The End Of Anonymity WSU’S Smith Makes Himself Recognized Ragin’ Cajuns At Cougars

Another number without a name.

That’s all Wendell Smith was last week when he walked into Martin Stadium. Anonymous No. 38. He wasn’t on the depth chart. He wasn’t in the program. He wasn’t even in the media guide.

But in the second quarter he was in the game. Smith recovered a blocked punt at the 11-yard line and served up the knockout punch of the Cal Bears.

When he made the play all anyone could say was “Who was that?”

“Number 38,” the Washington State official scorer answered.

Again, there were questions of “Who?”

in the press box.

“Wendell Smith,” the Washington State scorer answered.

Who?

It wasn’t until later that it was learned No. 38 was a 23-year-old freshman. An ex-Marine. A former 160-pound Gonzaga Prep nose tackle. A 5-11, 202-pound guy with 4.5 speed who hasn’t played football in five years. Now Smith, the player who was without an identity, is looked upon as one of the players helping shape the identity of the Washington State Cougars.

“I hope that toughness he has will spread over to the rest of the players,” said WSU coach Mike Price. “He’s been through so much to get where he is. He thinks this is like a country club compared to what he went through.” What he went through was five years of Semper Fi do or die. After that, double days aren’t so tough.

Relating to 18-year-olds getting scholarship checks and training table meals is another matter.

“It is kind of difficult, they are like `Oh, I don’t want to do this. This food’s no good. I don’t want to have to study,”’ said Smith. “I want to say something, but I’m like `They will learn in time what it feels like when you are cold and on your own.”’

Cold and on your own. Smith’s been there, done that. He enlisted in the Marines just days after graduating from Gonzaga Prep. “I knew that I didn’t have the discipline for the college level,” he said. “I made up my mind my sophomore year to go into the Marine Corps.”

Hello Camp Pendleton, where screaming sergeants, physical pain and mental anguish make preseason football camp look like a tea and crumpets picnic.

From there, Smith was shipped to Washington, D.C. He became a body bearer - an honor bestowed on a select few Marines. He carried the caskets of those who died for their country.

“It’s an honor,” said Smith. “These people fought and died and served their country. The least we can do is give them the honor and respect of carrying their casket.”

Smith carried the caskets of cabinet member Ron Brown and congressman Sonny Bono and many others. He has carried the weight of the country on his shoulders. He has folded up dreams inside an American flag and handed them to widow after widow.

He has never forgotten what it feels like.

“You can feel the pain or sorrow that they are enduring and you have to hold it in,” Smith said. “There was one time that there was the 3-year-old son with his mom. He was asking the mother `When is Daddy going to come home? When can I see my daddy again?”’ In 1999, Smith decided it was time to see his mother, father and 10 siblings again. He always knew college was in his future. He wanted to go to school near his family in Spokane. And he wanted to play football at WSU. But Price wasn’t knocking down his door. In fact, Price still isn’t sure how Smith made it to Pullman.

“He just showed up,” the coach said. “Maybe ROTC recruited him.”

Or maybe it was Steve Gleason. The current Cougars co-captain played high school football with Smith and when Smith called, Gleason said come on.

“I walked on and made the team,” Smith said.

He has moved from third string to a first-team special-teams player. He didn’t make the travel squad for the Stanford game. He’s a lock to make the next one to Arizona State. And then, of course, he had that fumble recovery against the Cal Bears. “It was one of the highlights of my life,” Smith said. “It’s something that you dream of.

“The stands are filled with people and everyone is cheering for you,” he continued. “I felt like a hero for a little bit. That was a good feeling.”

Next time maybe more people will know that hero’s name is Wendell Smith.