DeAndre Williams: Against All Odds

[cooljayhu]

k sorry my sarcasm detector is malfunctioning right now

[SilverChaosVII]

lol, db's comment did make me laugh.

but seriously... lets herar it. i don't care if it's only been 5 hours i want a damn update

[cooljayhu]

yeah sorry duded but you're gonna ahve to wait i'm going camping this weekend so no updates until sunday at the earliest.

[SilverChaosVII]

you suck at life

[cooljayhu]

April 13, 2007[/b]

I woke to the sound of distant sirens with sand on my face and salt water in my mouth. I made it, somehow, someway, I had been washed ashore. I had never been so happy to hear a police siren in my life. To think just a little while ago I wanted to die and now I was so happy to be alive.

There was blood everywhere and I could tell my wound was serious. I could feel my whole body tingling as if I had been struck by lightning. It hurt like a motherfucker too thanks to the salt in the water. It took all the energy I had left to roll over and collapse in the sand. I could fell myself slowing fading away as I heard some shouts getting closer. I yelled with all my might to get their attention before exhaustion and pain took over and I passed out.

[cooljayhu]

June 24, 2007[/b]

DeAndre Williams was released from Sharp Memorial Hospital, more than 2 months after being shot by former SDPD Sergeant Tony Richter, who took his one life after the shooting. Williams, a standout running back on the Helix Highlanders State Championship team, underwent an intense rehabilitation program at Sharp Memorial. He was forced to relearn simple motor tasks, such as walking, after a bullet fragment became lodged in his spine. Williams is 100% healthy again according to his doctors, although it seems questionable that he will ever play football again. Williams announced yesterday that he would be attending San Diego State University in September, but made it clear that he would not be playing football.

I put the paper aside as I upped the speed on the treadmill. I was on the verge of what felt like exhaustion but I pushed on. Man, the treadmill used to be my bitch. Now I can't even jog for a few minutes without panting. I had lost alot of weight this past few months as I wasn't even allowed to look at weights until I was healthy. I guess I have to look on the bright side, I lost alot of bad weight too, as my last physical showed that I had 6% body fat. There were no McDonald's trips allowed at Sharp. I was going to make the most of this, I had never been this lean before and it felt really good. I'm planning on packing on another 15-20 pounds of muscle and getting back to my ideal weigth of 220.

My friends and family were slowly becoming a bigger part of my life as they realized that I was more like the person they knew before the accident. They were no longer scared of me, of what I became after she died. I wasn't afraid of remembering her anymore. Her death has given me a reason to live, a reason to make the most out of my life. The paper was right though, it was going to be a life without football. Physically I knew I could get back to where I needed to be to play, but I just wasn't there mentally and I doubt I will ever be. San Diego State should be good though, they gave me a full-ride academic scholarship and I am going to make the most of it. Engineering physics here I come, and then who knows maybe NASA will be my next stop.

[SilverChaosVII]

Boooo, nasa never did anything good. Glad to see you are back lol.

[cooljayhu]

June 29, 2007[/b]


Coach Long is ready, you can head on in.

Jackson Thomas's heart raced as he nodded to the secretary and got up from his chair. His interview with San Diego State Head Coach Chuck Long could be a career-defining moment and the pressure was immense. Thomas had quit his offensive coordinator job at Santa Rosa Junior College just 2 weeks ago. His whole future was riding on this interview. He had heard through the grapevine that SDSU was in need of a co-offensive coordinater following the departure of an assitant.

Thomas felt he was being held back as a coach because of his past and his race. A star running back on the 1996 California State Champions of Crenshaw High School, Thomas was caught with 3 others attempting to rob a liquor store. Thomas readily admits it was a huge mistake, but maintains that after his mother's passing in a drive-by shooting his family of 6 younger siblings needed the money. Thomas was sentenced to 3 years for his part in the robbery, and that past has haunted him ever since.

Thomas knew that his football sense and natural charisma would be ideal for coaching, and after his 3 years in prison he began coaching high school. He had several interviews in the past in attempts to move up in the coaching ranks, but people can't seem to see past the young, stupid, black kid that knocked over a liquor store to feed his brothers and sisters. He was hoping Long would be different, that he could see him for who he really was, a changed man.

He entered the room and sat down in front of Long, wondering if he had done enough to prepare for the interview.

“Jackson, I'm going to cut right to the chase. This job will not be easy. You're going to be responsible not only for helping prepare our gameplan each week by analyzing film but you will also be in charge of our scout team offense. I watched you game against Santa Ana and I must say I was impressed with your playcalling and decision-making ability. You basically neutralized their pass rush and executed a beautiful gameplan. I am hoping that you're ability translate well to the college level.”

Thomas was taken aback from Long's candidness. “Wait. Are you offering me this job?”

“No Jackson, I'm giving it to you.”

[cooljayhu]

September 3, 2007[/b]

This is the first class isn't it?

I shrugged my shoulders to say “I'm right there with you pal” to the guy behind me as my Physics 104 prof droned on about god-knows-what. He had already filled 3 whiteboards with equations, theories, and notes. There was certainly no way getting around it; this was nothing like high school. Things weren't coming as easily to me anymore. Although from the looks on the faces in my class it wasn\t making much sense to anyone else.

The bell rang signalling the end of class. I made my way through the throng of future engineers out into the sunlight of quad. As I walked across campus I got a few looks as if people knew me but couldn't quite place how or why. I was used to it by now, people recognizing me. It had just become part of my daily life, like brushing my teeth. I had found a new way to channel the aggression and competiveness that remained in me after giving up football.

I had been a fan of the UFC for several years and with emergence of MMA into the mainstream, it had suddenly become very profitable to fight. I felt that my athletic ability would translate well and I was right. After joining a local MMA training academy martial arts like jui-jitsu, muay tai, and wrestling felt very natural. I've been training for a month and a half now and my first fight was coming up in a few days. It felt good to be competing in something again I'm beginning to question whether quitting football was the right decision.

[SilverChaosVII]

I'm very happy to see this. I love this story

[cooljayhu]

yeah sorry with work and football and stuff I didn't have much time to write, but now that my xbox is out of commission for a while I'm going to get back into this cause I really have nothing else to do.

[SilverChaosVII]

Cool. I'll keep coming back here to read this. You are a good writer

[cooljayhu]

October 12, 2007[/b]

Hey DeAndre! Wait up, bro!

Darrell Meaks was quickly becoming one of my closest friends. I met him in an after-class study group. Like me, he was a former football player, having starred at receiver for Lincoln High out in Stockton. Darrell wasn't the most physically gifted or imposing player, standing at just 5'6” and 155 pounds, but he had the biggest heart of anyone I had ever seen. We played Lincoln in an exhibition game my Junior year and noone could cover him. Unfortunately, he blew out his knee half way through last year and gave up football.

“Yo D, you get that Calc assignment done yet?” asked Darrell.

“Yeah man finished it last night.”

“How in the hell did you get so smart, man?”

“I really got nothing else but school and training. It gives me alot of free time to study.”

“Well dog, with your free time you're coming with me today to play some flag football. There's a game going down in 10 minutes.”

“Man you know I don't...”

“Shut up dude, you a football player for life. Plus there's gonna be some Aztecs playing in this game. Let's show those dudes how we roll.”

Ten minutes later, there I was, lined up at WR across from the Aztecs' starting corner.

[cooljayhu]

October 12, 2007[/b]

Thomas couldn't believe his eyes. Here was this kid, this student, burning his team's starting corner time and time again. He was like nothing Thomas had ever seen. Absolutely ripped, with muscles on top of muscles. Who was this kid? He had to be 220 pounds but he ran like Reggie Bush and cut like Barry Sanders. This kid was born to play football. How in the hell wasn't he an Aztec?

This time the kid lined up at RB, looking imposing crouched behind the QB. The ball was hiked and he took the ball on a pitch, but suddenly stopped short, twirled the ball in his hand, and heaved it downfield. Thomas couldn't believe it. The ball was on a rope, 40 yards downfield in a perfect spiral. Whoever this kid was he knew he needed him on his team.

[SilverChaosVII]

Hahahaha, yes I love it.

DeAndre is the man. He ain't a pussy like Shannon was

[cooljayhu]

October 16, 2007[/b]

“Williams takes the handoff at the 34, he jukes past to Stallion defenders and is off to the races! Williams will go all the way for his third score of the game!”

Thomas couldn't take his eyes off the screen. This kid, DeAndre Williams, had to be one of the most amazing physical specimens he had ever seen. In the 29 games Williams had started since his sophomore season, he had only been held under 100 yards twice, had eclipsed 200 yards 11 times, and 300 yards twice. Thomas had never seen someone like Williams before, it didn't matter where he lined up he was dangerous.

At tail, breaking what should have been a loss for 20 yards. At receiver, burning the corner for a touchdown. At safety, blitzing through the line for a sack. On special teams, running past every block to make the tackle and then returning a punt for a touchdown. He was a threat wherever he lined up, whoever he was playing against. Thomas couldn't understand why this kid wasn't playing football, until he came across two news headlines that explained it.

“Football Star Injured in Fatal Car Crash”

“Williams Shot by Former Police Lieutenant Tony Richter”

He must have had a tremendous amount of emontional baggage, but Thomas saw him as a football player trapped in a regular person's life.

[cooljayhu]

I know, I know. Three months and no posts. But with football now over and a light school sched I have a ton of free time so I got the itch and I thought of a cool storyline so here goes.

[cooljayhu]

November 4, 2007[/b]

I will not fall, I will stand tall. Feels like noone can beat me.
Eminem – Till I Collapse

My entrance music pounded in my ears as I stared into my opponents eyes. The fear in my stomach made it hard to swallow. I managed to hide it deep inside me, not letting him have anything to give him confidence. It was not a fear of losing but a fear of getting hurt. I never felt like this before football games; I would feel invincible, impervious to pain. This man, his name was something Cairns I think, across from me could fuck me up if I give him the chance; he could very well kill me if things went wrong. I needed to push my fear aside though. I needed to focus on my training and technique; they would get me through this next few minutes of utter carnage.

It was my first pro fight and my manager “fed me to the wolves” in my first fight. He took the bigger purse to fight a more accomplished opponent. Well fight is a term I use loosely. Basically this guys was supposed to use me as target practice before moving onto bigger and better things. There I was, just like against La Salle in the state finals, relishing the role of underdog. I had nothing to lose and everything to gain I realized. That brought a smile to my face as the bell rang to begin Round 1.

I circled for a few moments waiting for my opportunity to strike. I cocked my right hand like a wound up cobra. My right hand was just waiting for the call, yearning for the chance to break my opponents jaw. Just as I expected, since he was a BJJ purple belt, Cairns shot for the takedown, expecting an easy takedown and then maybe a submission victory. I suprised him though. I studied film of his previous fights; just like I did when I played football. I knew what was coming when he pawed out the jab. He dove hard for my legs and I sprang forward with a flying knee.

The impact was gruesome. I could tell he was not getting up the second I hit him and I simply raised my hands and walked back to my corner victorious. God it feels good to win.

[cooljayhu]

November 4, 2007[/b]

The winner due to knockout at 38 seconds of the very first round: DeAndre Williams.

Knockout was putting it lightly. Williams destroyed that guy with a flying knee as he went for the takedown. It was an impressive display of athletiscm for sure. They announced his weight at 205 putting him in the light heavyweight class, but Thomas was sure he weighed closer to 230. As he approached Williams as he exited the cage, Thomas was intimidated by the sheer size of the 6'3” young man in front of him; he was born to play football.

“Excuse me, DeAndre. Could I speak with you for a moment. My name is Jackson Thomas I'm...” he began but Williams cut him off in the middle of his intro.

“I know how you are Coach Thomas and I also know why you're here. Let me save you the time, I'm done with football.”

“But I know for a fact football isn't done with you. I've seen your high school film, you're a tremendous athlete with amazing potential to be one of the all-time greats.”

“Look, man. In case I wasn't clear enough when I was being polite: fuck off. I just can't do it okay?”

As Williams turned to walk away back to his locker room, Thomas made one last ditch effort in order to sway him. “I know what happened to you, DeAndre. I know what you're going through. I lossed someone I loved dearly too at about the same age as you.” Williams stopped dead in his tracks but didn't turn to face him. “I know it is hard to imagine stepping back onto the field, but ask yourself this: What would she want you to do?”

Williams wheeled around to face Thomas as a tense silence fell upon the small gymnasium. It was as if the mention of Williams' tragic past put the rest of the world on mute. “Look, DeAndre. I don't expect you to make this difficult of a decision tonight. Gome home, think about it, and I'll be in contact. And here take this.” Thomas took a DVD out of his pocket and tossed it to Williams. “Take it easy kid.”

[SilverChaosVII]

YES YES YES YES FUCK YES YES YES !!!!!

I'm so glad you are writing this again