Height-challenged NCAA love story
- 1/9
When they are seated side-by-side, you'd never guess how differently these two see the world. But when they stand up...
Special to Yahoo! Sports - 2/9
There's just a small height difference. "He's 6'11" and I'm 5'1." All [Andrew's] friends call me 'Dora' because I'm so small like 'Dora the Explorer,'" Stage told Yahoo!
Special to Yahoo! Sports - 3/9
The high school sweethearts have been together four years now, but he was almost as tall when they first met. "He's only grown an inch since then. It's always been a significant difference," she said.
Special to Yahoo! Sports - 4/9
The couple doesn't let it get to them. "It was always the big joke in high school, but he loves how short I am," says Stage, 21.
Special to Yahoo! Sports - 5/9
Smith takes her dancing, even if he needs to take a knee to make it work.
Special to Yahoo! Sports - 6/9
Or there are other ways to even things out.
Special to Yahoo! Sports - 7/9
The "goober" couple (pictured here at their 2009 prom) clearly make each other laugh. And before his romantic proposal, he stashed the ring where she wouldn't find it. "He hid the ring on top of the kitchen cabinet where I couldn't reach," she said.
Special to Yahoo! Sports - 8/9
When he proposed, he surprised her on her birthday. He sent her to look for a present in her room while he got the ring. When she came back out, "he was on one knee in the living room," says Stage.
Special to Yahoo! Sports - 9/9
When they are seated side-by-side, you'd never guess how differently these two see the world. But when they stand up...
Special to Yahoo! Sports
Butler center Andrew Smith and his fiancée Samantha (Sam) Stage are earning a reputation as the "heart-meltingly cute couple of the NCAA." It's not hard to understand why.
Y! Sports: Complete NCAA tournament coverage | Bracket | Watch: Memorable Moments | Blog | More video