by Mike Magers

Timmy Smth was a running back from Hobbs, NM.  While at Hobbs, he rushed for 2,306 yards and scored 31 rushing touchdowns, both records at the time.  It  attracted Division 1 interest and he signed with Texas Tech.  Though he was injured with knee and ankle problems a great deal of the time he was at Tech, his record shows that he had 292 attempts rushing and gained 1,313 yards, scoring 8 touchdowns.  He also had 41 receptions and gained another 401 yards and one touchtown.  It was enough for him to be drafted by the Washington Redskins.  He was taken 117th in the 5th round of the 1987 NFL draft.

He began his career with the Redskins and played there two seasons.  He was then signed for one year with the Dallas Cowboys where he played his final season.  His career statistics include gaining 602 yards on 190 attempts producing 3 touchdowns.  He also had 9 receptions producing another 51 yards.

His NFL highlight was Washington’s appearance in the Super Bowl in 1988.  It was the first start of a black quarterback in a Super Bowl with Doug Williams running the offense for the Redskins.  The opposing quarterback was John Elway who had led the Denver Broncos to the game.

Under head coach Joe Gibbs, the Redskins exploded for 5 touchdowns in the second half, going on to a 42-10 win over the Broncos, under head coach Dan Reeves.  Williams passed for 340 yards and Timmy Smith ran for 204, a record at the time.  Receiver Ricky Sanders also caught 9 passes for 193 yards.  The Redskin defense held the Broncos scoreless after Denver jumped out to a 10-0 lead, holding on to one point 10-9 lead at the half.

It took 18 plays for the Redskins to gain a 25 point lead, on their way to the 32 point advantage to end the game.  Timmy Smiht had one touchdown, which happened to be his first NFL TD.  Doug Williams passed for 5 touchdowns, surpassing Terry Bradshaw’s previous Super Bowl record of 4 TDs.  Williams completed 18 passes on 29 attempts.

Neither player had another game like the amazing 1988 Super Bowl victory, but it was one to remember.  Smith is now retired from football and living in Colorado.