Thank you Letter to Clemson Family from Robert Smith

by Tony Crumpton - Assoc. Editor - Fri Apr 17 16:45:04 GMT-04:00 2015

Clemson safety Robert Smith Robert Smith
Safety (2011 - 2014)
#27 5-11, 215
St. George, SC
View Full Profile has written a letter of appreciation to the Clemson family on Friday and wanted to share it with all the folks at TigerNet.

To Clemson University and Tiger Nation:

The time is winding down as I anxiously await the next chapter in my football career. In a couple of weeks, I will figure out the next place I will call home. I just want to tell the entire Tiger nation thank you for the great experience. Clemson will always be like a second home to me.

Thank you Coach Swinney and the staff for believing in me and giving me an opportunity to pursue both my athletic and academic career. On January 15, 2010 at 8:32 p.m., we made a commitment to each other to be “ALL IN.” A commitment it was, and through the years we both did whatever we could to be the “Best” and make it a standard. Over the past three and a half years, I’ve grown so much in all areas of my life. The lessons I have learned at Clemson and through the game of football are priceless, and they are lessons I will cherish throughout my life. The coaches, staff and Clemson family have helped me develop from a boy to a young man.

I greatly appreciate all the current and former teammates that I have had while at Clemson. Unless you have worn the paw on the side of your helmet, you will never understand the relationship we have with one another. Without you guys it would have been very hard to make it though it all. We spent so much time together, whether it was on the field, Vickery Hall, the WEZ or the dorms. Those are memories that can never be replaced. We have laughed together, cried together, helped each other through hard days of workouts and practice and experienced losing loved ones with one another. There is a lot that I will miss about Clemson, but there is nothing more that I will miss than being able to grind everyday with my brothers. WE TOO DEEP!

I’m also thankful for the relationships I’ve developed with the medical staff, strength and conditioning staff, the equipment staff, President Jim Clements, Athletic Director Dan Radanovich, IPTAY, Vickery Hall Staff and the Board of Trustees. You all were a great part of my success at Clemson University. A special thanks to Jeff Davis and James Trapp for the countless times of sitting in your offices and guiding me spiritually. To Mrs. Maria of Vickery Hall, thank you for helping and pushing me though my academics when it got tough. To Mrs. Jill Wilks, for always keeping me informed and up to task with my football duties. To Coach Reed and Coach Venables, for believing in me, pushing me and challenging me day in and day out to be better. I am truly grateful.

I thank all the professors I have had at Clemson University and all my fellow classmates I’ve had the privilege to interact and engage with. Academics will always be a priority in my life and you all pushed me to reach my goal of receiving a degree at one of the top 20 public universities in the nation.

Lastly, the greatest fans in the entire world! What is Death Valley without you guys? I’ll never forget stepping foot off the bus to walk onto the hill and see 80,000-plus fans screaming and yelling for their Tigers. You guys are the icing on the cake for my Clemson experience and everywhere I go I remind everyone that you haven’t met a fan until you have met a Clemson Tiger fan.

It has been a privilege and an honor to be able to become part of the Clemson family, and it will always be a part of me. Through thick and thin my blood will forever bleed orange.

All in always,

Robert Smith

Safety #27

Robert Smith