Emmitt Smith’s son, E.J. Smith, has decided to play college football at Stanford and signed to play with the team on Wednesday. With the elder Smith playing college football at the University of Florida, many fans were wondering what he would have to say about it? When E.J. Smith signed his National Letter of Intent, Smith was asked about thoughts of his son not going to Florida. The Pro Football Hall of Famer said, E.J. has to choose his own path and not worry about pleasing his father. He also said he has to do what’s best for him when all is said and done.
Emmitt Smith just won National Signing Day. Everyone needs to listen to his message 🙌 pic.twitter.com/RbulI40UP8
— Athlete Swag (@AthleteSwag) December 18, 2019
Respect to the LEGENDARY @EmmittSmith22. I hope I’m the same way should my son follow in my footsteps playing basketball. But at the end of the day, it would be his journey cause I had mine
Emmitt Smith: My son has his own journey – via @ESPN App https://t.co/W8DOjkPwJw
— Emory Ogletree II (@THEMcGodiva) December 18, 2019
Props to Emmitt Smith for letting his son run his own race and enjoy his own journey into college….something you idiots don’t know anything about and these aren’t even your kids smh
— The 503/305 Podcast (@503305podcast) December 18, 2019
As a Dawg, I have always respected and admired the way Emmitt Smith handles himself. His Hall of Fame speech is still one of the best ever. His comments here about his son further cement my feelings. #ParentsFirst https://t.co/ujcHRV3247
— Kimbrough Pace (@KimbroughPace) December 18, 2019
That led to a number of fans showing their support for Smith for being a good role model. Twitter users believe more fathers need to be more like Emmitt and not put pressure on their children when it comes to making big decisions.
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“I’m going to take this hat, I’m going to wear this hat,” Emmitt Smith said of the blue Florida Gators hat. “I can wear the hat, he doesn’t have to wear this hat. His daddy went there, that doesn’t mean that my son has to go there. At the end of the day, my son has his own journey, and it is his journey, not my journey.
“For him to do the things that is best for him, is what we teach all of our children. To find what is best for you and go make it happen for yourself. I’m proud of him for standing up and being the man that he is, the man that he will continue to become, and I’m a Gator, he’s still a Gator because he’s in my family, and my wife is a Gator because she’s in our family. We’re still a family of Gators.”
E.J. Smith is a four-star recruit who is ranked the third-best all-purpose back in the country according to 247Sports. He chose Stanford over Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Ohio State and Nebraska.
