Former Seminole great, RB Sammie Smith (#33), gets his civil rights back
Bobby Bowden may not be coaching the Seminoles anymore, but he is certainly going to step up to the plate when his alums are in need. This was seen when former Florida State RB Sammie Smith wanted to restore his civil rights after serving his prison sentence. In Florida, convicted felons cannot vote or own a weapon unless the individual gets a full or conditional pardon from the Clemency Board. So after 7 years behind bars for a federal conviction of possession and distribution of cocaine, Smith petitioned to restore his civil rights.
Part of this process required live testimony regarding the character of Smith. Coach Bowden, among others, appeared on Smith’s behalf and spoke to Gov. Crist and the Clemency Board regarding who Smith was to them. Bowden said that Smith’s acts were uncharacteristic and that he was a role model on the field and his conviction does not define the real Smith.
After hours of testimony, the Clemency Board was convinced and voted to restore the civil rights of Smith. The teary eyed Smith was ecstatic of the Board’s decision and couldn’t thank Bowden enough for his positive words.
After this experience, Smith is ready to teach kids and other college athletes to learn from his mistakes and to make sure you always stay on the right side of the law.
Smith currently ranks 5th all-time in rushing at Florida State with 2,439 yards in three seasons. He was a workhorse for Bowden and the Seminoles. His outstanding collegiate career landed him in the first round of the 1989 NFL draft (9th pick, Miami Dolphins).
