CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) -- Less than a week shy of turning 27, former Citadel outfielder Chance Smith's life abruptly ended in an Atlanta car accident.
The Citadel baseball coaching staff tells Sports 4 that Smith lost his life early Sunday morning while his wife is still clinging to life. Smith leaves behind a 4 month old child. On Monday, Citadel Head Coach Fred Jordan had the entire team sign a #6 Citadel uniform to send to the Smith family.
"Chance Smith will be remembered as an energizer bunny in Citadel baseball," Jordan said. "Always a smile on the face, he competed extremely hard. He was defending our country .. it's a tragic loss but I guarantee he's brought a whole lot of excitement to heaven."
Everyone around the Bulldog program remembers Smith's smile and awkward short baseball swing. Endearing qualities that they remember on this day.
"Phenomenal leader, happy to lucky guy. Whether he went 4 for 4 or 0 for 4, he was an enthusiastic, emotional player. When it comes to competing, he loved to succeed."
No coach ever wants to bury a player or former player. Charleston Southern head coach Stuart Lake has done it twice in two years. He coached Smith when Lake was an assistant at The Citadel. Now he's coping again.
"He was a guy who brought a smile to the field. He brought excitement to the field, he was the guy that younger guys looked up to and that's what meant so much to me." says Lake. One of those younger guys was Sid Fallaw. Fallaw is now coaching for Lake at CSU. He was in the same company at the Citadel, two years behind Smith.
"It was my first year. He knew people, he knew how to get us through there. You learn from upperclassmen. He took me under his wing and was always there for you," Fallaw said.
The Bulldogs are now down a brother, he's no longer shining on the diamond, but he is shining down on them.
"You spend a lot of time with guys there. Breakfast, lunch, dinner with them, at the ball field, in dorm rooms," Fallaw said. "There is only so much stuff to do, Chance will be greatly missed."
Jordan echoed the sentiment. "It's like losing your family. He'll always be a Bulldog. It's a sad and tragic thing."
