Some of Robaire Smith’s fondest memories growing up in Flint took place on football Friday nights at Atwood Stadium.
His Atwood Stadium story began sitting in the stands watching older brother Fernando, a future National Football League player, compete for Flint Northwestern.
It continued onto the field in the mid-1990s, when he was a star player at Flint Northern.
So, naturally, when Smith was in a position to give back to the Flint community as an NFL player, he chose to help with the revival of the stadium that has staged so many special moments for himself and others for nearly a century.
When the Atwood Stadium Authority was struggling to raise money, Smith donated $100,000 in 2005 to help with renovations. He hosted youth football clinics at Atwood during the summer. The refurbished press box was named in his honor.
Now, with a huge helping hand from Smith, a new generation is creating Atwood Stadium memories.
“I couldn’t wait until Friday nights, not just when I was playing, but I remember my oldest brother playing for Flint Northwestern,” Smith said. “The lights were on, everybody was cheering. It’s something I grew up around. When the time came for us, it was a special day. I remember me and Mateen (Cleaves, Northern’s quarterback) in there, making sure our jerseys looked good, we were taped up good — it’s showtime.
“It’s a special place for any kid around Flint to be part of. Atwood can be a good place with a great atmosphere for families and kids to get away and people to enjoy. Once I was able to be part of that, I jumped right on it. Judge (Duncan) Beagle, Norm Bryant and all those guys were part of helping me get on there. I love what Kettering is doing with it.”
Atwood Stadium was the launching point for a career that took Smith to Michigan State University and four teams over the course of an 11-year NFL career.
He became a Spartan around the same time that four players from Flint, including brother Antonio, built Michigan State into a basketball powerhouse. In 2000, the year after Antonio Smith’s MSU career ended, three members of the original “Flintstones” led the Spartans to a national championship.
Smith’s coach at MSU was Nick Saban, who has become one of the legendary coaches in college football history.
“What drew me there was wanting to stay in my backyard,” Smith said. “One of the top reasons is I love coach Saban. I love what he was looking for and showing me at the time. I understood what he wanted. I saw the seriousness in him. I respect that he came into my home and talked to my mom and brother face-to-face. He didn’t say it was going to be easy. I feel like as long as you tell me what’s expected, that’s where I want to go.”
Smith’s 12 sacks in 1997 are tied for third in MSU history and his 22 career sacks rank seventh.
He was ready to turn pro a year early, but chose to return to college after breaking his right leg in a 1998 game against Ohio State.
After completing his MSU career, Smith was a sixth-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in the 2000 NFL Draft, going two places before another Michigan college product — some quarterback named Tom Brady.
Smith expected to be drafted much higher.
“I was watching the draft with my mother when my name was finally called and I’m crying,” Smith said. “I let her know I was mad. She asks, ‘Why are you mad?’ It was one of the best days and also one of my worst days.
“I went into the league with a chip on my shoulder from day one. If we could have played or practiced that day when they drafted me, I would’ve been ready; I wouldn’t have cared. I was ready to take on whatever, whoever, to prove myself over again and show somebody made a mistake.”
Smith wound up playing more NFL seasons than any of the top six picks in the 2000 draft, taking the field in 134 games for the Tennessee Titans, Houston Texans and Cleveland Browns. Only 21 of the 254 players chosen in that draft played more seasons than Smith.
“I’m sure Tom felt the same way two picks after me,” Smith said. “I don’t know how many people outlasted us as far as playing in the NFL. I know I didn’t outlast him; I was up there. Who would’ve thought some guys who went in the sixth round were two of the last ones to be in the league?”
Smith had 398 tackles, including 44 for losses and 21 sacks. He started 99 games.
Having an older brother in the NFL helped Smith learn what it takes to reach that level. He would spend summers in Minnesota when Fernando played for the Vikings, hanging around players like Cris Carter, Randy Moss and John Randle.
“(Fernando) was a mentor or role model, the one who showed me how to really get into football, how to be part of that,” Smith said. “Without him, I don’t think there would’ve been a me in football.”
For all his football success, there were times Smith considered basketball as his ticket to a brighter future. He clung to that dream even as he walked onto the MSU campus on a football scholarship, holding out hope that he could also play basketball for Tom Izzo.
Smith was a starter on the 1995 Northern team that won the state Class A basketball championship, scoring six points and grabbing eight rebounds in an 86-64 victory over Detroit Pershing in the title game. That team was led by future Spartan Flintstones Cleaves and Antonio Smith.
“I always knew football and basketball the last four years when I was playing football in high school,” Smith said. “I love basketball to this day. It wasn’t really into college when I went out there my first year and coach Saban saw me playing well and saw all the recognition I was getting. He said, ‘You might as well forget about going on that basketball court.’ I just shut it down.
“What were the chances of me doing it? I’ll never know. I really wanted to play, but when coach Saban said, ‘Shut it down,’ I didn’t have a choice but to shut it down.”
