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33 Smith says the Hawkeyes were excited and prepared for the 1991 Rose Bowl against Washington. e way the game unfolded -- Iowa fell behind 33-7 at the half -- was fuel for the 1991 season. "We were fired up and when we walked out of the tunnel we were ready to play," said Smith. "We just started out slow. at Rose Bowl was a game that changed our next season. We knew we weren't going to let anybody jump on us like that." e Hawkeyes rolled to a 3-0 start during the 1991 season before suffering a home setback to Michigan. Iowa rebounded to win its final seven games to finish 10-1 to earn a berth in the Holiday Bowl against Brigham Young and Heisman Trophy winning quarterback Ty Detmer Smith anchored an Iowa defense that allowed 14.9 points per game. He was the disrupter and had a season for the ages. Smith set an Iowa and Big Ten record with 18 sacks and finished with 77 tackles, including 22 tackles for loss, to earn consensus All-America honors. He was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. "What helped me is our linebackers, safeties, and defensive linemen were so good," said Smith, whose single-season sack total ranks third all-time in Big Ten history. "Coach Brashier and coach Fry came up with that defense my sophomore year to allow us to attack people with our speed. It was designed to attack people and be fast. My strength was I was fast. "My coaches deserve all the credit for my success and my teammates. It was nothing I did that was special, I was a part of a special team." Smith's final game in San Diego was gut wrenching, as Smith suffered a first-half knee injury that ended his Hawkeye career. "I wish I could have finished that game," he said. "John Hartlieb did a great job in my absence, but I wanted to be out there with him. Not being out there was the worst feeling. I tore my knee up and it had pain, but my heart was tore up. It felt like I let people down." Following his Iowa career, Smith had professional stints in the National Football League with the 49ers, Browns, Lions, Chiefs, and Packers. His football career ended with the World League Rhein in 1994. "My destiny was a great destiny," said Smith. "I had the best coaches and team in college. When I first got hurt, it was, 'Whoa me.' When I got older, it was the best thing for me. "I wouldn't change it for the world, my five years at Iowa. I wish I didn't get hurt in the Holiday Bowl, but I am thankful I graduated from Iowa, I am thankful I had the coaches and teammates I had, and I am thankful for all the people I met at Iowa." Smith is excited to return to Iowa City for the induction ceremony because it is an opportunity to show his appreciation to everyone who aided in his journey. "e biggest thing about me being in the Hall of Fame is not that they say I am good enough to be in the Hall of Fame, it's the fact I get to tell people thank you," said Smith. "Without all these people, I wouldn't be where I am or achieve what I achieved. "I can't beat on my chest because it's too many people who protected me and showed me the way to becoming a winner. ere are too many people at Iowa and in New Jersey who showed me how to become what I became." Smith is a branch manager with J.P. Morgan Chase in the Dallas-Fort Worth market. He and his wife, Laura Flores, have three children -- Brisa, Isreal, and Ismael.