Steppin\' Out

Grambling State\'s Doug Williams casts his own shadow
by: David Purdum
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Former coach and forever Grambling State legend Eddie Robinson doesn’t come on campus as much these days. Maybe it’s because, at 84-years wise, Coach Robinson’s sideline agility isn’t what it used to be. Winning 408 football games will do that to you.

Or maybe it’s because he’s satisfied, knowing that a budding superstar has filled his giant shoes, which were left behind upon college football’s all-time winningest coach retired in 1997.

“Doug is simply awesome,” said Robinson. “I’m not concerned about Doug. We (Grambling) got the coach we wanted and he is doing a terrific job.”

It’s the 21st century, and the Southeastern Conference still hasn’t had a black head football coach. Grambling State head coach Doug Williams knows it, and he’s made sure everybody is aware of how ridiculous it is. Last year, after beating Alabama A&M in Birmingham, Ala., for the SWAC Championship, Williams was quoted as saying: “I’ll probably talk to (Alabama Athletic Director) Mal Moore sometime (soon). You know the chances of that, don’t you?”

The press laughed, even though they likely knew it wasn’t funny. These days, reading an article about Williams that also doesn’t bring up the SEC’s prehistoric scar is rare – and that’s wrong; because, with all his outspokenness on the subject, one thing often gets overlooked – Doug Williams is a damn good football coach, and he’s got a threesome of Black College National Championship trophies to back it up.

After retiring from the Washington Redskins in 1989, Williams honed his coaching skills back home in Louisiana, becoming the first ever head coach at Pointe Coupee Central High School in New Rose, La., in 1991. He would join former Louisiana Governor Edwin Edwards on the Partnership of a Drug Free Louisiana for two years, before returning to coach his hometown high school in Zachary, La. in 1993.

In the next four years, Williams would work as an assistant coach with the United States Naval Academy, as an offensive coordinator for NFL Europe and as a scout for the Jacksonville Jaguars, before accepting his first college head coaching position at Morehouse College in 1997.

In December 1997, he would return to Grambling State as head coach of his alma mater, where he inherited a team coming off consecutive 3-8 seasons and that hadn’t had a winning season in three years. It didn’t matter. Williams trimmed a little fat from the roster in the form of 31 (19 walk-ons and 12 scholarship) players cut, surrounded himself with a group of like-minded coaches and, two years later, produced a champion.

“We went through spring practice,” said Williams, “and, as coaches, we didn’t think we were getting what we expected from some of our scholarship players. They were getting more than they were giving.”

Williams said it was advantageous for him to have seen the Tigers several times during Robinson’s last year. What he witnessed was a struggling team that had lost its aggressive nature. He knew in order to be successful a new attitude had to be installed, a “show up to win” attitude. It started with his coaching staff.

“I had to make sure to bring in some guys (coaches) who knew what we were trying to do,” Williams said. “Not only did they have to be willing to work with you, they had to believe in what we were trying to do.”

What the first-year coach had in mind was simple: winning.

“We don’t play not to lose,” he said. “When we show up, it’s to win; we are trying to win. If we’re going to lose, it’s going to be while trying to win.”

Morgan State assistant head coach and defensive coordinator Melvin Spears, who is also Williams’ cousin, signed on and became the Tigers’ offensive coordinator. Spears, a former Alcorn State wide receiver and quarterback, was American Football Monthly’s I-AA Offensive Coordinator of the Year for the 2002 season, in which his offense shattered 14 school records.

Williams brought along linebackers coach Michael Roach from Morehouse College. Roach was promoted to defensive coordinator in 2000, and the results were immediate and impressive. With Roach at the helm, the Tigers’ defense finished third in the nation in rushing defense, 18th in total defense, 21st in scoring defense, 12th in turnover margin and tied for ninth in interceptions.

Sammie White, a favorite target of Williams during their days playing together at Grambling, became the Tigers’ receivers coach. White played 11 years with the Minnesota Vikings and in two Super Bowls, catching an eight-yard touchdown against the Raiders in Super Bowl XI.

Another member of Williams’ staff at Morehouse, Heishma Northern was brought in as the running backs/special teams coach. Northern now coaches defensive backs and special teams, while brother Gabe, a former Pittsburgh Steelers and Buffalo Bills linebacker, is in his third year as defensive line coach for the Tigers. In five years, that core group has produced a 43-15 mark, three SWAC championships and three Black College National Championships.

“A coach is no better than the players he has on the field,” Williams says modestly. “What I do that some other coaches don’t is let my guys coach. I’m not one to stand over their shoulder. I let my coaches coach and my players play.

“Now if somebody screws up, calls an old play or something, I’m going to ask them about it. When somebody screwed up, John McKay used to ask, ‘Who the hell is their coach?’”

Without hesitating, Williams says his team’s motivation, enthusiasm and attitude far outweigh any game plan or strategy.

“You really don’t know what kid is going to show up for a game,” he said. “You have to set the tone in practice; let a kid know what they need to be doing in order to not get embarrassed come game time.”

His team likely derives their emotion from Williams’ demeanor, which can be as gentle as a teddy bear, featuring a deep Santa Claus-like ‘Ho, ho, ho’ laugh, or as fierce as a grizzly bear.

“Dumb penalties ... late hits, personal fouls (are my biggest pet peeve),” he said. “If I catch a player doing some crazy stuff, even if they don’t get penalized, I’ll let them know, ‘you cost me 15 yards, and you’re out of here.

“That kind of stuff is individual, not for the team.”

Super Bowl season

For 15 minutes, on Jan. 31, 1988, in San Diego, Doug Williams could do no wrong. Despite undergoing a root canal the day before and injuring his knee in the first quarter, the Washington Redskins quarterback tossed four touchdowns passes in the second quarter of Super Bowl XXII, on his way to an MVP performance that included a then record 340 passing yards.

Williams remains the only black quarterback to start and win a Super Bowl.

Last year, as a coach, Williams, again, could do no wrong. After winning its second consecutive SWAC and black college championship in 2001, Grambling State “turned the worm.” Twenty-seven lettermen had to be replaced, including 14 starters. Throw in a season-opening 52-20 loss to McNeese State, and 2002 had all the signs of a rebuilding year.

The Tigers cancelled construction plans and ran off 10 straight wins.

“The two previous championship teams bread a winning attitude, a refuse-to-lose mentality,” Williams said. “These kids are unusual in that they rebound very well. We, as a coaching staff, stay positive. We don’t beat up on each other. Players can sense when there is dissention on the team. We have our disagreements – who should play, who should be on the field – but the bottom line is we stay positive.”

With a third consecutive SWAC Western Championship under their belt, the Tigers headed to the SWAC Championship Game, where they beat Alabama A&M for the second consecutive year and three-peated as National Black College champions, a feat that even Coach Robinson never accomplished. And with that historical season, Williams likely put away his predecessor’s shoes. They got plenty of wear, though, as he used them to walk out of the shadows of Coach Robinson and into a legacy of his own, one filled with victories and hardware, including the 2000 Schutt Sports Division I-AA Coach of the Year presented by American Football Monthly. And if the SEC’s not careful, it will miss out on a good football coach, as Williams might take his own shoes and legacy and walk directly to the NFL.

Q&A With Doug Williams: Talking football Williams’ professional playing career spanned 11 years, starting out as a Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ first-round draft pick in 1978. In his rookie season, the Grambling State All-American, would lead the fledgling Bucs to a 5-10 mark, or three more victories than the expansion franchise had won in its first two years in the league combined. He wasn’t finished. The following year he took the Bucs to the NFC Championship Game, winning the first of two division titles along the way. In 1983, Williams moved on to the USFL, where he played for three years with the Oklahoma Outlaws under head coach Woody Widenhofer. After the USFL folded in 1986, Williams turned down offers to start elsewhere and signed with the Washington Redskins to be the back up to Jay Schroeder and, more importantly, reuniting him with his offensive coordinator at Tampa Bay, Joe Gibbs. Two years later, Williams made Super Bowl history. Today, his passion for the game of football is evident watching him on the sideline or just talking football. AFM: Coach, which league had more talent: NFL Europe or the USFL? DW: “The USFL had more standouts, but as far as overall talent, NFL Europe probably has more depth.” AFM: If the USFL would have taken an all-pro team and put it in the NFL for a year, how would it have fared? DW: “It would have done well, real well possibly gone to the Super Bowl. If you look at the amount of players (from the USFL) that made an impact in the NFL ... They would have done pretty well.” AFM: Which quarterback will win a Super Bowl first: Steve McNair, Michael Vick or Donovan McNabb? DW: “I’ll say Steve McNair, because of the team around him.” AFM: What is the hardest thing you have had to do as a football coach? DW: “Taking a kid’s scholarship away is tough. I’ll be sitting there with the kid ... It really becomes bigger than football.” AFM: What is your fondest memory of playing for Coach Robinson? DW: “In 1977, in Toyko, Japan, the Heisman Trophy award was presented that day (to Texas running back Earl Campbell), and we had just played Temple. Coach Robinson told the team, ‘I don’t care what they say the Heisman Trophy winner is sitting in this locker room.’” AFM: Hypothetical situation: LSU head coach Nick Saban moves on to the NFL. You are offered the head coaching position at LSU, and at the same time, offered a top coordinator position in the NFL, which do you take? DW: “Without a doubt, hypothetically, I would go to LSU. I love the college atmosphere and being the head guy.” AFM: Why was your nickname stud? DW: “Joe Bugel gave me that nickname because he respected the way I was oblivious to the pass rush. I would just stand there and take it.”

The Last Word... In September, Jim Brown, Maurice Clarett’s family advisor, publicly encouraged the embattled Ohio State running back to transfer to Grambling State. Upon hearing Brown’s recommendation, GSU head coach Doug Williams, jovial as usual, brought a No. 13 Grambling jersey, the number worn by Clarett, to a press conference with local media. Williams said he was having fun with the local media, but the joke sparked an NCAA inquiry. “I came in a little lightheartedly,” Williams said. “I knew a lot questions were going to be coming about the Clarett situation.” An NCAA regulation prohibits schools from contacting a student athlete at another college directly or indirectly. Williams and Grambling State Athletic Director Al Dennis denied receiving or ever seeking permission to contact Clarett. “What is ‘indirectly contacting’ someone?” Williams said. “If I had talked to his people and said, ‘We want him.’ Now, that’s contacting him. “It shouldn’t have even been an issue with Grambling,” Williams said. “That jersey did not have ‘Clarett’ on it. If I had put his name on the back of the jersey, that would have been a different thing altogether. I would have agreed with them wholeheartedly.” The inquiry doesn’t seem to bother Williams; what he’s concerned with, as usual, is the young man’s future. “It’s in his hands now,” said Williams. “Personally, I think the kid’s a great player. I’d love to see him play a year or two more in college, work towards graduating. Williams said if Clarett wins his suit against the NFL and is allowed to enter the draft with less than one year of college experience, the repercussions would be felt across the game of football.” “I think (Clarett) is seeing things in a different perspective. Basketball allows kids to play, but they have a developmental league; baseball’s got the minor leagues. “Most of the people, who have played or coached in the NFL, because of the mental and physical part of the game, would like for him to stay in college.”

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