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SALT LAKE CITY — A week before his 30th birthday, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback and Utah alumnus Alex Smith will give the commencement speech before approximately 8,000 students preparing to enter the workforce.
Smith, the former No. 1 draft pick in the 2005 NFL Draft, addressed the media prior to his speech detailing the life experience he’s gained in the nearly 10 years since leaving the university to pursue a career as a starting quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers and the Chiefs.
“I had no expectations ever of being a commencement speaker, certainly not before the age of 30,” Smith said. “I was definitely surprised when I got the phone call, and I’m humbled to say the least. But it’s been a fun challenge to reflect on my short time since graduation. It hasn’t been that long.”
Although Smith has had his ups and down in his NFL career his optimism and outlook on life is what he hopes to share with others looking to make a name for themselves in the professional world.
“I’m very fortunate to play football for a living. I never expected it,” Smith said. “But one day it’s going to end for me as well. It’s going to end for all of us and education is the foundation of anything you want to do in life beyond. Whether you’re an NFL hopeful or not, it is the foundation of anything you want to build on or accomplish beyond sports.”
Smith said he is forever indebted to the University of Utah for its generosity in giving him a chance to play football. Out of high school, Utah was the only football program to give him an offer. As a result, Smith said he plans to do whatever he can to help the football program and those in a similar position to him when he was in college.
Utah gave me that opportunity and sought after me. I'll never forget that. It goes without saying that I wouldn't be here if I didn't make that decision to come to the U. It's been great to give back in a little way. It's weird to walk around here and see your name on the weight room. It's great nonetheless. It's great to give back to those that are kind of walking in the same shoes I walked in.
–Alex Smith
“Utah gave me that opportunity and sought after me. I’ll never forget that,” Smith said. “It goes without saying that I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t make that decision to come to the U. It’s been great to give back in a little way. It’s weird to walk around here and see your name on the weight room. It’s great nonetheless. It’s great to give back to those that are kind of walking in the same shoes I walked in.”
In 2007, Smith created the Alex Smith Foundation and the Alex Smith Guardian Scholars Program that helps send teens in foster care to college. As a result, Smith’s foundations have raised more than $1 million to help fund scholarships and grants for students.
Smith said his experience while playing at Utah was something he’ll remember forever and has shaped a lot of his attitude in the NFL. Although the 2005 Fiesta Bowl was a memorable moment for Smith, he said it was the end of the 2004 season, and the 2004 season in general, that meant more.
“Certainly the last game of the season, having 'College GameDay' get to come here to the U., to get to play the team down south and finish the way we did — fans rushing the field,” he said. “That was a moment I’ll never forget. The raw emotion and joy of everybody. To get the MUSS down on the field with you, and all the teammates and coaches and everybody. It was just truly, truly special and something I’ll never forget.”
Smith also addressed the current break in the BYU-Utah rivalry saying he wants to see the rivalry continue and that he hopes to see it renewed in the future.
“Obviously things got more complicated once we joined the Pac-12 and they didn’t. To be honest, I’m a little disappointed personally,” Smith said. "I think regardless of record that game to me was always special. These two teams dominate, everybody’s attention is on these two schools, and I think everybody looked forward to it. I certainly know the players did.
“It will be weird the next couple years to not be playing,” he added. “My head football coach (Andy Reid) went to the Y. and constantly likes to make jabs. He hasn’t had a lot of opportunities lately. That’s what is a big piece of college athletics and college football. Hopefully we get it back going and we’ll have that for a few more years.”
Smith also offered a little advice to the current football team saying the team needs to work together to take the next step toward greatness.
“The challenge is different being a part of the Pac-12 now, week in and week out. The competition level is higher than when I played, but I would challenge them to be the Utah team that takes the next step,” he said. ”I certainly feel like I was part of the team that took a step, and then there were some teams after us — the Sugar Bowl team that beat up on Alabama. I think that was another step. Going to the Pac-12 was another step.
“You’re near the point where you take these last couple of steps and there’s not going to be many left, you’re going to be at the pinnacle there,” he added. “I would challenge them to be that team, to be that Utah team that everybody will remember that did that.”
Last year, Smith was traded to the Chiefs after San Francisco decided to start rising quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who lead the team to the Super Bowl as the team’s starter. The transition to the Chiefs and the team’s quick rise to success was a great boost to Smith, giving him the confidence to continually pursue his NFL goals.
“If anything it was more of just a reaffirmation, especially of just the direction I’ve been headed these last few years and the road I’m on,” he said. “It was a reaffirmation of doing things the right way and continuing to grow and get better. I think that’s the great thing about the NFL is the parity across the board and the competitiveness each and every other year.”
