Manistee football coach Troy Bytwork recalls giving a then-14-year-old Eric Smith rides home from practice.
This week, he was congratulating the young man on signing a letter of intent to play football for Olivet College next year.
The time between then and now was filled with Smith's unrelenting hard work.
"You talk about putting in the time," Bytwork said, "I'm not sure if I've had a kid who put in more time than Eric, just from sheer hours spent in the weight room."
And for Smith, it was all worth it.
"You work so hard to get to this point," he said, "so when you finally achieve it, it's crazy."
Smith is heading to Olivet along with Chippewa teammate Landen Powers. The two signed their letters together at a ceremony held Wednesday at Manistee High School.
RELATED: Chips' Powers to play football for Olivet
In addressing their accomplishments, Bytwork reminded the two seniors that the next chapter is just starting.
"Very few kids go on to play college football. So this is absolutely commendable, because it's not something that just happens," he said. "And this new journey is now just beginning. Don't think you've accomplished it all since you've made it here. You have a lot to prove again.
"You've proven it once, just prove it again."
Smith certainly proved himself in his time with Manistee's program.
"Eric gave us a big body out there as a wide receiver," Bytwork said. "Not only did he give us a kid on the field who could catch, but he was one of the better blockers, if not the best blocker, I've had at that position. ... You've got to take care of corners in the veer, and most of the time that was an advantage for us with Eric blocking out there.
"(Smith) obviously did the necessary work off the field and on the field to help win us some pretty big ball games."
One of those ball games stands out among the rest for Smith.
"The Ludington win this year was a crazy feeling," he said of a wild 21-20 victory over the rival Orioles on Oct. 16. "We never beat that team in our entire football careers, and we finally go out as a team our senior year and put it to them."
The Chippewas led 21-14 in the waning seconds of the contest, but watched as that cushion crumbled when Ludington threw a touchdown pass in the red zone with just 7 seconds remaining.
Instead of attempting the extra point that would have tied the game, the Orioles opted for the 2-point conversion on their home field.
Manistee’s Keith Barke, however, intercepted the ensuing pass in the end zone as the Chippewas hung on and reclaimed possession of the traveling Dad’s Trophy, the symbol of the most current bragging rights in the rivalry.
"Seeing the storm roll in right when we finished and holding the trophy up on the field with the guys," Smith recalled, "I don't think there's any other feeling that can really compare."
Smith helped lead Manistee to a 4-2 record in the regular season, which earned them the No. 1 seed and home field advantage in their Division 6 playoff district. He and the Chippewas then secured the program's first-ever playoff win, with a 62-6 victory over Kalkaska.
Olivet College is an NCAA Division III program and member of the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association.
Smith hopes to continue his career as a wide receiver at the next level.
"I plan on staying at wide receiver," he said. "I plan on starting. I don't want to go there to sit on a bench. I do understand, though, that that's not just going to be given to me. I've just got to work harder than everyone else."
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Chips' Smith signs to play football for Olivet College - Manistee News Advocate
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