Steve Smith Sr. Pumps Up Utah Ahead Of Pac-12 Championship Game
Dec 1, 2022, 7:03 PM
9 Sep 2000: Steve Smith #7 of the Utah Utes runs with the ball during the game against the California Golden Bears at the Memorial Stadium in Berkeley, California. The Golden Bears defeated the Utes 24-21.(Credit: Tom Hauck /Allsport/Getty Images)
(Credit: Tom Hauck /Allsport/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS- There are few players better at bringing the heat both on and off the field than former Utah wide receiver Steve Smith Sr. The now NFL Network personality was not only electric on the field in college and the NFL, but off of it with his words, “you better ice up, son”, so it only makes sense the Pac-12 would employ his help to pump the Utes up before their big game against USC on Friday night.
Smith Sr. was featured in a video posted by the Pac-12 encouraging fans to be at the game, while being loud, and proud for the Utes. Smith Sr. also revealed he will be in attendance to cheer his college team on with passion that has all of us ready to run through a brick wall.
HYPE. US. UP. 🗣️🙌 pic.twitter.com/jkVwzx5eoS
— Pac-12 Conference (@pac12) December 1, 2022
Learning That Steve Smith Sr. Is A Ute
Smith Sr. was a staple in the NFL for 15 seasons and pretty universally loved for his playmaking abilities and wild trash talk. Despite his Hall of Fame NFL career, there are fans to this day who have no idea Smith Sr. played college football for the University of Utah.
I be forgetting he went to Utah lol https://t.co/9rYMf0BNaP
— Raiders winning out (@Jalenbusby_) December 1, 2022
All these years I never knew Steve Smith went to Utah.
You learn something new everyday.
— Eldridge Recasner (@erecasner) December 1, 2022
Another Special Visitor
These days Utah football is rolling with some pretty impressive company whether they are alums of the program or just friends of alums.
Earlier in the week Seahawk running back Marshawn Lynch paid the Utes a visit via running backs coach Quinton Ganther’s twitter.
When lil bruh pulls up on you during championship week it’s a good day. pic.twitter.com/LzwWw7XWOP
— Quinton Ganther (@coachqganther) November 29, 2022
Ganther and Lynch both grew up in Northern California while also spending time together in Seattle. Ganther was a player for the Seahawks in 2010 and a coach in 2013, while Beast Mode spent 2010-2015 with the organization.
Lynch isn’t the only special guest Ganther has brought to Utah from his playing days either. Earlier this past spring Ganther went back to his roots with the Tennessee Titans bringing in Lendale White (a USC alum) and Chris Johnson as guest speakers at the Utes’ annual Coaches’ Clinic.
We’re betting White and Ganther are putting their friendship on hold this week.
Michelle Bodkin is the Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of both the Crimson Corner Podcast (SUBSCRIBE) and The Saturday Show (Saturday from 10 a.m.–12 p.m.) on The KSL Sports Zone. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @BodkinKSLsports
