Throw anything Ro's way
Eskimos cornerback has learned to deal with adversity during a 'tough life' in Florida -- bring on the formidable B.C. Lions
By Vicki Hall,
Edmonton Journal
A swarm of reporters descended on the locker of Roosevelt Williams Tuesday and demanded to know how the new cornerback could possibly handle the likes of Geroy Simon and Ryan Thelwell in his first CFL game.
"It's the time," he said, slowly, deliberately. "The time I've been waiting on."
Surely, he must know B.C. Lions quarterback Dave Dickenson and his explosive receiving corps will pick on the unknown guy in the secondary.
The Lions (4-2) clash with the struggling Edmonton Eskimos at B.C. Place Stadium on Friday night.
"I've been challenged all my life," he said, matter of factly. "Every cornerback is going to get challenged. That's the difference between being a great corner and an average corner.
"It's accepting the challenge, dealing with whatever they throw at you, and being prepared."
Accepting the challenge, dealing with whatever they throw at you, and being prepared -- that really sums up the secret to life for Williams, a third-round pick of the NFL's Chicago Bears in 2002.
Williams, 27, grew up in the low-income housing projects of Jacksonville, Fla. He witnessed his first murder at the age of six -- a man shot in the head over a drug deal gone bad.
"It was really bad down there," he said. "Right now, it's the murder capital of the world. It's just hard. Coming from a place like that always puts you in survivor mode.
"It makes you appreciate things more."
His younger sister, Iris, is in prison for murder. His older brother was shot and killed on the streets a few years back.
"He was selling drugs and stuff like that," Williams said. "He would be 35 this year.
"I've had a tough life, but you learn from things like that."
At the urging of his dad, Williams joined organized football at age five. He played against youngsters three and four years his senior, but still kept up with the big kids and knocked down their passes.
That speed and determination helped him run from the ghetto all the way to the best football league in the world via a full-ride scholarship to Tuskegee University.
Looking back, he knows his chances of steering clear of drugs and jail were almost nil.
That's why Simon doesn't scare him. Or Dickenson. Nothing really fazes him, actually.
"People in my neighbourhood really saw something in me. They just kept me off of the streets. Having a good father and a good mother really gave me a good foundation."
"It kept me in with the Boys and Girls Club, kept me knowing my surroundings and choosing the right friends," Williams said.
"I had to let go of all the other stuff and know that kind of thing would just interfere with my goals."
Williams takes over for the beleaguered Reggie Durden in the secondary, and head coach Danny Maciocia is confident the the six-foot-one, 200-pounder can help the Eskimos turn things around.
"He's a cover corner," Maciocia said. "He's big. He's strong. I've only seen him play in a couple of pre-season games, but I think he tackles well, and he's got good cover skills."
Williams credits his mom, dad and grandmother for helping him create a stable life for himself. He played for two years in the NFL with the Bears and the Cleveland Browns.
He is married with a son of his own. Deontai, 10, was born when Williams was in Grade 12.
Many of his classmates took off if they got a young lady pregnant, but Williams couldn't leave his son to deal with all that by himself.
"My dad stayed in my life, and I know how important it is for a father to stay with his son," Williams said. "Most of the sons without fathers are the ones who get into trouble with drugs and don't pass in school.
"They're lost."
And Williams swears he won't be lost on Friday, no matter what the Lions throw at him.
By Vicki Hall,
Edmonton Journal
A swarm of reporters descended on the locker of Roosevelt Williams Tuesday and demanded to know how the new cornerback could possibly handle the likes of Geroy Simon and Ryan Thelwell in his first CFL game.
"It's the time," he said, slowly, deliberately. "The time I've been waiting on."
Surely, he must know B.C. Lions quarterback Dave Dickenson and his explosive receiving corps will pick on the unknown guy in the secondary.
The Lions (4-2) clash with the struggling Edmonton Eskimos at B.C. Place Stadium on Friday night.
"I've been challenged all my life," he said, matter of factly. "Every cornerback is going to get challenged. That's the difference between being a great corner and an average corner.
"It's accepting the challenge, dealing with whatever they throw at you, and being prepared."
Accepting the challenge, dealing with whatever they throw at you, and being prepared -- that really sums up the secret to life for Williams, a third-round pick of the NFL's Chicago Bears in 2002.
Williams, 27, grew up in the low-income housing projects of Jacksonville, Fla. He witnessed his first murder at the age of six -- a man shot in the head over a drug deal gone bad.
"It was really bad down there," he said. "Right now, it's the murder capital of the world. It's just hard. Coming from a place like that always puts you in survivor mode.
"It makes you appreciate things more."
His younger sister, Iris, is in prison for murder. His older brother was shot and killed on the streets a few years back.
"He was selling drugs and stuff like that," Williams said. "He would be 35 this year.
"I've had a tough life, but you learn from things like that."
At the urging of his dad, Williams joined organized football at age five. He played against youngsters three and four years his senior, but still kept up with the big kids and knocked down their passes.
That speed and determination helped him run from the ghetto all the way to the best football league in the world via a full-ride scholarship to Tuskegee University.
Looking back, he knows his chances of steering clear of drugs and jail were almost nil.
That's why Simon doesn't scare him. Or Dickenson. Nothing really fazes him, actually.
"People in my neighbourhood really saw something in me. They just kept me off of the streets. Having a good father and a good mother really gave me a good foundation."
"It kept me in with the Boys and Girls Club, kept me knowing my surroundings and choosing the right friends," Williams said.
"I had to let go of all the other stuff and know that kind of thing would just interfere with my goals."
Williams takes over for the beleaguered Reggie Durden in the secondary, and head coach Danny Maciocia is confident the the six-foot-one, 200-pounder can help the Eskimos turn things around.
"He's a cover corner," Maciocia said. "He's big. He's strong. I've only seen him play in a couple of pre-season games, but I think he tackles well, and he's got good cover skills."
Williams credits his mom, dad and grandmother for helping him create a stable life for himself. He played for two years in the NFL with the Bears and the Cleveland Browns.
He is married with a son of his own. Deontai, 10, was born when Williams was in Grade 12.
Many of his classmates took off if they got a young lady pregnant, but Williams couldn't leave his son to deal with all that by himself.
"My dad stayed in my life, and I know how important it is for a father to stay with his son," Williams said. "Most of the sons without fathers are the ones who get into trouble with drugs and don't pass in school.
"They're lost."
And Williams swears he won't be lost on Friday, no matter what the Lions throw at him.
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