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His hair is simply one of a kind.
Part dreadlocks, part afro, cornerback Chris Smith easily has one of the most recognizable hair styles on campus.
The Northern Star got a chance to sit down with the transfer from Florida to talk about his performance against Akron, what the transition from the warm South to the cold North has been like and his nickname.
Northern Star: Talk about your performance against Akron. You had a couple big-pass break-ups. What were you seeing?
Chris Smith: I did alright. I was playing how I was supposed to play and it turned out good.
NS: What were you feeling like after those break-ups, especially the one in the end zone?
CS: I was like, ‘Don’t come this way; don’t throw to this side.’
NS: How are you going to celebrate your Halloween?
CD: Probably dress up like Jason or just chill at the house or something.
NS: Why Jason?
CS: Because that’s my favorite character. I like the mask.
NS: Do you have a favorite “Friday the 13th?”
CS: The second one. I can’t remember why, I just do.
NS: Did you like the “Freddy vs. Jason” movie?
CS: I like that movie.
NS: What did you think about the ending of the movie?
CS: It was crazy.
NS: I know you’re from Florida; what do you think about the weather here?
CS: It’s so cold I can’t even feel my hands half of the time. I have to try and stay lose and it’s hard to stay lose. I’m a tight type of person. It’s been a hard adjustment.
NS: How do you stay loose?
CS: Stand by the heater, stretch and run up and down the field.
NS: So while everyone on defense is on the sideline resting you’re running up and down the field?
CS: Yeah.
NS: Do you have any other tricks to stay warm?
CS: [Defensive backs coach Jay] Sawvel gives us a little heat thing and puts them inside the gloves. That does a little bit, but then after five minutes they’re cold.
NS: How many heat packs do you go through a game?
CS: I only went through two against Akron.
NS: As it gets colder you’ll be going through a couple more though?
CS: Oh yeah, I got to.
NS: What’s the best part of playing football at NIU?
CS: I like the coaches, the school, I like the field, I like the uniform, I like everything.
NS: Why do you think the uniforms are so attractive?
CS: Red and black; they are my favorite colors.
NS: When you have some free time outside of school what are you doing?
CS: I just been chilling, probably talking on the phone, talking to some girls, you know how that goes. Basically having fun sometimes, you know.
NS: Has it been hard to make that transition from home to school?
CS: Yeah, because I haven’t been home since March last year. March of spring break. I’ve been up here forever. I’ve been trying to maintain and get better.
NS: Do you miss home?
CS: A little bit.
NS: When are you going home next?
CS: I don’t even know.
NS: You’re not even planning to go home during winter break?
CS: If we get a break, because we might have a bowl game.
NS: What are the biggest improvements you’ve had since you’ve been working here all these months?
CS: I gained weight. When I first came here from junior college I was 173 [pounds]. I’m 190 right now.
Just getting used to the weather too, and playing in the cold, because I’ve never played in the cold.
And getting better on my back pedal too because I was mainly a press corner in junior college.
NS: Do you have any nicknames?
CS: Everybody calls me Highway, like the interstate, because I’m the highway boy.
NS: Can you tell us why you have that nickname, in a PG way?
CS: There’s a reason for the nickname, but I can’t say though.
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