Chris Smith follows family footsteps to Shrine Bowl

Pat Burris remembers the North Carolina Shrine Bowl team not throwing a single pass his way during the 1986 all-star game in Charlotte.

Burris, a standout at Northwestern, blanketed future NFL receiver Yancey Thigpen so well that the game wasn’t nearly as exciting as he might have hoped.

Burris’ younger brother, Jeff, also made the Shrine Bowl, though he was unable to play in 1989 because of a high ankle sprain. Pat Burris stood on the sidelines of the field at Spartanburg High School on Tuesday watching his son, South Pointe’s Chris Smith, practice with the South Carolina Shrine Bowl squad. It was a proud moment for papa.

“It wasn’t pressure for him,” Burris said, motioning toward his son. “He felt like he earned his place.”

It remains to be seen if Smith will get more opportunities to showcase his skills than his dad when he suits up for the Sandlappers.

“I got to keep the reputation going,” said Smith, his mouth full of sunflower seeds. “No slacking.”

Burris played for Northwestern coach Bobby Ivey. Bill Boroff was the Trojans’ defensive backs coach that year, and he’s coaching Smith this week as the South Carolina squad’s secondary coach. Boroff is the defensive coordinator at Timberland.

“Chris just has a lot of knowledge,” said Boroff, “so a lot of it now is just us comparing lingo, what coach (Jason) Winstead uses at South Pointe and what I’m used to calling, and just fitting them together.”

Smith made 40 tackles and intercepted two passes – both in the third round playoff win over Seneca – during an injury-hit senior season. He never fully shook a hamstring injury, but was still a key contributor in the Stallions’ state championship run opposite fellow cornerback Nick McCloud.

Smith made the decision to enroll at South Carolina in January when he committed to the Gamecocks in July. He and his family realized he wouldn’t be playing a winter or spring sport; it made perfect sense because he needed just four core classes to graduate.

“That way he can come in and learn the system and really have a chance to play early,” said Burris. “That way, he don’t come in as a typical freshman. He’ll end up basically like a redshirt freshman.”

Smith said he’s met and likes South Carolina’s new defensive coordinator, 34-year old Travaris Robinson. Smith may have some proving to do with the new Gamecocks coaching staff, but his dad needs no convincing.

“I’ve always stressed to him, as long as you’re happy and healthy you don’t have to prove anything to me on the football field,” Burris said. “Prove it to me academically.”

This story was originally published December 17, 2015 at 2:01 PM with the headline "Chris Smith follows family footsteps to Shrine Bowl."