Potential Nebraska Transfer Pulled Over By State Trooper, Let Off With 15-Minute Talking-To About How Great The Huskers Are

Pat Smith has spent three seasons kicking for Western Illinois, but he's been weighing a transfer for his senior year. Last weekend he drove to Nebraska to visit campus, but as he tells the Quincy Herald-Whig, he was pulled over by a state trooper soon after crossing the border.

Asked where he was headed, Smith explained he was exploring the possibility of transferring from Western Illinois University and making this his official visit to the Big Ten Conference school.

"He took my insurance card and went back to his car," said Smith, a kicker and punter who recently completed his junior season at WIU as one of 10 finalists for the Fred Mitchell Outstanding Place-Kicker Award. "He then waved me back to his car. We spent about 15 minutes talking about the Huskers."

Smith then walked away with a written warning and an idea of what the rest of the visit would be like.

"It made an impression," Smith said.

It's not clear if Smith was pulled over for speeding or 30 pounds of weed in his trunk or just to fill a monthly quota. But whatever the trooper said, it worked: Smith informed WIU yesterday that he'll be transferring to Nebraska in the fall.

[ Herald-Whig]