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Tampa Bay's Williams Wants Grambling College On The MapBy SCOTT M. BUSHNELL Associated Press Writer HAMDEN, Conn (AP) — To the casual observer, Doug Williams looks like any other rookie quarterback. But the first-round draft choice of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers knows a lot of people are going to be watching him more closely than usual as he tries to break into the National Football League.The Grambling College graduate says he doesn’t feel the pressure, but it follows him wherever he goes.“I’m out to succeed for Doug Williams, to help Tampa Bay and put Grambling College on the map,” he said Tuesday at the Joe Namath-John Dockery football camp in Hamden, where he is an instructor.“I feel I’m not going to be the first black quarterback to succeed. James Harris and Joe Gilliam both had good seasons in the NFL.“If you've got the ability to play, color doesn’t make a difference,” Williams said.“I’ve met Coach John McKay and he seems to be a good coach. He looks for winning players, not at a player’s color. I feel I’m lucky to be going to Tampa. They’re all young and we can grow together as a team. I think there would have been a lot more pressure on a young quarterback going to a team like, say, Washington.”Technically, Williams is not the first black quarterback drafted in the first round specifically to play that position in the pros. Sandy Stephens was selected out of Minnesota during the old American Football League days—but he wound up as a running back in Canada.The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Williams led the nation’s major colleges in total offense last year with 3,229 yards and passing or running for 41 touchdowns. He rewrote the Grambling record books, passing for more than 8,500 yards and completing 93touchdown passes in his three years there.He is due to report to the Tampa Bay camp on July 16 but hasn’t signed a contract yet. His agent, Jimmy Walsh, said Tuesday the two parties are “far apart.” Walsh, who also represents Namath and Jets quarterback Richard Todd, said Williams will not report without a contract.Williams, a Zachary, La., native, said he’s been “doing a lot of running” since playing in the East-West and Senior Bowl postseason games. “I’m going to go to camp willing to work. I’ll do whatever it takes for Tampa Bay to win. I’ll start or not start or ride the bench, whatever they want.”LATE BASEBALLMonday Night’s Games NATIONAL LEAGUE Pirates 11, Cards 8, 2nd game Padres 2. Giants 1,10 inn. AMERICAN LEAGUE Mariners 8, White Sox 3
Newspaper Details
The Daily Review
Towanda, Pennsylvania, US
Wed, Jun 28, 1978
Page 12
Full Page
Clipped by
Los A.
CA, USA 25 Jan 2024
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