Large Body Is Contained Inside a Small Residence

“You blink, you miss my house.”

So says senior strong safety Tim Smith of Stanford to people asking for directions to the family home in Coalinga.

“It’s on I-5 between San Francisco and Los Angeles,” he said. “The only way anyone knows where it is, I tell them 1/8the turnoff 3/8 is the biggest lot of cows I think anyone has ever seen. It’s the only reference point to let people know where it is.”

Smith should be in the John Mellencamp video for the song, “Small Town.”

He has milked cows, rides horses and wears a cowboy hat before and after Stanford games. He’s friendly, helpful and a hard worker.

“Tim will talk to anybody,” linebacker Marc Stockbauer said. “He’ll talk your ear off if you let him. He always gives 100% and never takes a play off.”

Smith, 6 feet 4 and 230 pounds, had six interceptions in 11 games this season, three against Arizona State. He’s tied for second all-time at Stanford with 16 interceptions.

He has a knack for finding the ball.

“I guess it’s instincts,” he said.

Smith missed practice Tuesday because of stomach flu, but will be a key figure Saturday in the Cardinal’s bid to upset Wisconsin and Heisman Trophy winner Ron Dayne.

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Another day, another rumor of a school interested in luring Coach Tyrone Willingham of Stanford back home.

On Tuesday, the Raleigh (N.C.) News & Observer reported that North Carolina State Athletic Director Les Robinson has discussed the Wolfpack’s vacant coaching position with Willingham, a North Carolina native.

The newspaper cited a source close to the search committee as saying that Robinson was in Southern California over the weekend and talked to Willingham about the job.

Willingham has declined comment. Willingham has insisted he plans to return to Stanford and has set up the biggest and most important recruiting weekend for the Cardinal Jan. 7-8.

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Willingham wants his players to enjoy themselves this week.

“They understand there are times to have fun, and we push and encourage them to do so,” he said. “And then there are times to batten down the hatches.”