Dean Smith, the former University of Maine basketball player and GTE Academic All-American, has won the student-athlete’s version of the Heisman Trophy by being named recipient of the Walter Byers Award.

The award, named after the NCAA’s executive director emeritus, is presented annually to a male and female collegiate senior athlete excelling in academics.

Smith, who graduated from Maine in December after only seven semesters, posted a 3.864 cumulative grade-point average in electrical engineering. He is currently taking postgraduate courses at the Orono campus.

“Obviously, I’m pretty elated,” Smith said. “When you stop and realize how many student-athletes there are in the entire realm of college sports, it’s pretty special. It makes all those late nights worthwhile.”

“I think this is one of the nicest things that could have happened to an athlete at Maine,” said UM President Dr. Dale Lick. “Having the top academic athlete in the land at Maine, says a lot. It also talks a lot about the relationship between the two (academics and athletics) and how they blend together.”

Smith, a native of Dover-Foxcroft and the son of Jake and Glenda Smith, will receive the award later this spring. The NCAA was not sure of the date as of Wednesday.

Smith was one of three finalists for the award along with University of Southern California swimmer Ray Looze and University of Georgia basketball player Alex Kessler. On Monday, the three were in Chicago for their respective interviews before the winner was selected in the afternoon.

“It was a pretty intense interview,” the 6-foot-3 forward said. “We had a banquet on Sunday night and then on Monday morning they brought us in for the interviews. They went about a half an hour each and lasted until about 11:30 (a.m.) Later that afternoon, they brought us back and told us (who won.)”

Smith was one of 59 original applicants for the honor and he admits he was not sure what the Byers award was all about.

“I had no idea,” Smith said. “I didn’t realize that it went basically on the same guidelines as the Rhodes Scholarships. I didn’t know what to expect. Just being one of the three finalists was nice, but to win it, it was very special.”

Maine Coach Rudy Keeling was out of town at a speaking engagement, but UM assistant Fred Hill said Smith’s work ethic was the key to his success both on the court and in the classroom.

“We’d be on the bus and he’d be reading something or he’d be up studying in his hotel room while we were on the road,” Hill said. “I think it’s a great and prestigious honor for somebody like Dean, who has really come on as an athlete. He is a true student-athlete.”

Back home in Dover-Foxcroft, where Smith graduated from Foxcroft Academy in 1986, people were beaming at the news.

“We’re just estatic,” said Howard Ryder, headmaster at Foxcroft Academy. “Dean is the best of the best. He always was and he always will be.

“There are three things about Dean,” Ryder continues. “First and foremost, Dean is a gentlemen. He’s a class guy and he comes from a great family. Secondly, he’s a scholar that is dedicated to everything that could make a difference. And thirdly, he’s an athlete. And, he always had those things in perspective.”

Smith’s career at Maine was one where he garnered many awards and accolades.

He was named to the GTE Academic All-American first team this spring, second team in 1988-89 and third team in 1987-88. He was also a three-time selection for the North Atlantic Conference’s All-Academic Team and was named to All-NAC first team in his final season.

Smith led the NAC in scoring as a senior, netting 19 points per game. He finished his career with 1,129 points – 10th on the Black Bears’ all-time scoring list.

Maine’s Smith named

top student-athlete

– from page 1

By John Nash Of the NEWS Staff

Dean Smith, the former University of Maine basketball player and GTE Academic All-American, has won the student-athlete’s version of the Heisman Trophy by being named recipient of the Walter Byers Award.

The award, named after the NCAA’s executive director emeritus, is presented annually to a male and female collegiate senior athlete excelling in academics.

Smith, who graduated from Maine in December after only seven semesters, posted a 3.864 cumulative grade-point average in electrical engineering. He is currently taking postgraduate courses at the Orono campus.

“Obviously, I’m pretty elated,” Smith said. “When you stop and realize how many student-athletes there are in the entire realm of college sports, it’s pretty special. It makes all those late nights worthwhile.”

“I think this is one of the nicest things that could have happened to an athlete at Maine,” said UM President Dr. Dale Lick. “Having the top academic athlete in the land at Maine, says a lot. It also talks a lot about the relationship between the two (academics and athletics) and how they blend together.”

Smith, a native of Guilford and the son of Jake and Glenda Smith, will receive the award later this spring. The NCAA was not sure of the date as of Wednesday.

Smith was one of three finalists for the award along with University of Southern California swimmer Ray Looze and University of Georgia basketball player Alex Kessler. On Monday, the three were in Chicago for their respective interviews before the winner was selected in the afternoon.

“It was a pretty intense interview,” the 6-foot-3 forward said. “We had a banquet on Sunday night and then on Monday morning they brought us in for the interviews. They went about a half an hour each and lasted until about 11:30 (a.m.) Later that afternoon, they brought us back and told us (who won.)”

Smith was one of 59 original applicants for the honor and he admits he was not sure what the Byers award was all about.

“I had no idea,” Smith said. “I didn’t realize that it went basically on the same guidelines as the Rhodes Scholarships. I didn’t know whthe same guidelines as the Rhodes Scholarships. I didn’t know what to expect. Just being one of the three finalists was nice, but to win it, it was very special.”

Maine Coach Rudy Keeling was out of town at a speaking engagement, but UM assistant Fred Hill said Smith’s work ethic was the key to his success both on the court and in the classroom.

“We’d be on the bus and he’d be reading something or he’d be up studying in his hotel room while we were on the road,” Hill said. “I think it’s a great and prestigious honor for somebody like Dean, who has really come on as an athlete. He is a true student-athlete.”

Back home in Dover-Foxcroft, where Smith graduated from Foxcroft Academy in 1986, people were beaming at the news.

“We’re just estatic,” said Howard Ryder, headmaster at Foxcroft Academy. “Dean is the best of the best. He always was and he always will be.

“There are three things about Dean,” Ryder continues. “First and foremost, Dean is a gentlemen. He’s a class guy and he comes from a great family. Secondly, he’s a scholar that is dedicated to everything that could make a difference. And thirdly, he’s an athlete. And, he always had those things in perspective.”

Smith’s career at Maine was one where he garnered many awards and accolades.

He was named to the GTE Academic All-American first team this spring, second team in 1988-89 and third team in 1987-88. He was also a three-time selection for the North Atlantic Conference’s All-Academic Team and was named to All-NAC first team in his final season.

Smith led the NAC in scoring as a senior, netting 19 points per game. He finished his career with 1,129 points – 10th on the Black Bears’ all-time scoring list.