgate, located in the even smaller town, Hamilton, N.Y., the story of junior fullback Daymon Smith, while at times heartbreaking, is an inspiration to many. After gaining nearly 1,500 yards on the ground in his four years at La Salle Academy in Providence, R.I., Smith had aspirations of playing for a Division I-A college football program. However, after talking with his coaches, Smith decided that a university like Colgate, which stressed academics over athletics, would be a better choice. Of course, a couple of years earlier, Smith may not have been so willing to turn down scholarships in favor of his studies. Smith, who was tabbed as a big time college prospect, sustained a shoulder injury during his junior season, which required season-ending surgery. The injury scared away every I-A program, save for Illinois and West Virginia, and pushed Smith toward the non-scholarship route. But his freshman experience at Colgate quickly became frustrating. Even receiving the school's Rookie of the Year award did not change Smith's negative review of his '93 season. "While I was voted it, I was still disappointed with the year I had," he said. "Specifically, I would have liked to have had more carries. "Looking back, my freshman year, I just wasn't happy playing fullback in the offense we had set up, and I would have liked to play tailback," Smith said. Smith's rookie statistics (435 rushing yards, five touchdowns) didn't match his expectations, compiled mostly in a back-up role. After a freshman season that saw Colgate finish in last place in the Patriot League (3-7-1), Smith decided to put aside the bitter disappointment. Aware that in his sophomore year he would become the feature back for the Red Raiders, Smith was pumped for the following fall season. "I was not too frustrated with our team's outcome because I was optimistic about the year coming up," he said. "I knew we were rebuilding the program and that we had some good young talent." But the '94 season, which held so much promise in Smith's opinion, would quickly become a living nightmare for him. Hoping to lead Colgate to a winning record for the first time in five years, Smith endured yet another injury. On the first play from scrimmage in the Red Raiders' home opener, Smith ran a smooth draw play up the middle. After faking out a couple of Boston University defenders, he was hit smack on his knee and fell to the ground in agony. Days later, the team doctors confirmed Smith's worst fear -- he needed arthroscopic surgery to repair a torn medial collateral ligament and cartilage damage in his right knee. "It was a tough time for me," Smith said. "I shed a lot of tears. That winter was an especially hard time for me because it was the first time I hadn't played football competitively since I was eight years old." After a year of rehabilitation, Smith's knee still didn't feel 100 percent. But that was not about to stop him from making a comeback for the '95 season. In his first game back for the Red Raiders, Smith barreled his way for 113 yards on 20 carries. "It was pretty obvious when I first came back my knee felt vulnerable," Smith said. "But then I just accepted my role as the starting fullback and went out there and did my job." Dick Biddle, who prior to becoming Colgate's head coach this season was an assistant coach for the Raiders, has watched Smith's career from his freshman season to the injury to last week's 128 yard performance against Holy Cross. Biddle describes Smith as a grind-it-out runner who can use his 5-foot-8, 220-pound frame to bully his way for nine or 10 yards, but will never be a break-out runner due to his lack of tailback speed. "Following his knee injury sophomore year, Smith has shown a lot of determination and right now is in really good physical shape," Biddle said. "His weight is down from freshman year, his strength has improved. So he is a much better conditioned player. He is still the same hard runner, but now I think he can do it for a longer period of time." Smith believes last year's 792 all-purpose yards, fourth best among returners in the Patriot League, is still a far cry from what he is capable of doing. "I would definitely like to improve on last season," Smith said. "I feel like it would have been possible for me to contribute more than I did. But right now I just want to win some games? As for my part, I want to help anyway I can." However, the 1996 season has gotten off to yet another bleak start for Smith and his teammates as Colgate has gone winless in its first three contests -- bringing its losing streak to 16 straight. Now more than ever, Smith, who is referred to by his friends and coaches as 'D-Train', will have to put his nickname to the test.

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