[7/15/03] Chandler Smith lived the life of a renegade, traveling from league to league in hopes of starring in the NFL one day. Now, he proudly wears the jersey of one as an Ottawa Renegade in the Canadian Football League.

Two weeks ago, the former St. Aloysius standout joined the Renegades following their second regular season game upon the injury to veteran linebacker, and fellow Mississippian, Gerald Vaughn of Ole Miss.

In his CFL debut, Smith registered four tackles and one pass deflection at linebacker in a 32-12 loss to Calgary.

Smith said he’s enjoying playing in Ottawa so far and the organization has been very open and friendly to him.

“Everything’s really nice here,” he said. “Canada’s a good place. They’re nice, laid-back people.”

The biggest problems he’s encountered so far are the small differences in the Canadian style of football.

In the CFL, both the offense and defense feature 12 players on the field, compared to 11 in American football. Each series features three downs instead of four on a 110-yard field.

If that’s not confusing enough, anyone on offense can be in motion at any time during the play.

“With all the receivers motioning at the same time, it gave me a lot of trouble,” Smith said. “But now I’ve adjusted to it.”

Adjusting has become a way of life for the nomadic Smith.

In his senior season at St. Aloysius, Smith ran for 976 yards and 15 touchdowns while playing both quarterback and safety.

The next year, Smith earned a spot on Southern Miss’ football squad as a walk-on. He quickly became an impact player with a touchdown return on a blocked punt against Louisville during his redshirt freshman season in 1995. Stuck behind Golden Eagle star Perry Phenix, Smith wasn’t a starter at free safety until his senior season.

After college, he joined the New Orleans Thunder of the Regional Football League in the summer of 1999, but the league folded after only a few games.

Later that year, Smith had a life-changing experience.

While driving his SUV, he fell asleep at the wheel with the cruise control set at 75 mph. He crashed into another car and flipped his vehicle twice.

He suffered broken bones in his hand and a broken collarbone. At the time of the accident, Smith was scheduled to work out with the NFL’s Buffalo Bills.

“My life basically turned around after that,” Smith said. “I became a Christian and gave my life to God because of His grace on me.

“He spared me.”

Along with workouts and practice, prayer became a regular part of Smith’s life.

He joined the Mississippi Firedogs of the National Indoor Football League in 2000 and helped lead the Gulf Coast team to a leaguechampionship.

In March of 2001, Smith got his chance to shine during a set of NFL tryouts in Hattiesburg.

He prayed the night before that he could run a 4.3-second 40-yard dash something he had never done before to impress the scouts and make a team.

The next day, he ran a 4.33 and was the only player at the camp to do so. Tom Coughlin, head coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars, was impressed and asked Smith to fly to Jacksonville for a physical the next day.

Soon after, Smith signed with the team and began training.

“I was a little starstruck in the weight room with guys like Fred Taylor, Mark Brunell and Hardy Nickerson,” Smith said.

The Jaguars changed Smith’s position from safety to cornerback when he joined them during the preseason.

“I was a little slow at first and took time to adjust,” he said. “I learned how fast the NFL was. It’s full speed all the time, no taking plays off.”

Smith made it all the way to the final cut before Coughlin informed him the team couldn’t keep him.

Smith regrouped and signed an agent to prepare for the next season.

He had tryouts with both the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins in December 2001. Both teams showed interest, but Smith chose to join the Redskins with hopes of learning from star corners Darrell Green and Champ Bailey, as well as famed defensive coordinator Marvin Lewis.

The Redskins assigned Smith to play in NFL Europe for the Rhein Fire in March 2002, and he helped his team make it to the World Bowl.

Coming back to the NFL during the preseason, Smith again found himself on the verge of making the team, but he missed the final cut again.

“I just thanked them for giving me the chance,” he said. “But if it ever happens again, I’d like to ask, Why? What did I do wrong?'”

Smith found himself at a crossroads.

The Renegades had expressed interest in him, but he had to choose between the CFL and another season in NFL Europe.

Again he turned to prayer.

“I was praying for one door to close so I wouldn’t have to make the decision,” he said.

The door soon shut on NFL Europe when Smith’s name wasn’t selected in the annual draft, opening the door to Canada.

“It was the big unknown and out of the country,” Smith said. “But it’s been very good. It’s a lovely country and I have no complaints.”

After helping Southern Miss to a Conference USA title, the Firedogs to an NIFL title and the Fire to the World Bowl, Smith is hoping to help the Renegades in their quest for the CFL title.

“I think we have a real legitimate chance to win the Grey Cup,” Smith said. “We have tons of fans here, and I just want to make them happy.”

Smith has some aspirations to join the NFL again, but he would just as soon settle down in Ottawa.

“My focus is not to go back,” he said. “There would have to be more than just an opportunity. I like the CFL and I’m very happy here.

“I just want to be the best football player I can be and be a spiritual person.”