He would have been a redshirt soph at Miami this year. He finished high school in 2004, so he should be eligible for the 2007 NFL draft.
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Mississippi junior college makes prudent reversal on Williams
By Jim Mashek
McClatchy Newspapers
(MCT)
BILOXI, Miss. - Pearl River Community College made a bold move Monday.
The Poplarville, Miss., school responded with a much-smarter decision Wednesday.
It turns out that Willie Williams, the oft-troubled linebacker who made headlines with 11 arrests before enrolling at the University of Miami in 2004, will not be playing football at Pearl River this season.
The school made what amounts to a 180-degree turn in two days.
Whether it was an immediate backlash or the prospect of Williams bringing unwelcome publicity - namely, bad - the Pearl River people thought about it, and decided Williams was a headache they didn't need.
A prudent decision, to be sure.
The Miami Hurricanes don't need Willie Williams.
Pearl River Community College doesn't need Willie Williams.
Pearl River has a fine football program. Tim Hatten has done a nice job at the school, winning the NJCAA national championship in 2004. The Wildcats had a couple memorable duels with Gulf Coast last fall, avenging a regular-season defeat to the Bulldogs with a victory in the junior college state championship game.
Hatten was reached on the telephone Wednesday afternoon and admitted there was only so much he could say about the school's decision to reverse field on Williams.
"He failed to reach some stipulations we set (for enrolling at PRCC and playing football) and I'll just leave it at that," Hatten said.
There's a lot more to this story, of course, and my guess is it goes all the way to the office of PRCC president William Lewis.
Lewis couldn't be reached Wednesday, and Richard Mathis, the school's wily, personable athletics director and basketball coach, declined comment. The bottom line is Pearl River Community College is going to play football in the fall, and Williams will be playing somewhere else, if anywhere.
Miami coach Larry Coker realized he was past the point of no return with Williams, who looked to transfer because he didn't get enough playing time last fall.
I think Greg Cote of the Miami Herald put it best, about a month ago.
Penned Cote: "Trying hard here to work up the charity to wish Willie Williams good luck, but another sort of wish keeps getting in the way.
"Good riddance.
"Go forth, young man, and become some other coach's headache. Become some other probation officer's account. Become some other college football program's embarrassment."
In essence, Pearl River Community College decided the same thing.
Williams was a talented high school football player who couldn't stay out of trouble. He brought a lot of baggage to Miami. He would have brought a lot of baggage to Pearl River.
Baggage that, frankly, Pearl River doesn't need.
Williams was an embarrassment waiting to happen. Coker stuck his neck out for the young man, who bailed because he was mostly riding the pine.
They're still not real happy about LSU 40, Miami 3, in South Florida.
Coker fired two assistant coaches, Dan Werner and Art Kehoe, who are now on Ed Orgeron's Ole Miss staff.
Miami has had a history of national championships, controversy and a reputation of winning at pretty much all costs.
Coker, it seems, wants to change that.
Tim Hatten wants to forge ahead, forget about this Willie Williams deal and think about PRCC's opening game against Mississippi Delta.
"We're going to roll with it, as it is," he said, "and get ready to play football."
It'll be a lot easier to do so with Williams somewhere else.
Mississippi junior college makes prudent reversal on Williams
By Jim Mashek
McClatchy Newspapers
(MCT)
BILOXI, Miss. - Pearl River Community College made a bold move Monday.
The Poplarville, Miss., school responded with a much-smarter decision Wednesday.
It turns out that Willie Williams, the oft-troubled linebacker who made headlines with 11 arrests before enrolling at the University of Miami in 2004, will not be playing football at Pearl River this season.
The school made what amounts to a 180-degree turn in two days.
Whether it was an immediate backlash or the prospect of Williams bringing unwelcome publicity - namely, bad - the Pearl River people thought about it, and decided Williams was a headache they didn't need.
A prudent decision, to be sure.
The Miami Hurricanes don't need Willie Williams.
Pearl River Community College doesn't need Willie Williams.
Pearl River has a fine football program. Tim Hatten has done a nice job at the school, winning the NJCAA national championship in 2004. The Wildcats had a couple memorable duels with Gulf Coast last fall, avenging a regular-season defeat to the Bulldogs with a victory in the junior college state championship game.
Hatten was reached on the telephone Wednesday afternoon and admitted there was only so much he could say about the school's decision to reverse field on Williams.
"He failed to reach some stipulations we set (for enrolling at PRCC and playing football) and I'll just leave it at that," Hatten said.
There's a lot more to this story, of course, and my guess is it goes all the way to the office of PRCC president William Lewis.
Lewis couldn't be reached Wednesday, and Richard Mathis, the school's wily, personable athletics director and basketball coach, declined comment. The bottom line is Pearl River Community College is going to play football in the fall, and Williams will be playing somewhere else, if anywhere.
Miami coach Larry Coker realized he was past the point of no return with Williams, who looked to transfer because he didn't get enough playing time last fall.
I think Greg Cote of the Miami Herald put it best, about a month ago.
Penned Cote: "Trying hard here to work up the charity to wish Willie Williams good luck, but another sort of wish keeps getting in the way.
"Good riddance.
"Go forth, young man, and become some other coach's headache. Become some other probation officer's account. Become some other college football program's embarrassment."
In essence, Pearl River Community College decided the same thing.
Williams was a talented high school football player who couldn't stay out of trouble. He brought a lot of baggage to Miami. He would have brought a lot of baggage to Pearl River.
Baggage that, frankly, Pearl River doesn't need.
Williams was an embarrassment waiting to happen. Coker stuck his neck out for the young man, who bailed because he was mostly riding the pine.
They're still not real happy about LSU 40, Miami 3, in South Florida.
Coker fired two assistant coaches, Dan Werner and Art Kehoe, who are now on Ed Orgeron's Ole Miss staff.
Miami has had a history of national championships, controversy and a reputation of winning at pretty much all costs.
Coker, it seems, wants to change that.
Tim Hatten wants to forge ahead, forget about this Willie Williams deal and think about PRCC's opening game against Mississippi Delta.
"We're going to roll with it, as it is," he said, "and get ready to play football."
It'll be a lot easier to do so with Williams somewhere else.
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[FONT=Verdana,Arial, Helvetica][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Team divided on LB[/FONT]
[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana,Arial, Helvetica]Some want Williams back[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Arial, Helvetica]
By Omar Kelly
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted August 18 2006
[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Arial, Helvetica] CORAL GABLES · Willie Williams has been turned away by nearly a dozen institutions he sought a transfer to this summer. Included in that list is Pearl River (Miss.) Community College, which on Wednesday backed away from him, denying his enrollment in the 11th hour of the process.
While those doors are closed the controversial linebacker still can return to the University of Miami but, for now, only as a student, and he better do it by Wednesday or his scholarship will not be renewed, Athletic Director Paul Dee said.[/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Arial, Helvetica] On Thursday, coach Larry Coker said Williams' return to the football team "is not an option," but some of Williams' former teammates -- including a few who had been critical of him abandoning the team this summer -- would like their coach to reconsider his stance.
If a sampling of five of this year's leaders -- quarterback Kyle Wright, center Anthony Wollschlager, defensive lineman Baraka Atkins, linebacker Jon Beason and safety Brandon Meriweather -- is any indication, UM's players clearly are divided on whether Williams should be allowed back on the field. But they all are in agreement he needs to be in school this fall.
"You can't turn your back on family," Wollschlager said. "If family has problems you can't just ditch them. You take care of them. I don't know the whole story but I know he's family."
Wollschlager said if Williams does seek Coker's blessing to return the players should be allowed to sit down and have a "heart to heart" with him.
Both Atkins and Beason said they are more comfortable with Williams sitting out the season before returning to the team, but Meriweather said he's hoping Coker's "good-hearted enough" to let Williams return immediately.
"I just want him to get back," Meriweather said. "That's my dog. I'll do anything for him to get him back. He's a great athlete, a great linebacker and I'll be happy to see him come back. That's been my position since Day One."
As long as Williams is able to pass the team's 110 conditioning test, a series of full-length sprints, Meriweather doesn't believe Williams' return would create division on the team despite the fact the sophomore linebacker missed all of the summer's conditioning programs and 14 practices of fall camp.
Williams sought his release this summer in pursuit of more playing time, but he discovered his lengthy criminal record -- he was arrested 11 times in five years and presently is on probation -- is too much baggage for most schools to handle.
Miami cleared him to seek a transfer to any school that's not on UM's schedule through the 2008 season, which is standard policy. But Dee added that Williams still could attend those schools if he so desired. He'd just have to pay his own way at first.
"I hope he does the right thing for himself," Dee said. "He's a nice kid. He's had some trouble, but he's never caused any trouble here. ... There is this misconception that we asked him to leave, and that's not the case."
Coker said he hasn't talked to Williams personally in a while, but admitted the line of communication isn't closed, and that he'll continue to recommend Williams to any school that's interested in pursuing the Super Prep All-American.
"Willie can talk to me anytime he wants to, and my attitude hasn't changed," Coker said. "I'm very, very sincere about this, I wish him well. I want good things to happen for Willie Williams."[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Arial, Helvetica][FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Team divided on LB[/FONT]
[/FONT] [FONT=Verdana,Arial, Helvetica]Some want Williams back[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Arial, Helvetica]
By Omar Kelly
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Posted August 18 2006
[/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Arial, Helvetica] CORAL GABLES · Willie Williams has been turned away by nearly a dozen institutions he sought a transfer to this summer. Included in that list is Pearl River (Miss.) Community College, which on Wednesday backed away from him, denying his enrollment in the 11th hour of the process.
While those doors are closed the controversial linebacker still can return to the University of Miami but, for now, only as a student, and he better do it by Wednesday or his scholarship will not be renewed, Athletic Director Paul Dee said.[/FONT][FONT=Verdana,Arial, Helvetica] [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana,Arial, Helvetica] On Thursday, coach Larry Coker said Williams' return to the football team "is not an option," but some of Williams' former teammates -- including a few who had been critical of him abandoning the team this summer -- would like their coach to reconsider his stance.
If a sampling of five of this year's leaders -- quarterback Kyle Wright, center Anthony Wollschlager, defensive lineman Baraka Atkins, linebacker Jon Beason and safety Brandon Meriweather -- is any indication, UM's players clearly are divided on whether Williams should be allowed back on the field. But they all are in agreement he needs to be in school this fall.
"You can't turn your back on family," Wollschlager said. "If family has problems you can't just ditch them. You take care of them. I don't know the whole story but I know he's family."
Wollschlager said if Williams does seek Coker's blessing to return the players should be allowed to sit down and have a "heart to heart" with him.
Both Atkins and Beason said they are more comfortable with Williams sitting out the season before returning to the team, but Meriweather said he's hoping Coker's "good-hearted enough" to let Williams return immediately.
"I just want him to get back," Meriweather said. "That's my dog. I'll do anything for him to get him back. He's a great athlete, a great linebacker and I'll be happy to see him come back. That's been my position since Day One."
As long as Williams is able to pass the team's 110 conditioning test, a series of full-length sprints, Meriweather doesn't believe Williams' return would create division on the team despite the fact the sophomore linebacker missed all of the summer's conditioning programs and 14 practices of fall camp.
Williams sought his release this summer in pursuit of more playing time, but he discovered his lengthy criminal record -- he was arrested 11 times in five years and presently is on probation -- is too much baggage for most schools to handle.
Miami cleared him to seek a transfer to any school that's not on UM's schedule through the 2008 season, which is standard policy. But Dee added that Williams still could attend those schools if he so desired. He'd just have to pay his own way at first.
"I hope he does the right thing for himself," Dee said. "He's a nice kid. He's had some trouble, but he's never caused any trouble here. ... There is this misconception that we asked him to leave, and that's not the case."
Coker said he hasn't talked to Williams personally in a while, but admitted the line of communication isn't closed, and that he'll continue to recommend Williams to any school that's interested in pursuing the Super Prep All-American.
"Willie can talk to me anytime he wants to, and my attitude hasn't changed," Coker said. "I'm very, very sincere about this, I wish him well. I want good things to happen for Willie Williams."[/FONT]
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So wait.....he asks to leave the team and tries to go somewhere else to play, but that's not turning his back on 'da U'?
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Willie is clearly making a big mistake. The most logical choice would be to join the Youngstown Hitmen for a year with all the press that would give him for an entire season, then after that in the words of marcus vick 'it's all good just take my game to the next level baby'.
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ScriptOhio
Everybody is somebody else's weirdo.
Maybe he should give Jackson State a call, they don't seem to mind that a player has a "spotty past":
Ohio State tight end migrates to J-State
Recently suspended Frost joins parade of Division I-A transfers
By David Brandt
[email protected]
Jackson State's recent trend of picking up talented, yet troubled, Division I-A football transfers continued on Thursday.
Ohio State's Marcel Frost, the team's starting tight end entering fall practice, has decided to transfer to Jackson State after being suspended by the Buckeyes less than two weeks ago for the 2006 season.
"Ohio State released (Frost) and we picked him up," JSU coach Rick Comegy said. "Obviously, he gives us a great option at tight end with great hands. He should be eligible for us right away."
The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Frost was listed as the Buckeyes' first-team tight end as recently as two weeks ago.
But he was suspended from the Ohio State football team on Aug. 9 for the entire 2006 season after violating undisclosed team rules. He did keep his scholarship and was eligible to return to the Buckeyes in 2007 if he chose.
"I made a bad decision at Ohio State and it cost me," said Frost, who declined to give a specific reason for the suspension. "The last week has been pretty crazy, but I'm confident this is a place where I can have fun with football and help the team win."
Frost played in nine games for Ohio State in 2005, starting five. He caught seven passes for 70 yards.
The addition of Frost is JSU's latest in a parade of Division I-A football players with highly regarded talent and a spotty past to find a home in Mississippi. Linebacker Daniel Brooks was booted from Tennessee after several run-ins with the law. Former Notre Dame player LaBrose Hedgemon was suspended for two semesters for unspecified reasons. At Ohio State, Erik Haw was arrested on a marijuana possession charge and later pleaded guilty to an amended charge of disorderly conduct.
Frost said Haw - his former teammate at Ohio State - is one of the main reasons he decided to come to Jackson State.
"He said that down here they were trying to win football games just like at Ohio State," Frost said. "I think (Haw) was right. There's more talent then I expected here."
JSU athletic director Bob Braddy said he supported Comegy's decision to give Frost another opportunity to play football.
"This is America and I think everyone deserves a second chance," Braddy said. "I haven't learned the nature of (Frost's) troubles at Ohio State, but I have all the confidence that coach Comegy has sat him down and spelled out what he expects of him in this program."
Ohio State tight end migrates to J-State
Recently suspended Frost joins parade of Division I-A transfers
By David Brandt
[email protected]
Jackson State's recent trend of picking up talented, yet troubled, Division I-A football transfers continued on Thursday.
Ohio State's Marcel Frost, the team's starting tight end entering fall practice, has decided to transfer to Jackson State after being suspended by the Buckeyes less than two weeks ago for the 2006 season.
"Ohio State released (Frost) and we picked him up," JSU coach Rick Comegy said. "Obviously, he gives us a great option at tight end with great hands. He should be eligible for us right away."
The 6-foot-5, 255-pound Frost was listed as the Buckeyes' first-team tight end as recently as two weeks ago.
But he was suspended from the Ohio State football team on Aug. 9 for the entire 2006 season after violating undisclosed team rules. He did keep his scholarship and was eligible to return to the Buckeyes in 2007 if he chose.
"I made a bad decision at Ohio State and it cost me," said Frost, who declined to give a specific reason for the suspension. "The last week has been pretty crazy, but I'm confident this is a place where I can have fun with football and help the team win."
Frost played in nine games for Ohio State in 2005, starting five. He caught seven passes for 70 yards.
The addition of Frost is JSU's latest in a parade of Division I-A football players with highly regarded talent and a spotty past to find a home in Mississippi. Linebacker Daniel Brooks was booted from Tennessee after several run-ins with the law. Former Notre Dame player LaBrose Hedgemon was suspended for two semesters for unspecified reasons. At Ohio State, Erik Haw was arrested on a marijuana possession charge and later pleaded guilty to an amended charge of disorderly conduct.
Frost said Haw - his former teammate at Ohio State - is one of the main reasons he decided to come to Jackson State.
"He said that down here they were trying to win football games just like at Ohio State," Frost said. "I think (Haw) was right. There's more talent then I expected here."
JSU athletic director Bob Braddy said he supported Comegy's decision to give Frost another opportunity to play football.
"This is America and I think everyone deserves a second chance," Braddy said. "I haven't learned the nature of (Frost's) troubles at Ohio State, but I have all the confidence that coach Comegy has sat him down and spelled out what he expects of him in this program."
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RedondoBeachbuckeye posted this on BN...
LA Times
West L.A.'s Williams steps away from his past
By Ben Bolch, Times Staff Writer
October 25, 2006
For Willie Williams, the first step back toward major college football didn't come in a hallowed stadium jammed with tens of thousands of fans but in a junior college facility specked with only a few hundred.
Playing in his first game since transferring from the University of Miami, the West Los Angeles College linebacker blocked Moorpark's first punt Oct. 14, a rare highlight for the Oilers during a 28-0 defeat.
ADVERTISEMENT
It was a small step, sure. But at least it was in the right direction.
Williams' college career seemed headed in a downward spiral from the moment his record of 11 arrests was revealed on the day he officially accepted a scholarship from Miami in February 2004. The blue-chip recruit sat out his first season after suffering a knee injury and was a part-time player as a redshirt freshman, prompting his search for a bigger role at a new school.
"I could have stayed at Miami and been a great linebacker, but I have a personal goal of winning the Butkus Award," Williams said, referring to the honor bestowed upon college football's top linebacker. "I feel like, if you're going to be good, why not be great at what you do?"
Williams, 6 feet 3 and 235 pounds, said he picked West L.A. because he "wanted to get away from that whole Miami scene" and was impressed by the credentials of Coach Craig Austin, who had called plays for current NFL stars Chad Johnson and Steve Smith as offensive coordinator at Santa Monica College.
So Williams and his stepfather, Leonard Pressley, moved into an apartment near the West L.A. campus in August and Pressley found work as a security guard. But Williams had to sit out the Oilers' first five games while waiting for school officials to verify his Miami transcripts, a delay made all the more agonizing by the team's 0-5 start.
"We would make eye contact sometimes and I would shake my head and he would shake his head back at me," Austin said. "We were just telling ourselves we knew he would have made that play. That's all we could do."
Williams had 13 tackles and two sacks in addition to the blocked punt against Moorpark, but that wasn't enough to overcome six Oilers turnovers. However, he was instrumental Saturday in West L.A.'s first victory, 23-20, over L.A. Southwest, in which he forced a fumble and made 10 tackles.
Williams said he hoped to transfer back to a major Division I program next season. He said he had been a guest of UCLA for a game at the Rose Bowl, and the interest appears to be mutual.
Austin, a longtime L.A. County deputy sheriff, said Williams regularly attends classes and predicted that he would benefit a major-college program.
It's possible Williams is on his best behavior because he realizes this is his last chance. He knows wherever he goes, mentions of his arrest record will follow.
"It's kind of more motivation to me," he said. "That's the past, and if you're going to keep bringing that up, it kind of motivates me to show you that I will be a success in life."
LA Times
West L.A.'s Williams steps away from his past
By Ben Bolch, Times Staff Writer
October 25, 2006
For Willie Williams, the first step back toward major college football didn't come in a hallowed stadium jammed with tens of thousands of fans but in a junior college facility specked with only a few hundred.
Playing in his first game since transferring from the University of Miami, the West Los Angeles College linebacker blocked Moorpark's first punt Oct. 14, a rare highlight for the Oilers during a 28-0 defeat.
ADVERTISEMENT
It was a small step, sure. But at least it was in the right direction.
Williams' college career seemed headed in a downward spiral from the moment his record of 11 arrests was revealed on the day he officially accepted a scholarship from Miami in February 2004. The blue-chip recruit sat out his first season after suffering a knee injury and was a part-time player as a redshirt freshman, prompting his search for a bigger role at a new school.
"I could have stayed at Miami and been a great linebacker, but I have a personal goal of winning the Butkus Award," Williams said, referring to the honor bestowed upon college football's top linebacker. "I feel like, if you're going to be good, why not be great at what you do?"
Williams, 6 feet 3 and 235 pounds, said he picked West L.A. because he "wanted to get away from that whole Miami scene" and was impressed by the credentials of Coach Craig Austin, who had called plays for current NFL stars Chad Johnson and Steve Smith as offensive coordinator at Santa Monica College.
So Williams and his stepfather, Leonard Pressley, moved into an apartment near the West L.A. campus in August and Pressley found work as a security guard. But Williams had to sit out the Oilers' first five games while waiting for school officials to verify his Miami transcripts, a delay made all the more agonizing by the team's 0-5 start.
"We would make eye contact sometimes and I would shake my head and he would shake his head back at me," Austin said. "We were just telling ourselves we knew he would have made that play. That's all we could do."
Williams had 13 tackles and two sacks in addition to the blocked punt against Moorpark, but that wasn't enough to overcome six Oilers turnovers. However, he was instrumental Saturday in West L.A.'s first victory, 23-20, over L.A. Southwest, in which he forced a fumble and made 10 tackles.
Williams said he hoped to transfer back to a major Division I program next season. He said he had been a guest of UCLA for a game at the Rose Bowl, and the interest appears to be mutual.
Austin, a longtime L.A. County deputy sheriff, said Williams regularly attends classes and predicted that he would benefit a major-college program.
It's possible Williams is on his best behavior because he realizes this is his last chance. He knows wherever he goes, mentions of his arrest record will follow.
"It's kind of more motivation to me," he said. "That's the past, and if you're going to keep bringing that up, it kind of motivates me to show you that I will be a success in life."
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I posted it in the Miami-FIU thread, but Donna Shalala is very lucky that Willie wasn't in that fight, since she wrote the letter on his behalf (in post #109 of this thread).
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