From a football standpoint, it would be difficult to find a guy who knows Doug Nussmeier better than John L. Smith.

Nussmeier sought the advice of Smith when contemplating the job he would ultimately accept.

It was Smith, then the defensive coordinator at Washington State, who targeted Nussmeier, a former prep standout at Lake Oswego (Ore.)-Lakridge High School, as a quarterback prospect back in 1987.

After coaching Nussmeier for four seasons at Idaho, where the southpaw set several school and FCS marks on his way to capturing the Walter Payton Award in 1993, Smith would later hire Nussmeier as quarterbacks coach at Michigan State. While at MSU from 2003-2005, Nussmeier served on a staff that included future UA assistants Jim McElwain and Jeff Stoutland.

TRips recently caught up with Smith, who, after spending the past three years on Bobby Petrino's staff at Arkansas, is settling in as head coach at his alma mater, Weber State. During our conversation, we touched on a variety of topics, including Smith's role as a mentor during Nussmeier's candidacy to replace McElwain at Alabama.

"We've been very close for a long time and I thought it was a sign of respect that he asked me what I thought about the opportunity (at Alabama)," Smith said. "I tried to lay out all the positives and negatives of (Alabama and Washington). We talked about it and he made the decision to go to Alabama."

According to Smith, the decision was based more on family than football. Nussmeier and his wife, Christi, are parents to two sons and a daughter who were comfortable in their Seattle surroundings.

"Anytime your family is somewhere and is established, unless it's clearly in the best interest of your family, it's difficult to uproot your family," Smith said. "I think as they looked at it as a family, the scales weighed heavily toward Alabama."

Here are some additional thoughts from Smith on his prized pupil:

Smith's initial impressions of Nussmeier

"The story I like to tell about Doug has to do when I was recruiting him while I was at Washington State. I saw him on film and thought, dang, he can throw it, even if he does throw it with the wrong arm."

"But as I'm watching the film, this guy doesn't play quarterback until late in games. I thought maybe he was getting disciplined or something, but he's throwing these darts."

"So I went over to Oregon to watch one of his high school games at the old Portland baseball stadium (formerly known as Civic Stadium). I told Doug's coach I had come to see his quarterback and he pointed to the this little sawed-off guy who was right handed. I said, 'No, I want to see other guy.' The coach points down to the other end of the sideline where the defense is and says, 'He's down there. He's our free safety.' Turned out, Doug was just a junior and was his team's No. 2 (quarterback) that season. The next year I got the Idaho job and he was one of the first guys we offered."

"The best thing about Doug as a player was that he was a competitor. I went and watched him play basketball in high school and he was the guy diving on the floor for loose balls and competing."

Smith on Nussmeier as a coach

"As a coach, I see Doug as a relater. That's what coaching and teaching is about: being able to relate to players and get the most of out your guys. Now, he's not afraid to jump up and down and get on them. He's been taught that you've got to be able to kick them in the butt but you've also got to hug them."

Smith on how Nusmeier's background will fit with UA's offensive philosophy

"I think he's going to have to temper (the passing game) a little bit and become more of a run the football first and throw when need be guy. A lot of times, to run the ball, he's had to be more of a throw the football guy coming into games."

"Alabama, without a doubt, has some of the best athletes in college football, so the need to throw the ball coming in won't be there as much and every coach would love to be in that situation. He was taught that you have to run the football to win, whether it be at the beginning of the game or the end. From day one, he's understood that there comes a point where you have to run the ball effectively."