Indiana University of Pennsylvania Athletics

Perhaps best remembered about Dave Smith is that he was the first IUP graduate to be drafted in the annual National Football League (NFL) player selection.
That came in the eighth round in 1970, by the Pittsburgh Steelers and resulted in his playing two seasons as a wide receiver, followed by stints with the Houston Oilers and Kansas City Chiefs through 1974.
Many IUP followers will say, though that Smith just may be the most naturally talented basketball player ever to wear the Indian uniform.
(He is the only one in team history to fly directly from catching a 62-yard touchdown pass in the 1968 Boardwalk Bowl in Atlantic City, where IUP came very close to upsetting heavily favored Delaware, to suit up for a college roundball game, as he did for IUP's 87-69 win at then-rival Geneva that same night.)
That was certainly a highlight of Smith's first year at IUP, after he had transferred from Waynesburg College, as was his selection as an AP/Associated Press All-American.
Almost overlooked in such activity were similar items that Smith also played baseball at IUP, as a first baseman/pitcher, and that as a senior in '69 he played on both offense and defense in football.
Ask Dave Smith what he is most proud of though, and he will cite, but not in this order, his 1970 IUP degree in political science, legal studies at the Duquesne University School of Law, professional and civic involvements since and his two sons, David Jr. and Daryl.
Since l987, he has been managing partner of Pro Am International, a marketing firm that specializes in sports and entertainment-based programs and events.
High-profile clients have included Pitney Bowes, Tums, Nike and Reebok, and the firm has been nationally recognized by the White House and USA Today.
Prior positions had been as a product manager with American Cynamid (four years) and market representative for DuPont (seven years), following two (1974-76) as a producer/host of KDKA Radio and TV programs in Pittsburgh.
In 1990, '92 and '93, he put together the All-America Classic charity football game, a postseason showcase that proved a great success in connecting graduating players with pro scouts.
While in Pittsburgh, Smith founded and directed Diversions, a youth drug abuse clinic and he is currently executive director of the Center for Diversity in Sports Management.
As for his sons, David Jr. became an All-Ivy League football player at the University of Pennsylvania before graduating from its School of Economics.  Daryl, a basketball standout at Rutgers, graduated from there in political science.