Former Colts Player Speaks At YMCA Good Friday Breakfast
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Jennifer Peryam-jperyam@timesuniononline.com
WINONA LAKE – Former Notre Dame and Indianapolis Colts football player Hunter Smith was the featured speaker during Friday’s Kosciusko Community YMCA Good Friday Breakfast. The breakfast, attended by 275 people at Christ’s Covenant Church in Winona Lake, was the first year for the event. Chad Zaucha, YMCA CEO, said the mission of the Young Men’s Christian Association is to put Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind and body. A little over a year ago, the Wildman Family Foundation provided funding for the Kosciusko Community YMCA to hire its first Christian emphasis director, Matt Goebel. He provides pastoral care for staff, YMCA members and unites the Christian community on common ground through church partnerships. “Today is a celebration of Good Friday and highlighting the YMCA’s Christian emphasis in the community,” he said. Zaucha introduced the featured speaker, stating Smith is a 12-year National Football League League veteran, Super Bowl champion, public speaker, Billboard Top 20 Christian singer and songwriter and storyteller and author. Smith earned a Super Bowl ring with the Colts in Super Bowl XLI. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the seventh round of the 1999 NFL Draft. Before the NFL, Smith was recruited by colleges all over America to play football and he chose the University of Notre Dame. While at Notre Dame, he played multiple positions but punted every game of his four-year career after winning the starting job as freshman. He graduated from Notre Dame in 1999 with degrees in theology and sociology. That same year he was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts. As a rookie in 1999, he was selected to the NFL All-Rookie Team and was named Pro Bowl Alternate three times throughout his career. He signed as a free agent with the Washington Redskins in 2009 where he played the past two years of his career. In 2009, he rushed for a touchdown against the New York Giants and passed for a 35-yard touchdown pass against the Denver Broncos. He has scored three touchdowns in his NFL career. After playing football he started a band, The Hunter Smith Band, and authored a book, “The Jersey Effect.” Smith played the guitar sang. “I was in my third year playing with the Colts, and my mom called and told me I needed to come home because my grandfather was going to pass away,” Smith said. “I went to Coach Dungy and he told me to go home and be with my grandfather. He also meant I was a punter on a Peyton Manning lead offense and they would be fine.” Smith said he was able to be with his grandfather the last 30 minutes of his life. Smith said as a coach Dungy was committed to people, Smith learned people are valuable. Smith was asked what his former teammate, Peyton Manning, is like. “He’s taller than you think. He is the hardest worker,” Smith said. He gave advice for athletes to have additional interests besides football. Following the breakfast, Smith gave autographs and took pictures with fans.
