Brandon Smith

G1BLU: Nice article on the former Boyle county quarterback. He'll find his way back to the field and it wouldn't surprise anyone if he reclaimed the position he held before the accident. I have to apologize for interrupting your vacation with my previous e-mail(s). Thanks for responding. I think the choice of Billy Gillispie as head coach was a good one. Expensive, but a good one If he is half the recruiter they say he is he'll be a huge success. Still think Kentucky is becoming a football state.

Because Western Kentucky has an offense that requires a quarterback to be able to pass and run, Brandon Smith has decided that's where he wants to play his college football. "They run an offense that I fit into," said Smith, a three-year starter at quarterback for Boyle County. "The quarterback has to run and pass. That is what I am best at. " He threw for 8,796 yards and 116 touchdowns at Boyle by completing 547 of 922 passes during his career. He ran for 2,420 yards and 43 touchdowns and finished his career with 11,261 yards of total offense, two state championships and a 40-5 record.

He's moved to a new position, and Brandon Smith is more than ready to show the Missouri coaching staff and fans that he's ready to make it his own. Smith, a former Lincoln County standout, has moved to outside linebacker from inside linebacker. He spent his high school years playing defensive end, and said he has thoroughly enjoyed the move off the line. He said he is currently practicing with the second team at linebacker. However, he's also looking forward to showing what he's capable of doing.

Brandon Smith still remembers hearing the snap. Heading into spring practice at Western Kentucky, the former Mr. Football candidate knew he had a battle in front of him to replace Justin Haddix as Western's starting quarterback. "All spring long, the coaches had been hyping us up, letting us know that quarterbacks would be in live contact during spring practice," Smith said. Smith relished the opportunity to compete in full contact drills to become the starting quarterback Then on the first play he was in during his first full-contact practice, Smith felt something was not quite right.

This is the final night for area high school football teams to finalize preparations for the start of district competition next week. With that in mind, what better time to give out a few midseason awards. Best individual performance. While there have been several noteworthy efforts, the easy winner here has to be Boyle County quarterback Brandon Smith for his play against Danville. He helped make sure that a game almost everyone expected to be close turned into a rout for the Rebels.

LEXINGTON - Coaching the linebackers at the University of Kentucky gives Chuck Smith more than enough worries during spring practice. However, no one could blame the UK assistant coach for being a bit distracted the last few weeks after what happened to his son, Brandon, a sophomore quarterback at Western Kentucky University. During the Hilltoppers' first controlled scrimmage, Brandon Smith broke the fibula and tibia in his left leg. "He was running the ball, made a cut and got tackled," said Chuck Smith.

BOWLING GREEN - Senior outside linebacker Brandon Smith of Lincoln County highlighted Western Kentucky's mini-scrimmage Tuesday with an interception he returned 45 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the practice session, giving the Hilltoppers' first-team defense as many scores as the first-team offense. Smith finished the mini-scrimmage with five tackles, two quarterback sacks, one interception and one pass breakup. Former Boyle County quarterback Brandon Smith, a freshman, was 3-for-5 passing for 51 yards in his first scrimmage.

Ashley Smith, 18, of Nicholasville died Saturday, April 25. She is survived by her parents, Wanda Moore Dyer and Greg Smith. Also surviving are two brothers, Brandon Smith and Elvin Dyer, both of Nicholasville and two sisters, Crystal Tolliver and Rhonda Dyer. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Spurlin Funeral Home, Lancaster. Visitation will be 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday.

Lincoln County graduate Brandon Smith was one of three Western Kentucky University players named to preseason first-team All-Gateway Football Conference at the league's annual Media Day Tuesday. Smith was an honorable mention all-league choice at linebacker last fall after recording 68 total stops, including a league-leading five sacks, while his 11 1/2 tackles for loss were tied for fifth in the conference. On The Net Gateway Football Conference

The top 10 returning seniors based on votes by The Kentucky Advocate sports staff: 1. Brandon Smith, QB-LB, Boyle County 2. Kelvin Turner, RB-LB, Danville 3. Andrew McCloud, RB-DB, Mercer County 4. Spencer Crutchfield, QB-DB, Garrard County 5. Ronnie Hawkins, QB-DB, Danville 6. Greg Peck, WR-DB, Boyle County 7. Evan Teague, TE-LB, Boyle County 8. Jacob Moore, OL-DL, Danville 9. Kyle Long, QB-DB, Casey County...

During his days at Boyle County and Western Kentucky University, Brandon Smith was a quarterback and set numerous records during his prep career. Now he's the defensive coordinator at South Warren High School and has two players - defensive tackle Adrian Middleton and linebacker Joel Iyiegbuniwe. Middleton has offers from Kentucky, Louisville, Indiana State, Western and Middle Tennessee. Iyiegbuniwe only has an offer from Western so far, but Smith expects more schools to soon offer Iyiegbuniwe.

Even if it is Kentucky-Louisville week, it's still time to let readers share their perspectives and ask questions about various subjects. Danville's Paul Smiley went to watch Western Kentucky play football last week against South Florida and came home impressed by former Boyle County quarterback Brandon Smith, who is the starter at Western this year. "Brandon had a great game last week even though the team lost. It was good seeing him play again after all these years from high school.

Boyle County's Brandon Smith will be one of four game captains for Western Kentucky when the Hilltoppers open the season Saturday at Tennessee. Running back Tyrell Hayden and linebackers L.J. Harbison and Taurean Smith will be the other game captains. Smith will be making his start at Western against the Vols. The fifth-year senior won the starting quarterback job early in fall camp. Smith has played in 12 games during his career, completing 18 of 38 passes for 12 yards and a touchdown.

Even though he's waited for years to become Western Kentucky's starting quarterback, Brandon Smith knows he faces an even more difficult task now. "It's an opportunity I have waited a long time for, but now the hard part comes and that's doing something with the opportunity. My challenge is to lead the offense and team and make sure we have a successful season," said the former Boyle County standout. He will make his first start at Tennessee on Sept. 5 in the first game for new Tennessee coach Lane Kiffin.

The competition remains open just as it would at any position, but coach David Elson hopes he has found his starting quarterback for Western Kentucky's upcoming football season. Boyle County graduate Brandon Smith, a fifth-year senior, goes into preseason camp next month No. 1 on the depth chart for the first time in his Western career based on his play in spring practice. "He goes in as the starter taking the reps with the first team, knowing he still has competition in guys that finished behind him plus a freshman coming in," Elson said.

Ashley Smith, 18, of Nicholasville died Saturday, April 25. She is survived by her parents, Wanda Moore Dyer and Greg Smith. Also surviving are two brothers, Brandon Smith and Elvin Dyer, both of Nicholasville and two sisters, Crystal Tolliver and Rhonda Dyer. Funeral services will be 1 p.m. Thursday at Spurlin Funeral Home, Lancaster. Visitation will be 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday.

BOWLING GREEN - For the first time in his life, football was not fun for Brandon Smith last year. Football had always been a huge part of his life. His father, Chuck, led Boyle County to five straight state titles and six straight title game appearances and Boyle was 55-5 with three state championships during Brandon's four years. After redshirting at Western Kentucky in 2005, Brandon Smith played briefly in 2006. However, he figured spring practice would be his chance to prove he could be the Hilltoppers' No. 1 quarterback.

Ollis Smith, 77, of New Salem, died Sunday, July 6 at the Christian Care Center. A native of Lincoln County, he was born Oct. 8, 1928 to the late Edgar and Lilly Fletcher Smith. He was a farmer, Korean War veteran, member of New Salem Baptist Church, and widower of Shirley Mae Anderson Smith. Survivors include three sons, Bennett Dale (Brenda) Smith and Ronnie (Vickie) Smith both of Hustonville and Leslie Eric (Robin) Smith of Cumberland; one daughter, Connie (Steve) Richey of Hustonville; two brothers, Benny Smith of Stanford and Lester Smith of Hustonville; two sisters, Peggy Coffman and Wilmoth Cain, both of Hustonville; 10 grandchildren; six great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Brandon Smith still remembers hearing the snap. Heading into spring practice at Western Kentucky, the former Mr. Football candidate knew he had a battle in front of him to replace Justin Haddix as Western's starting quarterback. "All spring long, the coaches had been hyping us up, letting us know that quarterbacks would be in live contact during spring practice," Smith said. Smith relished the opportunity to compete in full contact drills to become the starting quarterback Then on the first play he was in during his first full-contact practice, Smith felt something was not quite right.

When University of Kentucky assistant coach Chuck Smith sets his mind to something, there's nothing he can't accomplish. Whether it's winning five consecutive state championships as head coach at Boyle County High School, leading a number of his players to Division I college scholarships or becoming a coach at the collegiate level, Smith can do just about anything. But despite all of his success, a certain desired title has eluded Smith for a number of years: Contestant on CBS-TV's "Survivor.