Brett Smith's high school coach says he's ready for his shot

All the way from Oregon, people in Brett Smith’s hometown are rooting for him as he makes his first start as the Riders’ quarterback Friday.

“He’s probably the greatest competitor I’ve ever been around.”

Shawn Stanley was Smith’s high school football coach, and said Smith was a once-in-a-liftetime player for the team.

“The desire to win, willing to do anything to win, run through somebody, jump over them,” he laughed. “Whatever it takes. And I think that’s probably one of his greatest attributes.”

Stanley said he would like to be able to say that he had something to do with Smith’s development, but his dad did a lot of work with Smith and his brother.

“A lot of the tools and the fundamentals and the understanding of the game were in place before I got him. I think a lot of the development, really, should be credited to his dad.”

Stanley told a story about Smith playing in high school; he actually broke his arm in the first half of a game and didn’t tell anyone.

“Played the entire second half, threw a winning touchdown on a run … in kind of a big game for us. Practiced for four days the next week until it was pretty apparent there was something wrong.”

A doctor said Smith had fractured a bone in his throwing arm.

Stanley said there will likely be a learning curve for Smith on Friday, but that Smith will give it his best.

“He’s not going to blow you away with a cannon for an arm. He’s a great athlete, he can run, but he’s a play-maker, and that’s probably what he did best. You know, when the play breaks down he seems to always make something positive out of it with his feet or with his arm on the run.”

Smith has been signed to several teams, but has never started professionally. According to Stanley, Smith does best in the heat of battle.

“I think, you know, that’s part of the road that’s taken him to Saskatchewan and the road he’s been on. You know, part of it, I just don’t think he’s ever had a chance to get out on the field and have a chance to make plays.”

Stanley said he thinks all Smith needs is a shot, and was hoping he’d get it.