COLUMBUS, Ohio - Troy Smith is something of a legend among the Buckeye faithful.

Listing off Smith's accomplishments during his time with the Buckeyes makes it pretty clear why he is held in such high regard in Columbus. Ohio State Athletics Hall of Famer, 2006 Heisman Trophy Winner, 2006 Fiesta Bowl MVP, leader of National Championship runners-up in 2006-07, the list goes on and on.

Perhaps though his greatest accomplishment in the eyes of fans though is his impeccable record against Michigan. In three starts against the Wolverines, Smith was 3-0, including a comeback win in Ann Arbor, Mich., his junior year and the fabled No. 1 against No. 2 matchup of the 2006 season.

On Saturday when Ohio State takes on Michigan at Ohio Stadium, Smith's legend as a Buckeye will grow even larger, as his No. 10 will be enshrined at the Horseshoe. Fitting that it comes against the team he became so famous for beating.

"I'll be swirling with emotion because everybody who had a chance to help me, to push me to embark on this illustrious career I had here will be there and a chance for me to relish in the moment," Smith said to the media Monday about his mindset when he gets enshrined.

With his enshrinement, Smith will become the eighth Buckeye to receive the honor. Former Heisman winners, Les Horvath, Vic Janowicz, Howard "Hopalong" Cassady, Archie Griffin and Eddie George are all enshrined, along with Chic Harley and Bill Willis.

In a statement after the announcement, Smith said he couldn't have pictured joining these Buckeye greats when he was first starting at Ohio State.

""I never once in my first few years at Ohio State imagined something like this," Smith said. "But as the potential for this to happen came closer and closer, the thought of it happening became bone chilling."

Although Smith's career was marked by the highs, it wasn't without its fair shares of lows. At the end of the 2004 season, following his first win against Michigan, Smith was suspended for two games for accepting $500 from a booster.

Smith said his time away from the team, because of a decision he made, was incredibly tough on him and that it motivated him to become a better person and a better player.

"At that time a young guy not having a total understanding of who I was made a bad mistake, a bad decision," Smith said. "I was shown from the staff, my peers, from the university was all the motivation for me to make it and be a better person next time around.

"To be in solitude and go without is pretty bleak. When I was taken away from my brothers it hurt. Down to the core."

Despite how that incident in 2004 played out, there is perhaps nothing that shaped Smith's time at Ohio State more than his relationship with former head coach Jim Tressel.

"When I came in I was a snotty nosed kid who thought the world belonged to him just because I was who I was and I got a stern relationship and teachings from a man who, without him I wouldn't be here talking to you now," Smith said. "And that would be Jim Tressel. He taught me about life, about what it meant to be a man. Taught me what it meant to understand the decision you make, shape you and everybody around you. We talked about humility and putting people first."

That emotion, that friendship, that connection between two of the Buckeyes modern greats was on display for Smith's 2006 senior day, the battle of unbeatens against Michigan.

Smith said that final game at Ohio Stadium was difficult because he knew it was one of the last times he would get to be coached by Tressel.

"Very emotional. Jim Tressel is like my dad. Knowing that would be my last time on the field with my dad, it was tough. You really don't understand what you mean to a family, to a person, to people that you mentor until you become a father," Smith said. "Now that I am a father, I can totally understand why him weeping at the time led to me (becoming) a waterfall. Once I saw one tear come from his eyes, it really made sense to what, back in 2002, when we sat at the meeting in front my my mother, (Ted) Ginn Sr., and Mel Tucker and said. 'I will be there for you son. We will jump on the sword for your son. You don't have to worry about a thing Mrs. Smith, we have him.'"

Click Here to view this Link.

[rl]