Tulsa QB genuine in his respect for U.

FORT WORTH — University of Tulsa junior quarterback Paul Smith says he's looking forward to meeting University of Utah senior all-American defensive back Eric Weddle, a man who could foul up Smith's third postseason bowl game Saturday night at TCU's Amon G. Carter Stadium if Weddle has one of those dominating games for which he's known.

"I'm excited to play against him and excited to meet him because I respect him a lot as a player and as a person, from what I've read about him," Smith said Thursday following the Golden Hurricane's final real practice for the Armed Forces Bowl. Weddle and the 7-5 Utes meet Smith's 8-4 Hurricane on Saturday at 6 p.m.

Such a statement might seem like thousands of others that players utter about their opponents prior to playing them, trying to tiptoe around their real feelings so as not to stir the other team.

But Smith, already the No. 3 passer in Tulsa history, is a man of candor.

"I try to not be a fake in every aspect of my life. I think some of the guys will say I'm pretty transparent, so everybody knows my character and where my heart is," said Smith, a second-team academic all-American and devoted Christian who can't say no to the many offers he receives each week to speak or preach to elementary school children or church groups.

"He's not only a dynamic speaker, he's very genuine," said fifth-year Tulsa coach Steve Kragthorpe. "He's a guy that gets up there and tells his heart and lets people know what he feels and how he thinks and doesn't sugarcoat it. He's a guy that is going to give back because he's been given a lot in his football career."

Smith is in such demand year-round that his coaches have to help manage the number of appearances the guitar-playing young preacher makes during the season as he juggles academics, football and what may eventually become his life's work.

"We try to help him out a little bit and actually have to limit it a little bit during the football season because he's asked to speak at four or five different events each week," said Kragthorpe, who endorses Smith's activities. "He actually leads the music fellowship for our Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He does all the praise and worship, so he's busy there, and he goes to a lot of elementary schools and churches and travels really all over the state of Oklahoma.

"We do a little bit more of that with him in the offseason when he has a little bit more time, but literally he could speak four, five, six times a week if we'd let him."