As he and his family walked up to the facility Friday evening to celebrate the building’s success during the past decade, he couldn’t help but feel honored, yet overwhelmed at the same time.

“A lot has happened (since its opening),” Smith said. “I think the biggest thing is just being proud — proud of a project that started off and you look back 10 years, (and see) how successful it is, how much it’s grown, what it’s done for the kids. I’m really happy with everything going on.”

MSU administration, current and former athletes and family friends gathered just inside the Skandalaris Football Center on Friday before a dinner was provided for all.

“You look at the end results of the difference in academic progress of student-athletes from the beginning until now,” Athletics Director Mark Hollis said. “It was an opportunity for Steve (Smith) to step up and be accountable for something not only for student-athletes, but for his mom and doing the tribute for her.”

The 31,000-square foot building has two stories that serves more than 700 student-athletes at MSU — comprising a 210-seat auditorium, two study halls, 60 computers in two labs, structured study areas, a conference room, a student lounge, four classrooms, a “hall of fame” gallery and much more.

Hollis said it’s not only logical with everything inside of it but it’s symbolic as well, serving as a place to meet and put the student-athletes’ minds in a productive, educational environment.

“It’s just great a guy like Steve Smith can give back to the community and this whole university,” men’s basketball junior forward Raymar Morgan said. “It’s just a blessing for us to have this and this facility. I’m blessed to be here and be a part of this.”

Smith was highly influenced by his mother growing up, especially academically. Smith’s mother died of cancer in 1991 while he was in his rookie NBA season with the Miami Heat.

“I think she’d be smiling and she’d be proud,” he said.

“I think the gift was not about me, it’s not about me anymore. It’s about what the kids have done, what the support staff has done here, what Michigan State University and Michigan State’s community has done. You look at all the facilities, Skandalaris facility, and everything going up. I think Michigan State is about being great now.”

Smith said while other universities come to MSU to try and emulate a building like the Clara Bell Smith Student-Athlete Academic Center, no one will ever be the first.

“We set the standard, being the first ones to come up with this concept,” Smith said.