The general sentiment on campus is that it is harder to get into Duke than to stay at Duke. After only starting for one varsity year in high school and having to send letters to Duke to become known, quarterback Adam Smith had decidedly one of the more difficult paths to gain a scholarship to the Blue Devils. Smith, however, faced his most difficult challenges after arriving in Durham.
Even after a summer of working out to add weight to his slender body, Smith came to camp emaciated by Division I football standards. Weighing only 170 pounds, he knew he was going to have to continue to bulk up to play at a higher level, but he was not expecting to have to change the mechanics of his passes.
"It was tough once I got here," Smith said. "I didn't realize that [I had bad throwing mechanics]. About half-way through two-a-days my freshman year, [Duke head coach Carl Franks] talked to me about it."
The problem was a surprise because Smith had spent the last two summers working with quarterback guru Roger Theder. Theder is a former head coach at the University of California-Berkeley, who has worked with current UCLA true-freshman and starting quarterback Drew Olson and the University of Miami's quarterback Ken Dorsey, Smith's high school teammate.
"He didn't do anything to change my motion," Smith said.
The Duke coaching staff did not have the time to drill Smith to change his throwing form. Franks merely showed Smith what he was doing wrong, and left him on his own to improve.
Smith spent countless hours throwing by himself, intensely trying to improve. He said that he thought about it too often, something that caused his passing to get worse before it got better.
"I started thinking about it more and more," Smith said. "It became a worry. I became somewhat of a headcase about it. So I did some different things that ended up messing it up even more."
Smith realized that he did not understand what opposing defenses were doing, nor the habits of his receivers--something that caused his delivery to be timid and awkward. After figuring out his problem, and gaining 35 pounds, Smith has a more-than-adequate throwing arm, passing for TD strikes of 40 and 45 yards against Navy and N.C. State, respectively, this season.
"This guy has devoted himself to being a good quarterback," Franks said. "Adam couldn't get anything on the ball because of his delivery when he first got here. It took more time than what coaches are allowed to work with. He had to work on that on his own. He really dedicated himself to get his arm stronger by getting the ball in the right decision to get something on it."
Smith's development led him from a redshirt season his freshman year to being second-string quarterback to D. Bryant last season. He appeared in five games, connecting on 5-for-13 passes for 30 yards with one interception.
Smith was expected to be the back-up again this season, with D. Bryant returning for his senior season, and Smith said that when learned that Bryant was suspended by the University, he had mixed emotions.
"I was excited, but I felt bad for him," Smith said.
Smith had no problems adjusting his summer schedule to compete for the starting position because he says he approaches every summer with the intent of starting the next year.
"It was known that D. was going to be the starter, but at the same time I was always preparing myself for that opportunity," Smith said. "I had gone home that summer with the intention to be the starter because you never know what's going to happen in football. It's just one of those games. I wanted to be prepared as much as possible."
The starting position was by no means handed to Smith, as he and Chris Dapolito competed everyday of pre-season for the starting position. Franks did not announce Smith as the starter until game time against East Carolina.
"There's a certain honor in starting," Smith said.
Smith and Dapolito continued to split time at the quarterback position until Smith began to separate himself against Northwestern on Sept. 14th. Smith threw for 188 yards that game, while Dapolito had zero. From that point on, the Blue Devils became more and more "Smith's team."
Smith led Duke to its second victory of the season against Navy throwing 11-for-17 with 144 yards with no interceptions. Smith had his first 200 yard plus game in a near loss to Virginia, throwing 26-42 for 256 yards.
"I thought the key to the team was the quarterback," said UVa head coach Al Groh. "The throws he made were really excellent."
Smith struggled against Wake Forest this season, and did not manage to pass the century mark in passing yards. Always willing to learn from his mistakes, Smith had his best game of the season last week in a 24-22 loss against then No. 10 N.C. State. With 353 yards on 28-41 passing in Duke's near upset, one couldn't help but be impressed.
"I'm very, very impressed with Duke's quarterback," Maryland head coach Ralph Friedgen said. "I think the quarterback play has been outstanding."
Smith feels that he still has a lot of room to improve, and is working hard to do so.
"I don't feel so much that I'm better, it's just that I'm more confident and more relaxed," Smith said. "I've definitely learned a lot."
Smith also looks to improve by continually thinking about the game.
"For me, its mental," he said "All week long, I am almost always thinking about the game. Sometimes I'll be in class and I'll just be thinking what if they threw this cover or pulled this check and it will be the middle of class. Sometimes I'll sit and laugh at myself and ask 'why I'm doing his.'"
Smith is continually adjusting to North Carolina, a place much different than his hometown, Orinda, California.
"It was very different at first," Smith said. "People are nicer around here, and a lot more friendly."
He even had to adjust to the food.
"BBQ is different in California," Smith said.
As he has with every role he's had in his football career, he has adjusted well, emerging into one of the best quarterbacks in the ACC.
"He seems to be developing a very good command on what is happening in the game," Franks said. "He sees what other teams are doing."
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