Southern Illinoise University Athletics
10/15/2026 | 12:21:00 | Football, General
CARBONDALE, Ill. – As a senior at Thornton Fractional South High School in 1983, Dave Smith thought he was headed to Augustana College.
A 6-foot-8, 285-pound offensive and defensive tackle, Smith wanted to keep playing football. Augustana, a Division III program in Rock Island, Illinois, was his only offer until SIU assistant coach Dave McMichael walked into one of his basketball games.
Then he came back for another.
That was all he needed to see.
"He didn't even look at film," Smith said. "Back then, if you had film, you had to put it in a bag and mail it. Nothing was digital. He came to see me play basketball twice. At the time, I was 6-7 and 215 pounds. By the time I graduated, I was 6-8 and 285. He offered me a scholarship."
Smith signed with SIU and redshirted during the Salukis' 1983 national championship season. He went on to build a Hall of Fame career from 1984-87, earning second-team All-Gateway Conference honors in 1986 and first-team recognition in 1987. He also earned honorable mention All-America honors in 1987.
Smith will be inducted into the SIU Hall of Fame on Friday night alongside Andrea Estrada (volleyball), Byron Honore (football), Kevin Koski (baseball), Kyle Landon (track and field) and Kaixuan "Sherry" Zhang (diving).
"As far as non-family things go, this is at the top," Smith said. "It's an honor that was unexpected. When you look at the previous honorees and inductees, you almost feel imposter syndrome. Do I really belong in this group? Somebody obviously thought I did, and it's humbling to be included with so many greats.
"I was there with Connie Price-Smith, Terry Taylor, Tom Baugh and Fabray Collins. There were a lot of people I looked up to and respected."
Smith helped pave the way for running back Byron Mitchell's record-setting 1985 season. Mitchell rushed for 1,211 yards, which ranked as the second-highest single-season total in school history at the time.
"He was a waterbug on the field," Smith said. "He could put his foot in the ground and avoid tackles. Nobody ever really got a clean shot on Byron."
After earning a degree in business administration, Smith signed with the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 1988. Playing behind future Pro Football Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz, Smith appeared in 14 games during Cincinnati's run to Super Bowl XXIII, including a handful of snaps in the championship game.
The Bengals fell 20-16 after Joe Montana connected with John Taylor for the game-winning touchdown in the final minute.
Smith nearly didn't make the team.
He recalled a difficult practice during training camp and responding by focusing on mastering the playbook and executing every assignment. Throughout camp, he repeatedly wrote two words: "I will."
He also nearly finished camp in a pair of worn-out college cleats.
Smith arrived at Bengals camp wearing the same shoes he had used at SIU. When the sides began to split, he tried sewing them back together. Eventually, he asked an equipment manager for a new pair and was told a rookie who might not make the roster wasn't worth the investment.
That's when Munoz stepped in.
"Let me tell you an Anthony Munoz story," Smith said. "He asked me what size I wore. I told him 14. He said, 'Come with me.' He opened the trunk of his Mercedes and pulled out a box of shoes and handed them to me.
"Here's arguably the greatest offensive lineman ever, certainly one of the greatest tackles, helping an undrafted rookie from Southern Illinois. That's the kind of person he was then, and still is today."
Smith said the entire offensive line from Cincinnati's Super Bowl team still keeps in touch through a group text.
A native of the Chicago area, Smith met his wife, Kathy, while attending SIU. They have four children, including three sons and a daughter.
Today, Smith owns and operates a business that includes 10 convenience stores, a travel center and eight car washes in the Chicagoland area.
