THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, June 29, 1996 TAG: 9606290245
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B1 EDITION: NORTH CAROLINA
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER, CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: GATESVILLE LENGTH: 54 lines
An autographed picture of Thomas Smith sits in the trophy case at Gates County High School among the awards the school has won over the years.
Smith, now a cornerback with the NFL's Buffalo Bills, hasn't forgotten his roots.
The former Red Barons standout brought a bunch of his professional football buddies with him to put on an instructional and inspirational football camp for 46 youths in the county Thursday and Friday.
Smith, a 1989 graduate of Gates County High School, footed the bill for most of the camp, including food and travel for the other coaches. Any profit that was made would go back to the county, he said.
Campers were given a dose of fundamentals at various positions from NFL players Natrone Means and Keith Goganus of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Rondell Jones of the Denver Broncos, Henry Jones and Ted Washington of the Buffalo Bills, Harold Green of the Cincinnati Bengals, Terry Allen of the Washington Redskins and Darren Perry of the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Football wasn't the only thing kids learned at the camp. Smith also incorporated life skills into the discussions. T-shirts worn by the campers were emblazoned with the word ``BAD,'' an acronym for ``belief, attitude and determination.''
``We're learning a little bit about football and a little bit about life, like what it takes to be a success,'' Smith said. ``Essential skills like motivation and not giving up. Coming from this county, you've got to believe in yourself.''
Smith knows a little bit about motivation. He was a success on the field and in the classroom. He couldn't attract a football scholarship to a major college, he said, because of the remoteness of Gates County. Instead, he earned an academic scholarship by finishing fifth in his class.
Smith went to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and, against the odds, made the football team as a walk-on.
``I told the coach I wanted to walk on. I was just at the right place at the right time,'' Smith said. In 1993, he was drafted by the Bills.
Smith said he wanted to give something back to the kids in an area where there isn't much to do in the summer.
``It is a handicap for them living in a remote area,'' he said.
``You don't get much publicity as a player. And they don't have the facilities. They do have the sincerity of the coaching staff. But what they've got in facilities is very minimal for competing on a higher level.''
Smith has been a pioneer of sorts for the area. More scouts have been checking out the talent in the northeastern part of the state since he made it big. Varian Ballard, a defensive end who played at Gates and Andrews high schools, is going to Chapel Hill in the fall.
Smith sees the camp expanding over the next few years, particularly if he can get sponsors.
``I'm sure it will expand,'' he said, ``especially in the area of scholarships.'' by CNB