Published: 12:34 AM, Sat Feb 06, 2010
E.E. Smith alumni Aaron Curry shoots for the moon
By Earl Vaughan Jr.
Scholastic sports editor
There was a time when former E.E. Smith football coach Milton Butts was ready to give up on a young sophomore named Aaron Curry.
Then one of his assistants, Ernest King, begged Butts to let him work with Curry.
Whatever transpired on the football field between those two should be bottled and sold to coaches nationwide, for few players turn out with as big a success story as Curry.
The 2004 graduate returned to E.E. Smith High School on Friday to a gym packed with students, family and friends who gathered to watch Curry's No. 3 Golden Bull football jersey be permanently retired.
Curry just completed his rookie season with the Seattle Seahawks, where he broke into the starting lineup after being drafted No. 4 overall in the 2009 NFL Draft.
The idea to honor Curry was hatched a few weeks ago by John Smith, who recently took over as athletic director at the high school. Smith had more than honoring Curry in mind.
"We're doing it for the kids, to show he's a regular person, just like they are,'' Smith said. "He sat in the same seats, had the same teachers, did the same kind of things when we were in high school. But he grew, and as he continued to grow and follow his dream, he ended up where he is today.''
Smith said Curry's motto is work hard, play hard and perform. "If you do those three things, it's almost like shooting for the moon,'' Smith said. "You might miss the moon, but you'll land among the stars.''
Coming a long way
Butts admitted that when Curry was going through his trials as a freshman and sophomore at E.E. Smith, he never envisioned a day like Friday where students cheered and the band played to honor Curry's achievements.
"He's come such a long way,'' Butts said. "You never realize they are going to get to this level. You saw his maturity growing each year. He just grew up. Aaron made everybody else play better by what he did, by his work ethic, enthusiasm and passion for the game.
"Same thing happened at Wake Forest, and I expect the same thing will eventually happen in Seattle.''
Curry was presented with two proclamations during the program, one from the Cumberland County Board of Commissioners and one from Fayetteville Mayor Tony Chavonne.
City Councilman Robert Massey, an E.E. Smith graduate, presented Curry the mayor's proclamation.
Massey said that since E.E. Smith opened its doors in 1927, the school has produced graduates that have made an impact around the world."Every once in a while you have people coming through here who understand the value of hard work, tenacity, leadership and being born to serve,'' Massey said. "Mr. Curry is one of those unique individuals who has come through and has worked diligently to arrive at his dream. His dream impacts the entire city of Fayetteville and Cumberland County.''
Curry said he remained a positive thinker during his early years at E.E. Smith. And the confidence that coaches Butts and King showed in him helped lift him to a higher level of performance.
"This is an amazing feeling to walk these halls again, and to know that I'm honored as one of the better players to come through here,'' Curry said. "I'm committed to giving back to this school and doing whatever it takes to get E.E. Smith back to its winning standards.''
Curry also wants to get back to a winning performance with the Seahawks. He was reasonably pleased with his rookie season but said it wasn't his best football.
After just one year in the NFL, Curry will have to adjust to a coaching change. The Seahawks fired Jim Mora and replaced him with highly successful University of Southern California coach Pete Carroll.
Curry already has sat to talk with Carroll and with his new position coach, Ken Norton Jr. Curry said he's excited about next season.
"They are talking about doing some of the same things, adding in some different stuff,'' Curry said. "We'll do whatever it takes to be successful. That's what the NFL is about, winning.''
Curry said his only goal for next year is getting back to the tenacious way he used to play football.
"I started out like a house on fire, being the dominant player I wanted to be,'' he said. "I kind of hit a slide after the bye week.''
Next season, he plans to start shooting for the moon again. The stars need to be on the lookout, as well.
Scholastic sports editor Earl Vaughan Jr. can be reached at vaughane@fayobserver.com or 486-3519.