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DEL.ICIO.USNo backing down for Alabama recruit Kellen Williams
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
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It’s no secret that Alabama is led by its physical, smashmouth running game. Kellen Williams should fit right in.
Playing in Monday’s GACA North-South All-Star game, the Brookwood tackle got animated after what he deemed a “cheap shot” from a South defensive lineman. The Alabama commitment retaliated with a shove and drew a penalty flag. With a slight cut on his lip, he was sent to the sidelines for three plays.
“I had a blast,” Williams said. “It was a very physical game. It gave me a taste of what the college level is going to be like. I’m pretty beat up, pretty sore and stuff. It was pretty intense on the interior. There were some big defensive tackles in there.”
The 6-4, 300-pound Williams was flagged after a South lineman (who he politely declines to name) tried to use a rip move on him, but Williams stopped him in his tracks. “I had been working him all day,” Williams said. “He didn’t get by me the whole game.”
The lineman got frustrated, Williams said, and threw his helmet to the ground. Williams jumped up and shoved the defensive tackle, drawing the flag.
“My parents always told me if someone is going to take a cheap shot, never let that happen,” Williams said. “I have the right to defend myself, so I guess I exercised that right. I just shoved him to let him know that I wasn’t going to back down.”
Williams, who attended a few Alabama games this season, will see one more. On Christmas Day, Williams received a nice stocking stuffer from his mother - tickets for Friday’s Sugar Bowl in New Orleans where Alabama will play Utah. “I was surprised. I wasn’t expecting that,” he said. “My girlfriend is coming so I should be fun. We’re going to enjoy it and have a good New Year’s.
Williams will take his official visit to Tuscaloosa on January 16.
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By bama mafia
December 31, 2008 12:59 PM | Link to this
We got you the tickets kid. The new car is waiting in T town. Remember the deal.
By BAILER
December 31, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
Bama Mafia, u are a dumb sh#t, people like u are the same bunch that part of the big blackout, and u r mad becaused Bama kicked your a$$ up around your neck makeing u a stinking collar.
By DawgFan
January 1, 2009 8:45 AM | Link to this
Good Luck Kellen I hope you have a great career and enjoy college. Get the free education and hope UGA and you meet in the SEC championship each year.
By Kathleen Mason
January 1, 2009 10:19 AM | Link to this
I happened to be in Atlanta for a New Year’s wedding when I read your article and was appalled at the inaccuracies.
I was at the game your wrote about - but I am guessing you were not. Your article and the young man you interviewed could not be further from the truth. After watching Williams’ poor sportsmanship on the field, I guess I should not be surprised that he would twist the story to make him look like the victim. I watched Williams a number of times attempt to stick his hand up into the face mask of the defensive lineman he is referring to. Apparently when Williams was not able to stop him using correct football techniques he decided to try some less than appropriate moves.
I happened to be sitting in the stands with a former Alabama player and we both commented on how Williams would need to learn how to effectively stop the defense without resorting to such ridiculous tactics.
At no time did the lineman throw a helmet down. His helmet came off when Williams’ hand was removed from the the interior of the face mask - I would say the lineman was very frustrated. The encounter happened in the back field as the lineman was making his play - which is where he spent the majority of his time, even with two North players trying to prevent his movement.
More importantly, it must be pointed out that after Williams shoved the lineman the lineman turned to walk away. I certainly hope that Alabama is able to teach this young man more than football - truth & integrity are key components to success.
By Josh Harkin
January 1, 2009 11:10 AM | Link to this
Kathleen Mason, I found your comments “petty and ridiculous” and would love to know what game you were watching and what number your kid is on the team. This is typical hiding behind the shade of the internet. If you and the former Alabama player had something to say, you should have approached the young man after the game. Instead you take cheap shots at a kid in a public blog under a psuedo name. Did your kid not get their what you thought they deserve? Did your boy not get all the accolades you thought they should have? There was one error in the article and that was about the helmet. Williams helmet came off when he was “shoved” to the ground by the obviously frustrated lineman for the the South team. I follow all the Gwinnett teams and Brookwood is not known to take cheap shots. How dare you question this kids integrity and sportsmanship. I have watched this young man and his team play for years and have never seen this kid get a personal foul. If the other lineman was so innocent why were BOTH players taken out for the three plays. The fouls cancelled each other out. Get a life. Better yet, go to church because you sound like a very mean spirited person. There for a wedding and you just happened to show up at a high school allstar game? Well your a liar too…
By Paul
January 1, 2009 11:25 AM | Link to this
Kathy…girl, you should’nt tell fibs, even on the internet. I WAS at the game & after reading your post figure 1 of 2 things are behind it. 1. you got a beef against K.W. 2. you are either the mama or girlfriend of 1 of the opposing D lineman. That guy who tossed his helmet on the ground while whining & trying to act bad spent the majority of his time on his backSIDE, not in the backfield as your post stated. I don’t know either of the young guys but could not just sit here after reading your post without becoming appalled myself and just had to tell what really happened. I also hope that maybe you will learn that telling the truth and having a small amount of integrity might keep you from being exposed as a 1. fibber and/or 2. someone who has’nt a clue about as you said, ”correct football techniques”. Shame.
By Anthony Dowdell
January 1, 2009 11:39 AM | Link to this
I was at the game and I saw what happened between the players. I attempted to talk to Williams and wish him good luck at the University of Alabama. We need the offensive players to be aggressive, but we don’t need the extra curricular after the play that could potentially wipe out first down, and/or touchdown. On that particular play. Williams hands got a little high and his hands went into the facemask of the defensive player. The defensive player reacted and they shoved each other. Neither player was playing dirty and there was no cheap shot. What you saw, were two competitors playing hard. It was a battle between them the entire game. It wasn’t as one sided as the article mentioned.
By coach Harris
January 1, 2009 1:04 PM | Link to this
Please look at the game tape before you print things that are not true. count the tackles BIG DREW made on kellen,then you tell me who tried to play dirty.ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, thats when BIG DREW defended his self.PS EVERYONE PLEASE LOOK AT GAME TAPE BEFORE YOU RESPOND.THANKS!!!!!!
By Kathleen Mason
January 1, 2009 1:13 PM | Link to this
Josh Harkin & Paul - what hoot!! For your info. I didn’t have a child playing in the game, and I sure as heck don’t date anyone playing as I am old enough to be their mother and by the immuature response from you it sounds like I am old enough to be your mother too. No cheap shot here, KW was the one who put himself into the public with his interview. Sorry to break it to you but mistakes were made and they include your precious Brookwood player. - One more thing Josh - read my post again so YOU can get your facts straight - I live in the town the game was played in - which is why I was there. I was in Atlanta LAST night for a wedding - By the way - I have a life and it is a great one…
By coach Harris
January 1, 2009 4:26 PM | Link to this
Please look at the game tape before you print things that are not true. count the tackles BIG DREW made on kellen,then you tell me who tried to play dirty.ENOUGH IS ENOUGH, thats when BIG DREW defended his self.PS EVERYONE PLEASE LOOK AT GAME TAPE BEFORE YOU RESPOND.THANKS!!!!!!
By stunned
January 2, 2009 11:43 AM | Link to this
Kellen, Welcome to Bama Nation. Work hard and come in ready. Coach Saban plays the BEST players no matter who they are so if you are dedicated and good enough you will play for Bama. We will be the National Champions in the next 2-3 years. Glad you are going to be part of the “Process” and the rise back to prominence that started this year. Its only going to get better. Welcome aboard!!! Roll Tide!!!
By nobama
January 2, 2009 12:12 PM | Link to this
i didnt see the game so i can’t comment on that- but to bailor - you dont have to be angry or jealous of bama to think he got them (tickets) from bama or anything else from them. they have earned that reputation. no cheap shots here. they could be from the mother. but history shows that there is a good chance they are not. i really don’t care, it happens in many schools anyway.
By Hal Bennett
January 2, 2009 6:23 PM | Link to this
Do you suppose that Kathleen Mason would have jumped on Kellen Williams’ case like she did if he were a U of Georgia commit instead of a Bama commit?
By JM.Thomas
January 7, 2009 10:09 AM | Link to this
I had a chance to see some of the highlight flim from the allstar game. I will say the williams kid is good but the kid he was trying too block got the best of him . One play stick out on the flim were #89 just BULL RUSH and got to the QB.The williams kid was call for holding look at the film.#89 Had four or five tackles on BIG KW. The flim will not lie.
By JM.Thomas
January 7, 2009 10:10 AM | Link to this
I had a chance to see some of the highlight flim from the allstar game. I will say the williams kid is good but the kid he was trying too block got the best of him . One play stick out on the flim were #89 just BULL RUSH and got to the QB.The williams kid was call for holding look at the film.#89 Had four or five tackles on BIG KW. The flim will not lie.
By JM.Thomas
January 7, 2009 10:11 AM | Link to this
I had a chance to see some of the highlight flim from the allstar game. I will say the williams kid is good but the kid he was trying too block got the best of him . One play stick out on the flim were #89 just BULL RUSH and got to the QB.The williams kid was call for holding look at the film.#89 Had four or five tackles on BIG KW. The flim will not lie.
By Lamar
January 11, 2009 8:51 PM | Link to this
Kellen sounds like he has the right attitude to be a SEC and NFL lineman. Not a place for choir boys. You think otherwise, you might be Dorothy in Kansas.