Torrold DeShaun "Rod" Smart (born January 9, 1977) is a former professional American football running back.
Smart first played a professional football season with the Las Vegas Outlaws of the original XFL, where he was known by the nickname "He Hate Me".
He then joined the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL) before signing with the Philadelphia Eagles, all within the same year (2001).
He ended his career at Western Kentucky ranked tenth all-time in school history with 2,305 rushing yards on 356 carries with 21 touchdowns.
[2] In the Spring of 2001, Smart joined the Las Vegas Outlaws of the XFL and adopted the nickname of "He Hate Me" which he wore on the back of his uniform.
[7] "He Hate Me" is the phrase Smart chose to place on the back of his Las Vegas Outlaws football jersey.
Smart explained the origin of the grammatically non-standard phrase in a January 30, 2004 article with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as, "Basically, my opponent is going to hate me.
The curious maxim also caught the eye of American audiences (as well as Smart's future Carolina Panthers teammate Jake Delhomme, who named one of his thoroughbreds, "She Hate Me").
[10] After the end of the XFL season Smart signed with the Edmonton Eskimos of the Canadian Football League (CFL).
He was promoted to the active roster on November 19, 2001, appeared in six regular season games, mainly on special teams, and rushed for six yards on two carries.
For the first time in a Panthers' uniform, he was utilized as a kick returner, in addition to his special teams coverage duties.
[2] He finished the Panthers' 2003 season ranked second with 14 special teams tackles and recorded his first career blocked punt.
He contributed to a Panthers' special teams coverage unit that ranked fifth in the NFL in opponents' kickoff return average.
lives in Charlotte, North Carolina and purportedly[weasel words] works as a high school guidance counselor.
Smart is a fan of 1970s funk and soul music bands such as Earth, Wind and Fire, Heatwave, and Parliament.
[3] His nickname growing up and in high school was "The Rocket" after Raghib Ismail of Notre Dame, because of his speed, running a 4.25 second 40-yard dash.
Smart's younger brother is Chris Rainey, former Lakeland High School standout running back and former National Football League player.