Dave Smith

Class of 1959: Pro football

Dave Smith took his standout success on Ripon College’s gridiron to success on the new American Football League.

David William Smith was born March 23, 1937, in Milwaukee. At Ripon, he majored in physical education, played football, was a member of Phi Kappa Pi (Merriman) was commissioned through ROTC.

A three-time First Team All-Conference selection with the Redmen, Smith finished his college career with 2,668 rushing yards, which stood as a school record for 25 years. Nicknamed “The Ripon Ripper,” Smith was the lifeblood of Ripon’s football program for three years, helping the Redmen go 18-5-1 during that span. That included an undefeated season in 1957, which saw Ripon win all eight of their games under the direction of Head Coach Jerry Thompson.

“Coach Jerry Thompson is responsible for all that,” Smith said. “He took over the football program in 1956 and turned the program around. As nice of a guy as he was, he taught me discipline. He was a great person.”

After being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Army at Ripon, Smith reported to the Green Bay Packers training camp, having been drafted in the 21st round of the 27-round 1959 draft, the first Packers draft by Vince Lombardi.

He played six pre-season games with the Packers before being released. He then served three months’ active duty wie. th the Army in Georgia and then three months in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri. He later would serve seven years in the Reserves.

While in Missouri, he was signed as a free agent by the Houston Oilers of the American Football League (now Tennessee Titans) as a running back and fullback in its inaugural season in 1960. He played five seasons with the Oilers, between 1960 and 1964.

During his first season, Smith scored the first touchdown ever in the franchise. He was named to the All-League team as a fullback and helped the Oilers win the first two back-to-back AFL Championships in 1960 and 1961.

Smith was named First Team All-Pro and selected by Sporting News as the first All-AFL fullback in 1960.

He played 65 games, including 22 starts, before injuries ended his professional football career. He achieved 1,368 yards on 328 carries (4.2 ypc), while rushing for 11 touchdowns. Smith also caught 80 passes for 772 yards (9.7 ypr) and seven additional scores.

Although short-lived, his pro football career has been described by some as “an overnight success” with “electrifying results.” He retired as a player after the 1964 season.

Aside from a private business enterprise from 1975-1988, he spent the rest of his career as a scout: for the Houston Oilers in 1965-1966 and 1970-1975; the New Orleans Saints from 1967-1970; an NFL scouting combine organization that sent scouting reports to several teams from 1988-1992; and then for 23 years for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League from 1992 until retiring in 2015.

“I had 41 years total in professional football,” Smith said. “I loved it. I went into scouting because I wanted to stay in the game. Football people are great people. There are not too many Division I schools I haven’t been to. I enjoyed being with those people and being in the sport.”

Smith was inducted into Ripon College’s Athletic Hall of Fame in 1984.