Rugby team still undefeated with help from backs captain

By Allie Blood

Published Oct. 23, 2007

The men's rugby team has maintained its undefeated record this season with help from backs captain Scott Smith.

Smith is a junior finance and business major and a member of the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity. He has been playing rugby since his junior year at DeSmet Jesuit High School in St. Louis.

Smith began playing with friends during high school and played with MU's under-19 team the summer before his freshman year.

The team elected Smith as the backs captain this year, and he commands the back line in practice and is a leader during games.

"I'm more of a vocal leader on the field," Smith said.

Coach Matt Moore said he recognized Smith's leadership and commitment to the team as valuable resources.

"There's reacting to things and there's making things happen," Moore said. "Scott makes things happen and turns advantages into big opportunities on the field."

Smith said he enjoys the contact aspect of the sport. He also said that rugby is less of a time commitment than football. Although they practice three days a week, Smith also adheres to his own workout and nutrition plan. In addition to weight training four days a week, Smith created his own diet to supplement his active lifestyle.

"I eat six to eight times a day, a lot of chicken and complex carbs, lots of healthy food," Smith said.

Moore said Smith leads by example and that other team members look up to him. Senior Brian Bage said he especially recalled the 2005 Big 12 Championship.

Bage said it is tradition that when a player scores his first a-side try (or goal), he should run around the field naked. This tradition is called a "Zulu." Bage and Smith both scored their first a-side tries at the Big 12 Championship of 2005.

"We were at their club area, and suddenly some of the guys yelled out 'Zulu,' and had me and Scott go out there and strip down," Bage said.

Not only did the players run too far down the road, because they didn't know where to stop, but also when they returned the players had stolen their clothing.

"A lot of guys on the team haven't done it, but it's fun," Bage said. "It's just being part of a tradition, it's something out of the ordinary."

Smith said other memorable games included his first college game because it was in Forest Park in St. Louis while it was snowing.

"It was probably the worst conditions possible. I will never forget that game," Smith said.

This year, Smith said his favorite moment was beating Nebraska because they were a tough rival and a hard-fought win.

The Tigers are still undefeated. They beat Washington University in St. Louis on Oct. 13. Moore said the score was 46-7, but the official score has not been posted on the league Web site yet.

The win was not surprising to Smith, who said MU's speed and skill were superior to Washington University's.

"We did well with basic skills, fundamentals, controlling the ball and putting the pressure on them," Moore said.

The Tigers' next game is against Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Moore said the team is preparing by focusing on the basic skills and being mentally prepared.

"You never want to underestimate anybody," Moore said.