Three more with Yannick Smith

Photo Credit: Old Dominion University Athletics

A member of the Houston Dynamo's preseason roster, Yannick Smith commented in a December 2012 email about his collegiate career, his preparation for the combine including chatting with David Horst and his hopes for a professional career for his recent profile at Football Friendlies.

The interview included three other questions that did not make the profile. Here are his responses offering further insight especially around Smith's balance of academics and athletics; in 2012 he was a CoSIDA Academic All-District III selection.

1. How were you able to balance your academic and athletic priorities?

My whole life my parents have harped on me always to keep my grades up so when I got to college that didn’t change. I just kept myself on a schedule making sure I did my work as early as possible so I was never swamped. I scheduled all my classes in the morning - so I could do my work before training - or in the evening if needed. Once I stuck to the schedule I had set for myself keeping up with my grades and soccer was not an issue.

2. What's one aspect of your game that you feel gets overlooked?

I believe I am a much smarter player than I get credit for. I feel I have a very good understanding of the game and how it should be played. At times that may get over looked because I am usually all the way up the field and not in the middle of the field where I can really show my soccer I.Q. but I do believe I am an intelligent player.

3. Toughest field to visit in the Colonial Athletic Association?

Easy question, Northeastern by far, it’s not even close. It’s always cold up there (it snowed last time we played there). It’s also an older turf field and I played on grass at ODU, and on top of all of that they’re always a good team. They are always ready to play and in my two trips up there we didn’t score a goal and they played two great games against us. Their fans are also rowdy and try to get in your head. I do believe our atmosphere at ODU is one of the best in the nation but the toughest place to play is Northeastern by far.

Link:
1) Houston Dynamo official site