Shaud Williams makes football history
My life changed the day I
walked into Zoom Sports Performance here in Frisco. I turned to the AthleticRepublic site to train for my own
football goals with the Dallas Diamonds, but it’s the people and their
friendships that impacted me both on and off the field.
The trainers guide and push me to be
the best athlete no matter my age. And the pro athletes of the
gridiron take me in as an equal. There is nothing sweeter than that.
Earlier in the year, you
read my article about Anthony Dorsett, Jr. and his goal to reach kids in our
community. This time, I want to introduce you to Shaud Williams, a young man
who is an incredible example of determination to live his dream and the hard
work it actually takes to walk by faith.
_____________________
Days ticked by…months…then
more than a year passed with no phone call. Maybe time in the NFL was over? After all, three years equates to a career. Questioning
and doubt would seem normal under the circumstances.
But, determined to play
again, Frisco resident and former Buffalo Bills running back Shaud Williams
remained confident he would get a second chance, “My faith is what kept me
going. I knew my time would come and someone would give me the opportunity to
display my skills and live out my dream of playing football.”
Williams, who was inducted
into the Texas Sports Hall of Fame in May, makes football history Friday
playing for the Florida Tuskers in the first United Football League (UFL) Championship
game. The four teams which make up the UFL contain many former NFL players like
Williams who desire to get back into the league.
The UFL set up in cities
currently underserved by the NFL. Orlando hosts
the Tusker’s team and 77% of its current roster has NFL experience including
several with Texas
ties: Brooks Bollinger, Desoto’s Tatum Bell, Ryan Neufeld, and Williams.
Former NFL Coach of the Year
and Tuskers Head Coach Jim Haslett believes Williams belongs in the NFL, “I
can’t figure out why this guy is in Buffalo
and then he is out of football. I don’t get it sometimes. I think he is the
kind of guy you like to have on your football team. He’s one of those guys who
loves the game and likes being around the guys and does whatever you want. You
want him to block all day, he’ll block. You want him to run, he’ll run. He’s
good at everything.”
Williams fell in love with
football growing up in Andrews, TX. Playing pee wee ball for the Eagles, Shaud
recalls the first time he suited up, “I remember the first day putting on my
pads and helmet. I fell in love with the game of football then and I’ve been in
love with it ever since. I would get this rush every time I would get the ball
and take off running,” he shared. “This rush would come over me I just couldn’t
explain it.”
That rush led him to set records
in high school where he still holds the second highest total career yards for
Class 4A with 7,710 and 87 touchdowns. Williams played for Texas Tech before
transferring to the University
of Alabama where he was a
semi-finalist for the Doak Walker Award and led the SEC in 2003 in rushing with
1,367 yards and 14 touchdowns, averaging 132.6 all purpose yards per game.
In 2004, Williams signed as
a free agent with the Buffalo Bills. He played four seasons and then when
coaching changes occurred, he found himself without a job.
Not willing to give up,
Williams continued preparing for his next opportunity. He turned to Zoom Sports
Performance in Frisco, an AthleticRepublic training facility
inside the Dr. Pepper Stars Center. Working at Zoom enabled Williams to stay in
playing condition. He trained along side other NFL and CFL players including
his fellow Crimson Tide teammates Juwan Simpson and Charlie Peprah.
More than anything else, however,
the process of training and finding his next football home proved to Williams
he had what it takes to make it, “I am
an extremely patient person; even more patient than I thought I could ever be.
I have a drive and desire that can not and will not be shaken. And, I learned I
have some amazing people who care about me and want to see me do well. Last,
but certainly not least, I learned God rewards those who are obedient and steadfast.”
The UFL came along at the
perfect time for Williams. He signed with the Tuskers in early September,
performed well in training camp, and was elected Team Captain in October. “The
experience has been absolutely amazing. I'm surprised how quickly we've formed
chemistry as a team. Football is fun again. Everyone is taking turns making
plays and the coaches put us in positions to be successful as players,” says
Williams.
The undefeated Tuskers (6-0) have dominated the
UFL during this premiere season. Williams along with Bell and Michael Pittman, a Super Bowl
Champion, give the Tuskers great depth on the ground. All three sit in the top
8 leading rushers. Williams has 103 yards off 21 carries with an average of 4.9
yards. His longest gain of 29 yards came on a wildcat play on a 4th
down situation giving the Tuskers another set of downs.
Florida takes on the Las Vegas Locomotives (4-2) in Sam Boyd
Stadium with the winner claiming the first official UFL title. The game can be
seen on the Versus network. Kickoff is 3:00pm CT.
Williams believes this team
is unique and Haslett knows how to pull the best out of them in order to win, “We've
formed a team chemistry that is very rare considering the short amount of time
we've been together. And, I love Coach Haslett and I love playing for him. He's
the type of coach every player would want to play for. He's honest and wants to
see all of us back in the NFL.”
And, it’s Haslett’s devotion
to his players that motivates Williams, “Because he's given me the chance I've
wanted for so long to show what type of football player
I can be, I will always play my heart out for Coach Haslett.” According to Haslett,
the feeling is mutual, “Shaud is one of my favorite guys on the team just
because he is a guy who likes life and he’s a guy who loves football. He works
hard. He’s a guy that goes in and really doesn’t miss anything. If he goes in
and plays, he rushes for a lot of yards, he runs hard, he’s compact, he’s a
great protector, and he runs good routes.”
Up next for Williams is a
chance to return to the NFL. Several teams have shown interest in the running
back. To learn more about Shaud Williams, you can check out his website at www.shaudwilliams.com and drop him an
email.
Stay inspired and do the
work to go for your dream,
Kip #45
