MADISON, Wis. — Carter Smith stepped up when yet another injury hit the University of Wisconsin’s quarterback room.
Smith entered the game in the first quarter after sophomore Danny O’Neil, who started his first game since Maryland on Sept. 20, left the Camp Randall Stadium field on a cart with a lower body injury. Coach Luke Fickell said before the game that fans “could see a little” of Smith, but the freshman from Fort Myers, Florida, ended up leading the Badgers’ offense the rest of the way in an eventual 13-10 win over No. 24 Washington.
“At first, seeing one of your boys go down like that, it definitely hurts a lot,” Smith said. “That first few minutes definitely was a pretty awful feeling. But when we got into the huddle, it kind of hit. Got a little bit of butterflies, to be honest, and looked everyone in the eye, and kind of calmed down, and everyone got to work.
“It sucked at first, obviously. No one wants that to happen, especially with someone you’re so close with. But then it (was) kind of just a magical moment, I guess is the way to put it, after.”
Smith’s dual-threat ability stood out on the ground, gaining 47 yards on 15 carries and the Badgers’ lone touchdown of the game. Here’s the full postgame interview with Smith. Stay tuned for more thoughts and takeaways from Badger Observer after the win by Wisconsin (3-6, 1-5 Big Ten) over Washington (6-3, 3-3).
