Billy Ray Smith Sr.

Fumble recoveries:	16
Fumble return yards:	20
Interceptions:	1

Billy Ray Smith Sr.
	Smith Sr.
No. 74, 83
Position:	Defensive tackle / defensive end
Personal information
Born:	January 27, 1935; Augusta, Arkansas, U.S.
Died:	March 21, 2001 (aged 66); Little Rock, Arkansas, U.S.
Career information
College:	Arkansas
NFL draft:	1957 / Round: 3 / Pick: 26
Career history
	Los Angeles Rams (1957); Pittsburgh Steelers (1958–1960); Baltimore Colts (1961–1970);
Career highlights and awards
	Super Bowl champion (V); NFL champion (1968); Second-team All-Pro (1968);
Career NFL statistics
Fumble recoveries:
Fumble recoveries:	16
Fumble return yards:	20
Interceptions:	1
	Player stats at PFR

Billy Ray Smith Sr. (January 27, 1935 – March 21, 2001) was an American professional

defensive lineman in the National Football League (NFL) from 1957 to 1970. He played college football for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Smith was born in Augusta, Arkansas.^[1]

College career

After graduating from Augusta High School, Arkansas head coach Bowden Wyatt offered Smith a football scholarship, and in 1953, he enrolled at the University of Arkansas. In 1954, Smith and the Razorbacks won the Southwest Conference Championship with only twenty-five players. They became known as the "25 Little Pigs", making their accomplishment all the more amazing. Wyatt would leave Arkansas after the 1954 season to coach his alma mater Tennessee, and was replaced by Jack Mitchell. In 1956, Smith was named 1st Team All-Southwest Conference.^[2] An additional highlight of Smith's time at Arkansas, was that the Razorbacks defeated the Texas Longhorns three years in a row, from 1954 to 1956.

Smith was inducted into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame in 1976, and enshrined into the University of Arkansas' Hall of Honor in 1994. He was named to the All-Decade Team of the 1950s, and the Arkansas All-Century Team in 1994. In 1999, Sports Illustrated named him as one of the "Fifty Greatest Sports Figures from Arkansas".^[3]

NFL career

Smith began his NFL career in 1957, as the third round draft pick for the Los Angeles Rams. He was traded to the Steelers in 1958 and played for Pittsburgh until 1960. In 1961, he was traded to the Baltimore Colts.

It was in Baltimore that he would make his mark on professional football. Nicknamed "The Rabbit" by his teammates, Smith became a mainstay and captain of a defensive line, which took the Colts to Super Bowl III and Super Bowl V during his career. His game motto was simple: "We always play for a shutout. Nothing fancy, nothing sensational. Just a shutout." Smith retired from professional football in 1971 after the Colts defeated the Dallas Cowboys in Super Bowl V, ending his 13-year career.^[2]

Professional career

After retiring from the NFL, Smith became an investment banker. He was the father of 4 children. His son Billy Ray Jr. was an NFL linebacker, playing ten years with the San Diego Chargers. He was a two-time All-American in college, also playing with the Arkansas Razorbacks.

Smith died from cancer on March 23, 2001.

References

^ "Billy Ray Sr. Smith". Pro-Football Reference. Retrieved January 21, 2014.
^ ^a ^b Goldstein, Richard."Billy Ray Smith, 66, Lineman Who Played in 2 Super Bowls" – The New York Times – Friday, 23-Mar-2001 – Retrieved, March 23, 2001
^ "The 50 Greatest Sports Figures from Arkansas".

[1] "Billy Ray Sr. Smith". Pro-Football Reference. Retrieved January 21, 2014.

[BILLYRAY-BR-BIO-2] Goldstein, Richard."Billy Ray Smith, 66, Lineman Who Played in 2 Super Bowls" – The New York Times – Friday, 23-Mar-2001 – Retrieved, March 23, 2001

[3] "The 50 Greatest Sports Figures from Arkansas".

[1]

[2]

[3]

v t e Baltimore Colts 1968 NFL champions
2 Timmy Brown 15 Earl Morrall 16 Jim Ward 19 Johnny Unitas 20 Jerry Logan 21 Rick Volk 25 Alex Hawkins 26 Preston Pearson 27 Ray Perkins 28 Jimmy Orr 32 Mike Curtis 34 Terry Cole 37 Ocie Austin 40 Bobby Boyd 41 Tom Matte 43 Lenny Lyles 45 Jerry Hill 47 Charlie Stukes 49 David Lee 50 Bill Curry 51 Bob Grant 52 Dick Szymanski 53 Dennis Gaubatz 55 Ron Porter 61 Cornelius Johnson 62 Glenn Ressler 64 Sid Williams 66 Don Shinnick 71 Dan Sullivan 72 Bob Vogel 73 Sam Ball 74 Billy Ray Smith Sr. 75 John Williams 76 Fred Miller 78 Bubba Smith 79 Lou Michaels 80 Gail Cogdill 81 Ordell Braase 84 Tom Mitchell 85 Roy Hilton 87 Willie Richardson 88 John Mackey
Head coach: Don Shula
Coaches: Bill Arnsparger Dick Bielski Don McCafferty Chuck Noll John Sandusky

v t e Baltimore Colts Super Bowl V champions
15 Earl Morrall 17 Sam Havrilak 19 Johnny Unitas 20 Jerry Logan 21 Rick Volk 25 Tom Curtis 27 Ray Perkins 28 Jimmy Orr 30 Ron Gardin 32 Mike Curtis 33 Eddie Hinton 34 Tom Nowatzke 35 Jim Duncan 36 Norm Bulaich 40 Jack Maitland 41 Tom Matte 42 Tom Maxwell 45 Jerry Hill 47 Charles Stukes 49 David Lee 50 Bill Curry 51 Bob Grant 52 Robbie Nichols 54 Tom Goode 56 Ray May 60 George Wright 61 Cornelius Johnson 62 Glenn Ressler 68 Dennis Nelson 71 Dan Sullivan 72 Bob Vogel 73 Sam Ball 74 Billy Ray Smith 75 John Williams 76 Fred Miller 78 Bubba Smith 79 Jim Bailey 80 Jim O'Brien 81 Billy Newsome 83 Ted Hendricks 84 Tom Mitchell 85 Roy Hilton 87 Roy Jefferson 88 John Mackey
Head coach: Don McCafferty
Coaches: Dick Bielski Bobby Boyd Hank Bullough John Idzik Lou Rymkus John Sandusky