MOBILE, Ala. – University of South Alabama softball junior outfielder Bobbi Smith sat down with USAJaguars.com to discuss being one of the upper-classmen of the newcomer group, what area of her game she's hoping on improving and what her favorite meal is, among other topics.
 
Smith transferred to South Alabama after being an integral part of helping LSU-Eunice win back-to-back NJCAA II National Championships.  Last season, she started 54 games for the Lady Bengals where she batted .381 during her sophomore season.  Of her 59 hits, 18 were for extra bases including 12 doubles and 88 total bases.  She also recorded five home runs and drove in 27 runs, while scoring 56 runs of her own.  Smith was successful in 24 of her 25 steal attempts.  As a freshman, Smith was named to the NJCAA Championship all-tournament squad.
 
How would you describe yourself and your personality?
"I'm really out-going and out-spoken.  I'm very friendly and I like to make people laugh; that's what I really enjoy doing.  A lot of my friends describe me as the crazy one, not the bad type but the fun one.  I'm very loud.  I try not to be shy and try to be very friendly and make people comfortable where they can laugh."
 
Being one of the upper-classmen in this newcomer group, what kind of an impact do you hope to make on the team this season?
"I come from a program that knows how to win, and that's all we knew how to do at LSU-Eunice.  I hope I can bring that mentality here to where all we know how to do at South is win.  I don't want to know how to lose.  I want to win at the highest level and compete at the highest level."
 
What was the fall semester been like for you?
"It's was different.  I struggled a little bit being so far away from home as I'm now five hours from there.  I came from a really small town and here there's actually traffic.  One of the most difficult things for me was planning on leaving about 15-20 minutes prior to when I actually need to be there instead of just leaving about five minutes early.
 
"I really enjoyed my classes though; the teachers and everybody else here are really personable.  Even though it's a big campus, they are still that way and I enjoy that."
 
What do you feel is a strength that you bring to the team and why?
"I guess my attitude.  I usually have a pretty positive attitude.  I'm all about what's best for my team and my teammates.  I'm very encouraging to my teammates.  I want then to produce more than myself.  I really enjoy them performing well."
 
What is one area of your game that you are looking at improving in this season and why?
"I would say my hitting adjusting to the Division I level pitching.  The pitching at the JUCO level is a lot different and I want to get better at hitting at this level."
 
What type of player can fans expect to see out of the field?
"One who is very energetic and a loud player.  You're going to know that I'm out there because I usually don't ever shut up honestly.  My family will come to watch me play and I remember that one of the first times they came, they sat at the top of the bleachers and they could hear every-single word I said out in the outfield just like I was sitting right beside them in the bleachers."
 
What are you majoring in at South Alabama and what do you plan to do after graduation?
"I'm in international business right now.  I'm not really sure exactly what I want to do with that degree yet.  I have a few different options open to me, but I just really want to be able to have a job where I travel.  I like being able to go and meet new people and learn about new cultures.  Hopefully I can get paid to do that."
 
What is one interesting thing that Jaguar fans may not know about you?
"I'm obsessed with old rock music.  That's all I listen to."
 
What does it mean to you to be a Jaguar?
"To me it means being committed to something, always being prepared, having the right mind-set and knowing that being here is a privilege and not everybody gets this opportunity."
 
Do you have any pregame superstitions?
"I listen to the same song on repeat about 12 times before a game."
 
What's that song that you listen to?
"In One Ear" by Cage The Elephant.
 
What's your favorite meal?
"Probably sushi.  I eat a lot of sushi.  I try to eat it about two or three times a week; it's a really expensive habit."
 
What's the best advice you've ever been given and who gave it to you?
"My cousin gave it to me and she just told me 'You only have a small part of your life to play sports.  You think that it's so drawn out, but you really only have this short amount of tie and it's such a small part of your life, so enjoy it while you can.  Sometimes it gets hard, but just remember that this is really the only time you'll have to play it.  We're not like guys where there is a lot of opportunities for us to make a career out of it, so just enjoy it while you can.'"
 
What is your favorite memory that you have had so far playing softball?
"Winning two national championships, no doubt."
 
What's your favorite form of social media?
"Instagram.  I like to see what people are doing and I like the pictures."
 
I know you don't have a lot of it right now, but what do you like to do in your spare time?
"I really like to listen to music, and hang out with my friends and just be goofy and stupid."
 
What did you take away from being part of a national championship program at LSU-Eunice?
"Besides the mentality of just knowing how to win, it was just realizing that you're part of something that's so much bigger than you.  You always have a role on the team no matter what it is.  Every person on the team whether you're in the dugout or on the field has a role."
 
For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).
 
Join the Bullpen Club, the softball specific support club of the Jaguar Athletic Fund.  Members have access to purchase parking passes and receive Jaguar Softball gear.  All donations to the Bullpen Club go directly to support the South Alabama softball program.  For more information on how you can join visit:  jaguarathleticfund.com/bullpenclub.
 
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