When the light catches Patrick Smith’s eyes at just the right angle, it’s like looking into sparkling crystal — tinted with the softest shade of sky blue. But, it’s less about what his eyes look like and more about what they are looking at.

Often times, Smith’s eyes give people the first insight to who he is. They realize what he is observing, and he encourages them to look, too.

Smith can be spotted all around the Miss-Lou, showing support for many local schools. After all, his favorite thing to see is a game — any game.

And when he is watching a game, Smith’s eyes do much more speaking than seeing.

“It doesn’t matter whether its little kids or big kids,” Smith’s father Pat Smith said. “He just loves it.”

When Patrick was born, Pat said, doctors found no apparent disabilities. As he got older, his motor and cognitive skills became weaker, Pat said.

Patrick now uses a wheelchair to stay mobile.

“He doesn’t have much balance, but he can still walk a little bit,” Pat said. “Other people could see it more than me and (my wife) Cindy could. We always thought he was doing the best he can. As he got a little older, we saw it.”

Throughout the years, as Patrick visited many doctors, Pat and Cindy were never given any answers.

“We took him to a doctor from when he was born to when he was 15, but he was never diagnosed with anything. We wanted to take him in case there was something they could do for him to help him,” Pat said. “Patrick is just Patrick.”

These days, Pat said much of his son’s time is spent between cheering on Vidalia — where Patrick graduated in 2007 — Adams County Christian School, Cathedral and Trinity.

Vidalia football coach Dee Faircloth said he always makes an effort to chat with Patrick after games.

“He is one of our biggest fans,” he said. “I look up in the rain or cold weather and he’d be there. He is a part of the Viking family and he always will be.

“He will make you feel good if you show him that you care about him. I love the guy.”

Despite the ongoing support, his son’s love for sports originated at a much earlier age, Pat said.

Patrick, now 31, played youth baseball until the age of 7 or 8, Pat said.

“We knew the older he got, it would be more competitive,” he said. “He would give anything to be out there playing.”

Pat also said a love for all sports runs in the family.

“I played tackle and punted (at ACCS),” he said. “My daddy loves ball games, and Cindy’s daddy played football. We watched my nephews play, too.”

Among the many sports Patrick can be found watching, football and baseball are most common.

Just as a first pitch is thrown or a football flies downfield on a kickoff, that’s when Patrick’s eyes do the talking.

“He loves to get around people, and they can see the enjoyment of the game through him,” Pat said.

Pat also said his son never misses a beat.

“He probably sees more than what I do when I look out there. There was a time we were at a baseball game and the kid behind second base was missing, and Patrick wanted to know where he was at,” he said. “I wasn’t even paying attention, but Patrick knew that kid wasn’t where he was supposed to be.”

When it comes to technicalities, Patrick doesn’t have a favorite part about a game, rather a least favorite.

“The worst thing for him is when a game comes to an end,” Pat said. “If I don’t take him I feel guilty.

“He’s a joy. People tell me that Patrick is lucky to have a daddy like me, but I know I am lucky to have a son like him.”