Recruiting Journey - FSU Visit

[Cheesesteak]

Posted on Tue, Jan. 13, 2004

WILLIE WILLIAMS' RECRUITING JOURNEY
On trip, FSU has Williams' number
BY MANNY NAVARRO
[email protected]

RICHARD PATTERSON / THE MIAMI HERALD

AT THE TOP: Linebacker Willie Williams of the Class 6A State Football champion Carol City Chiefs is the top-ranked recruit in the state.

Willie Williams' weekend visit to Florida State felt like a scene from Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.

From a ride on a private jet to chowing down hundreds of dollars worth of steaks and lobster tails at Tallahassee's most elegant restaurant The Silver Slipper, Williams ate up the royal treatment.

Williams enjoyed it so much that he says FSU has moved back into a tie with the University of Miami in the battle for his services.

''After this visit, it's 0-0 again,'' said Williams, who will also visit Auburn and Florida. ``UM had taken a lead when they won the Orange Bowl. But I had such a great time [at FSU], I'm torn again. I guess UM and FSU are going to overtime on me.''

THE RIDE

Williams had been on a plane before, but not by himself.

''When I got to Miami International Airport, this guy was waiting for me,'' Williams said. 'He was like `Mr. Williams, right this way.' When I got on the plane, I was like 'Where's everybody else.' It was me, the flight attendant and the pilot. I was bugging out.''

Williams slept most of the flight. When he arrived at Tallahassee Airport, defensive line coach Odell Haggins was there to greet him.

''When he picked me up, he had a box of chicken wings for me,'' Williams said. ``I was starving, but there was only like two wings. I told him `Coach, we're still going to dinner right?'

``He took me to the hotel. This place was beautiful, nicest place I've ever stayed. It was called The Radisson. I was impressed.''

ALL YOU CAN EAT

But nothing impressed Williams more than when he sat down for dinner with nearly a dozen other recruits -- including Northwestern cornerback Trevor Ford and Killian cornerback J.R. Bryant.

''Dinner was tight,'' Williams said. ``We had our own section in the restaurant, but the only thing that bugged me was that I sat all the way in the back -- so I was the last one to get my food.

``Coach Haggins told us to order as much as we wanted. I ordered a steak and a lobster tail. The lobster tail was like $49.99. I couldn't believe something so little could cost so much. The steak didn't even have a price. The menu said something about market value. I was kind of embarrassed so I didn't order a lot.

'But then I saw what the other guys were ordering, I was like, `Forget this.' I called the waiter back and told him to bring me four lobster tails, two steaks and a Shrimp Scampi. It was good. I took two boxes back with me to the hotel.''

After dinner, Williams met his tour guide -- defensive back Antonio Cromartie. But he quickly urged the coaches to find him a new one.

''That boy was on crutches,'' Williams said. ``I would have had to hop around campus everywhere. Besides, I wanted somebody who played my position to take me around.''

Cromartie was immediately replaced by linebackers Ernie Sims, Willie Jones of Carol City and A.J. Nicholson as well as defensive lineman Clifton Dickson of Northwestern.

''After dinner, we hit the clubs,'' Williams said. ``I had a great time with [fellow recruits] Xavier Carter, Xavier Lee, Aaron Jones and Kenny Ingram. All of us really bonded and had a great time. We got back late -- and we paid for it the next day.''

Williams and other recruits were late for Saturday morning's tour of the campus, which was supposed to start at 8 a.m.

''Some guys like J.R. showed up really late,'' Williams said. ``All in all, it was a good day. They talked to us about their tutoring program. If you start struggling with your grades, they have a program set up that can help. To me, you have no choice but to be successful in school. I was impressed with that.''

After the tour, Williams said the players were treated to lunch at Doak Campbell Stadium. But it wasn't the type of meal the players had been treated to the night before. Just sandwiches.

LUCKY NO. 17

Lunch was followed by what Williams referred to as the highlight of the trip.

''They told us to take a walk into the locker room,'' Williams said. ``When we went in there, they had jerseys with our names on it. They even had my No. 17. I told them `Isn't that number retired for [Heisman winner] Charlie Ward? Coach [Bobby] Bowden was like, `For you Willie, we'll bring it back.''

Williams and the rest of the recruits then lived a childhood dream when they were each introduced on the Jumbotron screen as the 2004 starting lineup for the Seminoles.

''We all had our Seminoles jerseys on, and they told us: `Run out on the field about 10 yards,'' Williams said. ``I was so pumped up, I just kept running. I ran the entire field.''

Following a trip back to the hotel and a nap, it was time for dinner again.

''I asked Coach Odell, `Where we eating tonight?'' Williams said. 'He was like, `The stadium.' I thought he was playing. Then we ended up eating at the stadium again. I guess we spent all their money the night before.''

What the recruits didn't know at the time was that they were in for a treat -- a trip to Bobby Bowden's home for his wife's homemade deserts.

''Coach Bowden was cool, but Ms. Bowden was the bomb,'' Williams said. ``I swear, she must be related to Betty Crocker or something. When we walked into that house, it was like walking into a Publix Bakery -- banana pudding, chocolate cake, cheese cake. I had one of everything. I didn't want to leave.''

THE CROCODILE HUNTER

After dessert, Williams returned with his hosts to their dorm room, but quickly learned a few interesting facts about Sims, the top recruit in the nation last year.

''I like Ernie, but there is no way in the world I'd be roommates with him,'' Williams said. ``In fact, I don't know how [Dickson] does it. Sims thinks he's the Crocodile Hunter. It's like the Discovery Channel in his room.

'When Cliff and I walked in, Ernie was sitting on the sofa with a snake around his neck. He was like `Come in, Willie, give me five.' I was like 'Nope. I'm staying by the door.' I kept the door wide open. I was like, `If this man stands up with this snake, I'm outta here.

'I thought I was at the Metro Zoo. He had three snakes, three spiders. Not just any spiders -- poisonous ones. Tarantulas. He had scorpions. I asked Cliff, `How you deal with this.' He said, 'Man, I don't know.' ''

The next morning, Williams and Bowden talked -- one on one -- for nearly 20 minutes.

''We talked about everything,'' Williams said. ``The jersey. The trip. Next year's starting lineup. He told me if I came, they'd leave me at outside linebacker and give me a real good shot at starting next year. That was all I needed to hear.''

Next Tuesday: Williams details his trip to Auburn.

[JasonB]

That guy has the intelligence of a sock.

[gostangs]

And if we want to win - we will go out and get a whole team full of guys just as smart as him. I say bring em on - we have tried the other experiment - it doesn't work.

[pony91]

Someone explain to me what is different with what Florida State is doing and what Sherwood, Clements etc.. were doing in the eighties.. God I miss those days

[RGV Pony]

Florida State doesn't have a busload of envious UT types to rain on the parade and take them to task with the NCAA. And they have Bobby Bowden.

[EastStang]

You know the more stories like that I read the more ticked off, I get. Whose private jet took that kid to FSU? Why is that not an improper inducement? Giving him a jersey with his name on it, I thought that was illegal, too? Now rumor has it that the University of Florida leases a fleet of private jets just for recruiting. The NCAA seems to have an SMU rule and a BCS rule. I don't mind being punished for breaking the rules, but at least be consistent. This really stinks.

[gostangs]

Not mention - what is the drinking age in Florida - They went out and got blasted on FSU's dime? - illegal if they are 21 yr old drinking age.

[playedwithoneson?]

I know we can't exactly get away with as much as most schools but I do think we could improve our recruiting weekends.
We bring players in and feed them at the stadium and though the food is good it is not anything out of this world. I love our stadium and facilities, wish I could have played in them, but these highly recruited kids are going to programs that have facilities that if aren't as nice, they're pretty close to it. Then on Saturday night they go to Pappadeaux's and believe me, I've been known to put some grub down at that place but it is a chain that you can go to in many different places. I've talked to others involved with different programs (they are not all the same size and scope as the big time programs) and like in the FSU case players get 'wined and dined.' (Disclaimer) I know we're not FSU. I think if the school is serious, we could figure something out. My fiance was a swimmer in college and they got taken to the best steakhouse in all of Seattle and it is pretty good place. I just would like to see a little more effort in trying to impress players. I'm not dogging the coaching staff because they are doing the best they can and I think they are doing a pretty good job with recruiting but like I said I would like to see a little more glitz and glitter so we can compete more.

[SMU Blue]

If I were in charge of recruiting, I would take them out to Bob's Steak house on Friday night, the Stadium for lunch on Saturday, and the Capital Grill on Saturday night. Followed by a night on lower Greenville.

[Sewanee Stang]

I think that we should meet the recruits at the airport with a box of chicken wings just like FSU does. Let's fight fire with fire.

[Stallion]

FRESH PIE!

[MustangSally]

This guy sounds like a well-versed young man who is just as eager to excel in the classroom as he will on the field...

Give me a break, how is this stuff legal, and my goodness, FSU recruits some dumb ones.

My favorite line in the whole thing: "This place was beautiful, nicest place I've ever stayed. It was called The Radisson. I was impressed."

For all we know, FSU took him to Jimmy's Beef Shack and flew him up there in Cessna with 1 wing. If he was impressed by this magical place called "The Radisson" then maybe the rest of the trip wasnt anything too special.

[Peruna_Ate_My_Rolex]

Of course, ESPN.com is now reporting that this joker was on probation for felony burglary charges and he is named in 3 criminal complaints that took place while he was on recruiting visit to the University of Florida. What's funny is that Miami is saying they weren't aware of the problem. haha

MIAMI -- University of Miami officials concede they failed to properly perform a background check on the team's top recruit.

But they did not rescind the scholarship offer to linebacker Willie Williams.

Williams, a Parade All-American, is on probation for felony burglary charges in 2002. He also is named in three criminal complaints stemming from a recruiting trip to the University of Florida last weekend.

The complaints could lead to his arrest in Broward County for a probation violation. If Williams is arrested, he could be sentenced to up to five years in prison, an administrator with the Department of Corrections said Friday.

Miami athletic director Paul Dee said Friday coaches and officials will review all the information that becomes available before making a decision on whether Williams will be allowed to enroll in school.

"In situations of this kind, we have to be fair to the prospective student-athlete," Dee said in a statement. "All other indicators are positive, specifically his academic qualifications and the recommendations of coaches and administrators."

Williams' criminal record paints a much different picture.

He has been arrested 10 times since 1999, according to Florida Department of Law Enforcement records.

He was charged with theft as a 14-year-old, in 1999. He was arrested five times the following year, including twice on felony charges.

His most recent arrest occurred July 11, 2002, when Pembroke Pines police charged him with burglary and possession of burglary tools, according to the Department of Corrections.

Williams, then 17, was prosecuted as an adult on the felony charges. He pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 18 months of probation, court records show.

Miami athletic department spokesman Mark Pray said the school performs background checks on each recruit, but he wasn't sure if it covers criminal records.

"The process used to screen backgrounds was insufficient in that it failed to reveal all that is now public," Dee said. "In this regard, we must improve our efforts to obtain information of this type in the future."

Williams was less than two weeks from the end of his probation when he was named in the three complaints.

Williams allegedly hugged a female student without her permission, hit a man at a bar and set off three fire extinguishers in his hotel -- all in span of five hours during the recruiting trip that began Jan. 30.

The State Attorney's Office in Gainesville will investigate the sworn complaints before deciding whether to officially charge Williams.

Don Monroe, circuit administrator for the Department of Corrections, said Friday that his office was working with police and the state attorney's office in Gainesville to determine whether Williams violated his probation.

"If we're going to do something, we have to do it before his probation ends," Monroe said. "We think we have enough time to examine all the facts and not rush into anything."

Williams' probation ends Wednesday.
If the Department of Corrections decides Williams violated his probation, it would then present evidence to Circuit Judge Michael Kaplan, who presided over Williams' burglary case.

The judge could then issue a warrant for Williams' arrest, Monroe said.

Kaplan would have sole power to sentence Williams. Monroe said the sentence could range from extended probation to five years in prison --the sentence Williams' originally faced in the burglary charges.

Florida coach Ron Zook said Friday that Williams' case has prompted his staff to re-evaluate how it decides which prospects will be invited to the campus.

"We've got to do a better job of finding out everything there is to know," Zook said. "I mean, we're not the only ones. From my understanding, no one knew this."

[Charleston Pony]

this guy's a punk/thug/dumba$$ (insert your own description) and I'm sure any discussion with his H.S. coach would have lead to that discovery, but yet all the big boys were hot after him. What does that tell you about what has become of college athletics? You think they cared about his character? Not at his size and speed and with his football ability!

Quite frankly, the Presidents and administrators of too many "institutions of higher learning" are just pimping their athletic programs...and that's part of why SMU can't and won't compete at the highest levels in football and men's bball. This is not unlike the "embarrassment" at St Johns. Funny how it was more tolerable when they were winning.

[DallasDiehard]

Can you imagine the public reaction (not to mention the sniping from fans at other schools) if a kid like this signed with SMU?

I'm all for playedwithoneson's idea about upping the quality of the places we take recruits. I don't know where they eat on visits to SMU, but it should be Bob's Chop House or something of that caliber. If we're entertaining them with cheese fries and a chicken salad, we're screwed. Coach Bennett has shown a desire to do everything -- especially in recruiting -- in the best manner possible, as budgets allow. I would hope that an alum would step forward and donate dinners for the boys .... if it's legal. (Perhaps we can ask someone in Tallahassee if all that wining and dining is legal? I'm sure the NCAA wants recruits to take steak and lobster back to their hotel rooms.)