KENNER, La. -- Speaking publicly for the first time since her husband, Will Smith, was shot and killed on April 9, Racquel Smith gave an emotional and powerful speech Friday at his New Orleans Saints Hall of Fame induction ceremony.Racquel was also shot twice in the legs on the night her husband was killed after a heated argument that followed a traffic incident.On April 9, my worst fear came true when my husband was taken from me. I crumbled to my knees, literally. I knew it was only by Gods grace that I survived that night, said Racquel, who described the aftermath as unimaginable. I had to learn to walk again. I had severe nerve damage in my left leg and broke my femur bone. There were days when I couldnt get out of bed nor did I want to get out of bed. But I knew I had to be strong for my three beautiful kids. And thats when I felt Will the most, Racquel said.His strength, his determination, his commitment to being the best. Failure was never an option for my husband. ... Through my darkest days of my life, Will gave me so much. He instilled so much in me and he showed me how to be strong. And he always told me, Rocky, you can do this. Will, you will always be a part of me. And you always told me to shine my light for the world to see. Well here I am. Im shining my light on your behalf. ... But were here. You made it. You made it to the Saints Hall of Fame in your first year of eligibility. I know you are wearing that black and gold No. 91 in heaven. We celebrate you today and always. I love you Will. Congratulations baby. You did it again, and Im so proud of you.Smith, a former Pro Bowler and Super Bowl-winning defensive end who ranks fourth in Saints history with 67.5 career sacks, was unanimously elected into the Saints Hall of Fame by a media panel in his first year of eligibility -- weeks before his death. Racquel, who was flanked by their three children, William, Lisa and Wynter, said Will was so excited and proud when he got the call and the honor meant the world to him. She said in the past, she was always the one who would stand smiling behind Will at similar events but terrified to speak in front of crowds.But today, I am definitely his voice, Racquel said. And Im nervous. But for him, I would do anything.Racquel did not speak to the media after the ceremony or address any details of the shooting. The trial of Cardell Hayes, who is accused of shooting Smith, is scheduled for later this year. Longtime New Orleans Saints linebackers coach and assistant head coach Joe Vitt also spoke during the ceremony Friday, stressing how much Smith loved football, loved competition, loved his teammates and put the needs of his team before himself.And the only thing he loved more than that is his precious family, and thats the truth, Vitt said.Fridays luncheon was emotional from start to finish. This years two inductees both passed away earlier this year. Former Saints fullback/scout/color analyst Hokie Gajan, who died of cancer in , received the Joe Gemellis Fleur De Lis Award as a contributor.I have never known anyone who was truer to himself than Hokie Gajan -- in word, deed or wardrobe, said Gajans longtime broadcast partner Jim Henderson, who was choked up as he presented him. If he was your friend, you couldnt have had a truer one. If he was your teammate, you couldnt have had a tougher one. Wholesale MLB Jerseys .Y. -- Leading 3-0 with only 11:25 left, the Colorado Avalanche committed a seemingly meaningless penalty to give the New York Islanders a power play. Cheap Jerseys For Sale . PETERSBURG, Fla. http://www.wholesalecheapchinajerseys.net/ . R.J. Umberger scored twice to lead the Blue Jackets to a franchise-record for consecutive wins with a 5-3 victory Tuesday night over the Los Angeles Kings. Cheap Football Jerseys Wholesale . P.A. Parenteau scored early in the third period to help the Avs edge Toronto 2-1 on Tuesday night. Cory Sarich also scored for Colorado (3-0-0), which is off to its best ever start. Cheap NFL Jerseys China .5 seconds to play in the game, Kevin Love never stopped believing that they would come out of there with a win. Opening weekend left no doubt: NCAA volleyball is back. Well start off with a very noteworthy upset, and then work our way through other highlights of the first weekend of play.1. Tar Heel triumphThese things just dont happen to Penn State in volleyball. The Nittany Lions very rarely lose at home, and almost never to a non-conference opponent. They also dont let matches get away when theyve all but got a victory nailed down.But thats what makes sports endlessly fascinating, right? Seven-time NCAA champion Penn State was on the verge of closing out North Carolina in four sets Saturday. But trailing 23-18, the Tar Heels rallied for seven consecutive points to take the set. Then they won the fifth set 15-9, and won the Penn State Classic. Talk about a trophy that never expected to take an airplane trip.How unusual was this? It was just the 15th time -- ever -- that a non-conference volleyball opponent has won at Penn States Rec Hall. The Nittany Lions are now 316-15 in non-league matches there, and 580-34 overall.If anyone knew the historical significance, it was Tar Heels coach Joe Sagula, in his 27th year at North Carolina.This is going to be one that we will remember for a long time, Sagula said.The Tar Heels, whove won 12 ACC titles (most recently in 2014), were picked to win the league this year. Theyve consistently been a good program, albeit one with a losing overall record, 13-17, in the NCAA tournament. They had a tough end to last season, losing at home to Creighton in the NCAAs second round.But with four starters and their libero back, they had high hopes this season, and it couldnt have begun any better. North Carolina got 18 kills from sophomore Taylor Leath, who is from the State College, Pennsylvania, area and grew up watching the Nittany Lions. (By the way, shes also one of four players on the Tar Heels roster with the first name of Taylor. They must use nicknames a lot with this squad.).UNC freshman Julia Scoles made a great college debut, winning tournament MVP honors by compiling 30 kills and 33 digs in the Tar Heels three victories in State College. They swept Georgia Southern and West Virginia in their first two matches. North Carolina is now No. 12 in the American Volleyball Coaches Association poll, with Penn State at No. 13.Next up for North Carolina? Just a friendly neighborhood matchup Thursday with archrival Duke (6:30 p.m. ET, Watch ESPN.)The loss will no doubt motivate Penn State, which faces Colorado and Stanford this weekend in the Big Ten/Pac-12 Challenge in Boulder, Colorado..dddddddddddd.2. USC goes 0-3Speaking of the Pac-12, traditional conference power Southern Cal had a very rough start. The Trojans, who were tied for seventh with Washington in the preseason poll, lost to Marquette, Santa Clara and UC Irvine at home in the Galen Center. That sent the Trojans plummeting out of the this weeks rankings.USC lost national player of the year Samantha Bricio to graduation, so it was expected there would be some growing pains. But its doubtful anyone figured USC would open like this. The Trojans will try to get on track with another tournament at home this weekend, but the competition is challenging. They take on No. 23 Kentucky, Northern Iowa, and No. 22 Creighton.3. Huskers solidify No. 1In the VERT Challenge in Eugene, Oregon, last weekend, top-ranked Nebraska opened with a 3-1 victory against Florida and a sweep of Texas. Nebraska-Texas was a rematch of last seasons NCAA final and a battle of No. 1 vs. No. 2. And it wasnt very close. The Huskers prevailed 25-15, 25-16, 25-21, led by a combined 21 kills from the Rolfzen twins, Kadie and Amber.However, Texas did start with a 3-1 victory against Oregon. The Longhorns lost three key seniors from last year, and they wont have middle blocker Chiaka Ogbogu, who is taking the season off to focus on academics. It may take a little while for Texas, now ranked No. 3, to really develop its chemistry.4. Hawaii looking to youngstersHawaii, which fell from No. 6 to No. 15, is still without All-American senior star Nikki Taylor, who is out indefinitely with an elbow injury. The Rainbow Wahine lost their opening matches to visiting Wisconsin and Kansas State, and then trailed Arizona 2-0. But behind sophomore outside hitter McKenna Granatos career-high 33 kills, Hawaii rallied to win 3-2. And perhaps more unusual than North Carolina having four Taylors is Hawaii having two McKennas. The other is freshman defensive specialist McKenna Ross.5. Keep an eye on ... WisconsinThe Badgers moved up to No. 2 in the rankings after three victories in Hawaiis tournament, and the rest of their non-conference schedule is also extremely challenging. Friday, theyll take on San Diego (which beat Stanford last Friday). Then Wisconsin also has matches on the road against North Carolina, Louisville, Texas A&M and Texas before starting the grind of Big Ten play. Nobodys going to question the Badgers strength of schedule, thats for sure. ' ' '