Colton High Alum and NFL Player Jimmy Smith Brings Golden Football to Colton High School

Colton High School alumnus Jimmy Smith, cornerback with the Baltimore Ravens football team, returned home Tuesday to bring a Super Bowl golden football to his alma mater. During a special ceremony in the Colton High Whitmer Auditorium, Smith signed and presented the football to the school and was lauded for his achievements both on the field and off. Speakers included Principal Joda Murphy, Assistant Principal Brian Pope, Colton Joint Unified School District Board of Education President Patt Haro, and Smith’s former Football Coach Harold Strauss. Strauss accepted the football on behalf of CHS. “It’s an honor to give this football to Colton High School,” Smith said before presenting the football to Strauss. “I’ll always have pride for where I’m from.” Strauss praised Smith for going after his dream and not stopping until he attained it. “You worked hard to achieve your goals and dreams and now you are living those dreams,” he said. “Keep living the dream. We’re behind you.” Also in attendance at the event were Smith’s friends, family, and community supporters as well as members of the Colton High School football team. Smith graduated from Colton High in 2006. He went on to college at the University of Colorado at Boulder, then was drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 2011. Smith played in Super Bowl XLVII for the Ravens, who bested the San Francisco 49ers for the Super Bowl championship that year. Smith’s individual efforts in the final minutes of the game helped the Ravens to win. The golden footballs are part of the celebration of the Super Bowl’s High School Honor Roll. In honor of the Super Bowl’s 50th anniversary this year, NFL players who participated in a Super Bowl are given golden footballs to present to their high schools. More than 2,000 schools are being honored in this program.