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Posted on 12/9/10 at 7:16 pm to gonzo03
I posted this in a thread back in June, but it was written in spring of '09:
quote:
LIKE IT IS : Williams' star burns even brighter off the field
WALLY HALL
Long after the cheers and applause had faded last Saturday night, with only a few fans remaining, D.J. Williams scored more points off the football field than anyone ever has on it. Jeff Webb and his son Corey, 15, had driven up from Searcy to see the Razorbacks' spring practice finale, and they wanted to get D.J.'s autograph.
After the scrimmage, Corey ran to the car to get a football while his dad talked to D.J. Before Corey made it back, D.J. was told by a couple of the managers that he had to get to the locker room and get out of his uniform. As he was leaving, he turned to Jeff and pointed and shouted where he would meet them to sign the football. They didn't have to wait long for Williams to appear, sign the football and pose for pictures.
All the while, D.J.'s mom, Vicky, stood by taking it all in. This is the way she expects her son to behave, polite and well-mannered. What was about to happen is not unusual behavior for Williams, it was learned. Understand his mother arranged for 25 kids to get to Fayetteville for the scrimmage and autograph session. She's an example of living and giving.
Before D.J. arrived, Jeff and Corey started talking to a young boy who was in a wheelchair. He was waiting on his favorite player, Michael Smith. Ethan Hamilton hadn't been feeling well for a couple of weeks but convinced his mom, Lisa, he felt better. Good enough to make the car trip from Cabot to Fayetteville and back home that night. They left at 7 a.m. Saturday morning and got home at 2:30 a.m. Sunday, and while that is a long, hard day for anyone, it was especially draining for a 6-year-old who suffers from spina bifida. Somewhere on the trip back, Lisa said Ethan fell asleep with a smile on his face.
Ethan was waiting on Michael when defensive coordinator Willy Robinson came out, looked at Ethan and asked if he could get anybody for him. Then Robinson went back into the locker room to find the starting tailback. He came out a few minutes later and said he was sorry, but Michael had been gone quite a while. D.J. didn't have to think about it. He immediately pulled out his cell phone and called Michael, explained what was going on and then handed the phone to Ethan, who went from happy to euphoric. When he finally handed the phone back to D.J., the tight end got Ethan's address because Michael wanted to send him something. D.J. wrote the address on his arm with a Sharpie so he wouldn't lose it. D.J., who received a nice trophy at halftime for being named the 2008 Most Valuable Offensive Player, kept talking to Ethan.
Jeff and Corey got busy with other players, but when they turned around, their respect for D.J., a 20-year-old from Central Arkansas Christian High School, went through the roof. "We were speechless," Jeff said. "D.J. Williams is the classiest guy I've ever met. I thought that after the first five minutes of talking with him, but that was just the beginning." While visiting with Ethan, D.J. took the Sharpie, autographed the MVP trophy and gave it to Ethan.
"It was probably the happiest day of Ethan's life," Lisa said. When Jeff and Corey turned their attention back in the original direction, D.J. was gone and Ethan was hugging the trophy. D.J. didn't want attention or credit, but then, according to those who know him, he never does. Yet he's always doing nice things for people. In an era when it seems athletes are in the headlines almost daily for drugs, drinking, arrests and lawsuits, a guy like D.J. Williams is more than refreshing. He's a difference-maker. A hero, not just in football games, but in life and lives.
This post was edited on 12/9/10 at 7:22 pm
Posted on 12/9/10 at 7:16 pm to ArHog
quote:
This is what I absolutely love about college football. I wish the media would do a better job of focusing on stories like this instead of all the negatives
Ditto.
Unless it's Auburn or Tennessee of course.
Posted on 12/9/10 at 7:17 pm to JermStone
D.J.!! Way to go young man!! You are truly a role model...your sisters and mom have a true man of the family!! God Bless
Posted on 12/9/10 at 7:18 pm to JermStone
Wish I had a son to have sat and shared the moment with. Truly and incredible story of courage and family.
He could use the information for future ref with his mother, now my recent ex-wife as well...
Posted on 12/9/10 at 7:18 pm to thatguyrightthere
quote:
uh, say what?
Posted on 12/9/10 at 7:19 pm to ArHog
DJ and Felix are my two favorite hogs.
Both are great people.
Could not be prouder for DJ tonight. He may be our biggest loss this season.
Both are great people.
Could not be prouder for DJ tonight. He may be our biggest loss this season.
Posted on 12/9/10 at 9:56 pm to King
Congratulations to DJ for this MOST deserved award. He has long been my favorite Hog. I would be a fan of his, regardless of where he played ball. He's the kind of man I want my boy to look up to.
Posted on 12/9/10 at 10:07 pm to BenHOGan
I'm really glad that there's a player that we can look up to, and/or admire, whether he's a Hog, or a Tiger, or a Gator, etc. This young man is a true role model.
My fiancee is a Sooner fan and as she watched it she shed a tear, she tried to hide it but it was obvious. She said to me "You guys should be proud of him.".
We are.
My fiancee is a Sooner fan and as she watched it she shed a tear, she tried to hide it but it was obvious. She said to me "You guys should be proud of him.".
We are.
Posted on 12/9/10 at 11:25 pm to TheOtherWhiteMeat
quote:
thatguyrighthere
Who in their right mind wouldn't?
This post was edited on 12/9/10 at 11:30 pm
Posted on 12/9/10 at 11:28 pm to gonzo03
was so impressed with him tonight.. very well spoken.. Congrats to him!
Posted on 12/10/10 at 1:39 am to AU86
He's a good man. His family and him deserve the best and I hope he makes it to the NFL and does well.
Posted on 12/10/10 at 1:51 am to filmmaker45
I really hope after his NFL career he ends up working with the athletic department in a role advising kids and acting as a mentor. He's really a very good speaker and outgoing and he'd be great in the broadcast booth as well, but I'd love to see him keeping kids on track.
He also took his last final so he gets his degree early as well.
He also took his last final so he gets his degree early as well.
Posted on 12/10/10 at 2:38 am to gonzo03
This was a great story and now the fruits of his hard work, perseverance and positive outlook is about to be paid off next year. Wish him and his family the best.
Posted on 12/10/10 at 7:04 pm to RockyMtnTigerWDE
the segment about DJ (the video is a bit jumpy at times - not the best recording, but good overall):
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wbCd1D7Nyw[/youtube]
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wbCd1D7Nyw[/youtube]
This post was edited on 12/10/10 at 7:05 pm
Posted on 12/10/10 at 7:39 pm to thatguyrightthere
quote:
which sister?
Posted on 12/10/10 at 8:37 pm to JermStone
D.J. is like a running back after the catch! Great player, wonderful person.
Posted on 12/10/10 at 9:48 pm to Derrick
Glad the SEC Rant can come together and recognize a great role model in our conference
Proud he is a Razorback
Proud he is a Razorback
Posted on 12/10/10 at 9:50 pm to filmmaker45
quote:
He's a good man. His family and him deserve the best and I hope he makes it to the NFL and does well.
Posted on 12/10/10 at 10:34 pm to Marines4Auburn
quote:
I hope he is able to make it big in the NFL and give his family the life they deserve.
This.
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