Over the course of my lifetime after growing up as an athlete, very few people have had the impact that coaches have. Today I’m going to salute a man that literally changed my life – a man who many hold with high regard not just as a coach, but as a person.
Back in 1979, Northwestern State head football coach A.L. Williams, and my recruiter, coach Al Miller, offered me the opportunity to play on the Division 1 level and get a college degree. Like most 18-year-old’s, you don’t always appreciate the opportunities you’re offered until later in life.
While I had several offers from other schools, there was just something different when I made my official visit to Northwestern. Right off the bat, the NSU Demon football players involved in my recruiting trip were great guys who really welcomed me as I felt right at home with both players and coaches.
Now understand, that when it comes to recruiting a player to any university, you’re going to see the best side of everyone involved as they will say and do anything to get a commitment from you. But there was something different about my visit to NSU; it felt comfortable and it felt like home.
Coach Williams is a Louisiana high school and college coaching legend and is also a former legendary running back for Louisiana Tech University. As a coach at Woodlawn High School in Shreveport, he coached some of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play the game like former Arkansas Razorback and Buffalo Bills QB Joe Ferguson, on the heels of former Louisiana Tech and Pittsburgh Steeler QB Terry Bradshaw.
Coach Williams, while at NSU, also groomed former USFL MVP (Michigan Panthers) and New Orleans Saints QB Bobby Hebert. I was truly proud to be a part of an era that many considered the greatest talent to ever play at Northwestern. That list starts with the Kansas City Chiefs running back Joe Delaney (1981 AFC Rookie of the Year, who died a hero two years later drowing trying to rescue three kids, one who survived). His track and football teammate was future Miami Dolphins All-Pro wide receiver Mark Duper. There was Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Victor Oatis and three-time All American and two-time Super Bowl champion Gary Reasons, the former New York Giants linebacker who is in the College Football Hall of Fame along with Joe.
There was a reason these guys came to Northwestern — to play for coach Williams! Coach did not put on a show when it came to recruiting players. He was honest and a man of great integrity who led by his actions. He was a man of great character and a tremendous judge of talent.
The one thing I remember most about playing under coach Williams was his dedication to family. Every week after practice, he would emphasize the importance of us calling our mom and dad and staying in touch with all family members.
They say behind every great man is an even greater woman and that was definitely the case for Coach Williams as his wife Sarah was the best team mom ever. Mrs. Sarah, as I called her, was such a sweet lady and treated all players as if they were the sons she never had.
She even gave my roommate and I a full-size roast one evening after we ran into her at the local grocery. We were actually looking for a good frozen pizza when Mrs. Sarah spotted us and said to follow her out to the house. Upon arrival, she proceeded to pull out of the oven a full-size roast; wrapped it in foil and said ‘enjoy’!
For two college kids, this was as close to a home-cooked meal as you could get! So, as we arrived back at the dorm, we had to hide the roast under a bunch of clothes in a laundry basket so we could get to our second floor room undetected. But that did not work well, as a bunch of hungry Demon football players followed the smell and raced up the stairs banging on our door. But no door was opened until we had our fill.
In today’s college athletics world, so many recruiters make promises they cannot keep. They tell players what they want to hear and flatter them with BS in order to get them to sign on the dotted line. Coach Williams was straight up with all his players. The only promise coach Williams made was giving you the opportunity; the opportunity to prove that you deserve to be in the starting lineup.
In 1979, Coach Williams took a chance on a young boy from East Texas and offered me that opportunity to play both college football and baseball while gaining an education and receiving my college degree. He helped to set me up for the rest of my life and there’s no way a person can ever repay that.
Coach Williams and I have stayed in touch over the years, and I still enjoy our phone calls. While he’s just one of many coaches who have had a huge impact on my life, A.L. Williams is the one who truly changed the course of my life and made me a proud NSU Demon.