When Bob Smith and two teammates left St. Mary’s to enter Medford High the Fall term of 1933, it left only 8 boys at St. Mary’s. When Bob Smith left Medford High in January of 1936 to attend the University of Oregon, he left behind an impressive three season team record of 605 points scored against their opponents 66. The 1933 defeat of Bend clinched the Oregon State High School Football Championship Title for the Medford Tigers, the 1934 season ended in a 6-6 tie with Washington High of Portland for the Mythical State Co­ Championship. With a first team backfield made up of Bob and his two teammates previously men­tioned, new head coach Bill Bowerman’s1935 season ended 7-0-1, the tie being a 0-0 Alumni game.

Coach Bowerman has said of Bob: “My greatest back, right half was Bob (Robert lgnatias) Smith. I never saw a better right half and never had one to compare. Run-pass -punt, and of course went both ways.

Bob comments: “I enjoyed the game – the lessons learned. Football gave me an excellent education, proving valuable during WWll. I was an officer with the First Special Service Force. Our objective was to parachute into Norway, destroy the “Heavy Water Project”, then ski into Sweden. ‘Know your opposition’ changed to ‘Know your enemy.

As a University of Oregon Duck, Bob was the first recipient of the Hoffman Award (outstanding player selected by the players), a member of the West Shrine Team for a game against the East (then played in San Francisco), President of the Oregon Lettermen’s Club, member of FRIARS, and still holds the record for longest run from line of scrimmage (92 yards). In those days they had a Smith All American Team and Bob joined the SMITH ALL AMERICANS.

At the end of his college career, he was drafted #17 by the New York Giants, playing most of the time with the Jersey City Giants and winning a championship. He said their share of the money was $60 per player.