Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, September 23, 1994 TAG: 9409240051
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ANDREA KUHN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LEXINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Tim Williams arrived on VMI's post in the summer of 1991 with a plate full of offensive credentials and an insatiable appetite for running the football.
But when former coach Jim Shuck placed an order for a defensive back, Williams - a native of Warm Springs who came to VMI partly for the chance to play right away - was compelled to answer the call.
So here was the little running back who in high school rushed for 5,797 yards (fifth all-time in state history) and accumulated 5,974 yards of total offense (eighth all-time) playing on defense ... It left some folks up in Bath County scratching their heads.
``A lot of people called from my hometown and the area that I played in and asked why I was not running the ball,'' Williams said. ``The only answer they were given is they needed me on the other side of the ball.''
The same attributes that made Williams a good rusher - speed and athletic ability - also made him a good cornerback. He stayed at the position until the end of his sophomore season when a shoulder injury forced him to the sidelines.
Williams sat out all of last season, but opted to rejoin the Keydets this fall. Under new coach Bill Stewart, Williams has found yet another new home: wide receiver.
Williams said he was glad to be back on the offensive side of the ball where he appears comfortable and confident. Through two games (losses to Richmond and East Tennessee State), Williams has thrown one pass and made one reception - both for touchdowns.
``When I first met Coach Stewart and he told me his plans for me playing receiver, I was very excited,'' said Williams, listed at 5 feet 8 and 172 pounds. ``It was very out of the blue. He told me he was going to give me a chance and that's all I needed.''
Williams did not participate in last spring's drills and was questionable for this season up until August because of his shoulder injury.
Shuck also had used Williams for occasional punt and kick returns. Early in his sophomore season, Williams took a big hit returning a punt that severed the nerve in his right shoulder. Although he continued to play, the nerve injury eventually caused the deltoid muscle (on top of the shoulder) to atrophy.
Williams was having trouble lifting his arm by the end of October, which is also when his father was hospitalized with cancer. He died in November.
``I had a hard time dealing with that and concentrating on football that year,'' Williams said. While rehabilitating, ``I would think about football and all I could remember was how hard it was, trying to play knowing my father was ill.
``Now, I think about him when I'm out on the field. I kind of try to believe he's watching me so I try and do everything perfect.''
His efforts so far have impressed wide receivers coach Kevin Sherman, who caught passes in college from Rayna Williams, Tim's brother, a former quarterback at Ferrum.
Sherman said the staff chose to try out Tim Williams at receiver in their new multiple-I offense to take advantage of his quickness and reduce the risk of reinjury to his shoulder.
``Timmy is doing great,'' Sherman said. ``He has responded to everything we're trying to do offensively. ... We're trying to put ourselves in situations where we can put him one-on-one and utilize his talents.''
Williams is just pleased to be back playing football and has experienced minimal problems with his shoulder. During the 11/2 years while he was waiting for the nerve to regenerate, Williams wondered if he would ever play again.
``What [the injury] affected was my will to come back. I did not think I'd play again,'' he said. ``I told myself, I'm not going to go out there and let it happen again.
``After the first hard hit in the first game [against Richmond], I knew I could take it. I knew I was back.''
Back home again on offense, too.
by CNB