Off The Pitch: Hannah Smith
June 07, 2016 | Soccer
Starkville, Miss. – During the summer, HailState.com will interview select Mississippi State soccer players in an effort to learn more about their lives on and off the pitch. Rising junior Hannah Smith kicks off our list as we sit down with the Dallas native.
For more information on Smith or any of the Bulldog soccer team, follow the program on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook at "HailStateSOC."
Hannah Smith Q&A
Q: What differences are there from your hometown to Starkville?
A: "Texas is a lot bigger. I'm from the Dallas/Fort-Worth area, but I love Starkville as a college town. It's very family oriented, and all of the people here are really nice. One of the biggest things that attracted me to Mississippi State was how much at home I felt."
Q: Where are your favorite spots to go on campus?
A: "I love to just sit outside on campus, because it is so beautiful here. One of the my favorite things to do is to set up a hammock on one of the trees and relax or sit on the Drill Field with a blanket. Another place I like to hang out at is the Union, because I love the food there."
Q: What got you involved with soccer?
A: "I was just a really active kid growing up. My parents signed me up for basketball, gymnastics, dance and of course soccer; really anything they could. I was four when I started playing soccer and I fell in love with the sport after just the first game. I can remember throwing tantrums as a kid whenever games were cancelled or rained out. I just loved soccer and still do."
Q: Did you ever play soccer in the house?
A: "I did. I would kick the ball upstairs and let it roll back down. My parents were really nice about it, but one time I broke a glass picture. I kicked the ball up the stairs and it went way off course. I hit it and glass went everywhere. It was not good."
Q: Do your parents make it out to any of your games?
A: "Even though it's a nine-hour drive they still make it to some games. Now that my brother is the only one at home, and he likes coming to Starkville, the three of them will come. They all love Starkville."
Q: What is the mood like before games in the locker room?
A: "I always look forward to being in the locker room pregame. We usually play music loud and dance; it's always fun. You can tell how ready we are by how loud the music is in the locker room. We play it so loud sometimes that coach Aaron's (Gordon) desk will shake upstairs. He tells us that he knows if we are ready to play or not by how loud the music is."
Q: How has your time as a Bulldog been so far?
A: "I feel like I've grown so much as a player and a person here at MSU. I love my teammates and the coaching staff. It has been just a great experience from day one."
Q: What advice do you have for future soccer players?
A: "Keep working hard. I remember going to soccer games as a kid and thinking that was what I wanted to do one day. College athletes seem famous to you when you are little and I would always ask myself, 'is this even possible for me?' The biggest piece of advice I have is to believe that anything is possible and you can do it if you work hard and never give up."
Quick hitters
Favorite team to face: Ole Miss
Favorite moment from 2015: Beating Kentucky
Favorite thing to take on a road trip: Soccer ball
Favorite teammate: Jen Huckaby
Favorite pregame ritual: Eat a PB & J sandwich the night before every game
Favorite movie: Remember the Titans
Favorite food: Hamburgers + Pizza + Chicken
Biggest fear: Snakes
Biggest pet peeve: Negativity
One word teammates use to describe you: Competitive
