Hanover
Williams, who exhausted his eligibility when the Big Green clinched a share of the Ivy League title in last season’s finale, is back in school this term and has spent the past month working for head football trainer Mike Derosier on the practice sidelines. That mostly involves dragging water tanks around so the players can drink from them as they move about the field.
For those who knew Williams as a borderline cocky signal-caller, the sight of him lugging blocking bags and offering hydration is a bit startling. But the economics major, who’s slated to complete his degree requirements after the winter term, said he’s happy to be around his former teammates and to introduce himself to the freshmen.
He’s also enjoying his time in the classroom, where things were often rushed when he was playing football.
“I’m spending a lot more studying and I’m making better grades and I find myself actually enjoying classes because I can delve into material much more than I had been,” the Texas native said. “I’m going to (professors’) office hours and really understanding the material.”
Williams left school after last season to train and prepare for NFL tryouts. He wound up signing with the Chicago Bears but was cut before training camp and said he believes his relative lack of height and his Ivy League background worked against him. He was unwilling to entertain the idea of playing in the Canadian Football League or elsewhere.
“I don’t think my size or the competition I faced are legitimate reasons, but after being released, I went to New Jersey and visited (former teammate A.J. Zuttah) and it gave me time to get over it,” said Williams, who admits he can’t watch NFL games for the time being. “The reason I’m not playing football is because of social constructs that I can’t control.”
Williams said a few of his former teammates are also back in school but have found they don’t want to attend football practice. Williams, however, roams the field when he’s not working, chatting folks up and occasionally dancing to the music coming out of a boom box on the Memorial Field track.
“I can’t get away from the coaches and players I’ve been friends with,” he said. “I get to hang out and say hi to everyone.”
What about training for the NFL again once his degree is secured?
“There’s a fair probability I would get hurt emotionally again, and I don’t think it’s worth it,” Williams said. “Maybe I’ll change my mind, but I don’t anticipate that.”
Young Guns: Dartmouth concludes its season today at Princeton, and a victory would spoil the Tigers’ hopes for a share of the Ivy title and boost the Big Green to 5-5 overall. Regardless of how that plays out, however, the program’s future looks bright because of all the young players who gained game time this fall.
Freshman receiver Hunter Hagdorn leads the team with 50 catches for 660 yards and a touchdown, and sophomore Drew Hunnicutt has 31 catches for 387 yards and two scores. Sophomore Miles Smith is the leading rusher with 494 yards and three touchdowns.
Freshman cornerback Isiah Swann has become a starter and has 39 tackles and two interceptions. Sophomore linebacker Jack Traynor had 41 tackles until a broken rib ended his season after the Cornell game. Sophomore Phil Berton took over at center after Dartmouth’s first two options were hurt and has done well.
“He was undersized, but he’s worked hard to gain weight and he’s steadily climbed up the ranks,” coach Buddy Teevens said of Berton, who’s listed at 6-foot-5 and 275 pounds. “Sometimes guys get on the bottom of the depth chart and that’s it, but not him.”
Family Hi-jinks: Nothing lights up the end of a Big Green practice like the arrival of one of Teevens’ grandchildren or the young son of defensive assistant Danny O’Dea. Players collapse theatrically to the ground as the rugrats “tackle” them, dart around the field in games of tag and let the youngsters ride in the equipment cart while bags and balls are picked up and taken to a nearby trailer.
“It’s good for their families and for our players as well,” Teevens said. “It’s a healthy environment because while we work hard at what we do, everything we talk about relates to the Dartmouth football family. When my grandkids come out, they don’t see me that way that often.”
Past years have seen associate head coach Sammy McCorkle snowed under by his three daughters and offensive coordinator Keith Clark’s son serve as a water boy during JV games.
Sink or Swim: One of the questions moving into spring practice and next season is how backup quarterback Bruce Dixon IV handles his situation. The sophomore exited last spring as the starter but was overtaken in September by junior Jack Heneghan. The Californian has secured his frontrunner status by completing 59 percent of his passes and throwing for more than 2,400 yards.
Dixon started the Harvard game but was yanked before halftime when he turned in a skittish performance, completing one of six passes and having a toss picked off.
“It was a big game, homecoming, and it was raining and it didn’t go the way we would have like from his side or a coaching standpoint,” Teevens said of the 23-21 loss. “The good thing is now he’s been in a pressure situation, so the next time he will have already been there.”
Freshmen Jake Pallotta and Jared Gerbino figure to push Dixon in the spring. The latter has played receiver part of the fall but has impressed with strong passing and running abilities, and his all-around athleticism intrigues the coaching staff.
Coulda, Shoulda: Dartmouth, 1-5 in Ivy action, has had so many narrow victories and defeats this season that it’s easy to theorize how the campaign could have turned out differently. Teevens thinks his squad is more talented than its record indicates.
“Inexperienced?” he said. “Maybe. Injury-plagued? Yes, that has affected us. But you can’t help the opponent and, too frequently this year, that’s what we’ve done with the penalty and the turnover. We just didn’t do as much as we were capable of doing, and that’s a personal frustration.”
Notes: Senior linebacker Folarin Orimolade was announced as the winner of the annual Hard Nose Award after Thursday’s practice. It’s given to the senior who has overcome significant injury and returned to regular playing time while maintaining a positive attitude. The award originated in 1970 with former trainer Fred Kelley and is chosen by his successors in the training room. … Today’s game will be televised by the ONE World Sports Network. … Heneghan leads the Ivies in passing yardage but has thrown 10 touchdowns and had 12 passes intercepted. … Senior cornerback Darius George, who began this season as a starter before being hurt, said he expects to petition the league for a fifth year of eligibility and use it next fall.
Tris Wykes can be reached at twykes@vnews.com or 603-727-3227.