By Mark Schnabel
Newton Kansan
When Ed Smith came to Bethel College in 1983, he said he was "a troubled youth, headed nowhere."
He credits the people around him then with helping change his attitute. While at Bethel, he became an All-American receiver, rewriting most of the record book. He also helped lead the Threshers to an undefeated regular season, a Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference title and its sole post-season playoff berth.
Saturday, Smith becomes part of the inaugural class of the Bethel College Athletic Hall of Fame.
"The great people at Bethel and the positive atmosphere that surround the campus changed my whole outlook on life," Smith said. "I realized the day I received my degree that all things are possible when you surround yourself with positive people and have a positive attitude."
Smith has spent the last 10 years serving in the U.S. Army. He is a captain on assignment in Saudi Arabia.
For Smith, it is his second Hall of Fame induction. He was named to the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics Hall in 1992.
"Honestly, I do not know who was more thrilled, myself or my supporting wife," Smith said on hearing the news of the Bethel induction. "The last time, I was doing a mission in Saudi Arabia in 1992. I was inducted into the NAIA Hall of Fame. She represented me proudly then and now she must represent me at Bethel. I am thrilled and honored that I was found worthy to be a Hall of Fame inductee. I thank everyone who voted for me."
Smith said attitude was his key to success when he played for the Threshers.
"... I learned during my student years at Bethel how success was determined by attitude," he said. "Our attitude and approach dictates our success. There are only two types of attitude -- positive and negative. The one we choose will be the results we get. For example, if (I) choose positive, I will most likely get positive results, and if I choose negative, I will most likely get negative results."
Induction at halftime of the Fall Fest game against Bethany this Saturday seems appropriate for Smith, who said the highlight of his career at Bethel was playing during Fall Fest.
"Forget the Super Bowl, the Rose Bowl, the Orange Bowl, etc.," Smith said. "I really enjoyed the festivities of Fall Fest. It was a great time to be on campus."
He said a lot of games stand out for him, including his freshman year, where he hung on to a ball to beat Bethany at Fall Fest, his first college touchdown. He also remembers a catch to beat Southwestern, which had a great running back in Jackie Johnson.
He said perhaps his toughest moments were drops of "perfect passes" from quarterback Milan Zuzak in the 1984 playoff game against Southwestern and a dropped pass in the endzone from quarterback Scott Stiles that would have beaten Bethany.
He said his biggest highlight would have been four straight wins over rival Tabor.
"Bethel versus Tabor is like Florida versus Florida State, Kansas versus Kansas State," he said.
Smith said the key to being a great receiver is the players around you.
"Your teammates are the ones who will make you great," he said. "I only wish I knew what I know now when I was playing. (It) sounds politically correct, but it is the truth."
