I dug up this stereotype-filled 2003 article on Smith from the site's College Football Archives. Smith hung around blacks at MSU to the point of attending black social functions on campus and being referred to as "black" by his black teammates. Is something like this a factor when the NFL decides which few white players "fit in" the NFL's black-oriented locker rooms and style of play?
Spartans safety defies skeptics and stereotypes
October 9, 2003
BY JEMELE HILL
FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER
EAST LANSING  He had good speed and size. But there was just one problem with Eric Smith.
He was white.
An assistant coach at a Division II school in Ohio told Smith in high school that he didn't want a white player in the secondary. He wasn't the first college coach to doubt Smith, who had become accustomed to being called too slow, too small  everything except too good.
"He said he'd rather take a black player than me," Smith said.
But it's interesting how life can work out. The guy who was too slow, too small and er, too white, is the starting strong safety for Michigan State  the only Division I school that offered the 6-foot-1, 196-pound sophomore a scholarship.
In fact, Smith not only is a starter, he's a playmaker. Smith, who runs the 40 in 4.6, leads the team in tackles with 49 and was Big Ten player of the week following a 12-tackle, two-sack performance against Notre Dame. He also has seven pass-breakups, which is tied for the team lead, and his 59-yard interception return against Louisiana Tech is the longest by the secondary this season.
"People look at me and say, 'He's a white guy. He won't be able to play,' " Smith said. "I just like to go out there and prove them wrong."
What's ironic is that while Smith occasionally catches flak for being a white safety, he's comfortable being in the minority  on and off the field.
His black teammates refer to him jokingly as "just another black guy" because Smith usually attends the campus social functions for black students.
"At all the black functions that go on, on campus, he's right there," defensive end Greg Taplin, who is black, said as he laughed.
"He puts himself in the position where he's the minority and it's cool to him. We can appreciate that."
Smith is comfortable around all races because his high school, Groveport-Madison (Ohio), had the highest percentage of black students in his county. Smith's roommates are linebackers Ron Stanley and Seth Mitchell, and defensive end Mike Bazemore  all of whom are black.
"In high school, I hung out with everybody and got along with everybody," Smith said. "It was no big deal to me."
Smith's nature has made him a favorite among his teammates. But they also appreciate the player he has become.
"Eric has been one of those guys back there that has been taking up for a lot of people," said safety Jason Harmon, the starter opposite Smith. "When he came in, a lot of people kind of underrated him. But he's one of those smart guys that does everything right and is always in the right places. He rarely makes a mistake. He takes care of business. He's been surprising a lot of people."
Smith's football intelligence makes up for whatever physical tools he may lack. He admits he's not the fastest player on the field.
"I'm not that slow," Smith said, smiling.
But the Spartans put a lot of trust in him in their defensive scheme.
The safeties are responsible for making the defensive calls. They alert the linebackers and corners about what coverage the team is in.
"He puts himself in the right position to make plays," defensive backs coach Paul Haynes said. "The great thing about him is he knows his limitations and he works on those limitations. He makes up for it with his intelligence. I wouldn't trade him for anyone else."