Greg Williams is a 45 year old junior at Clemson University trying out for a walk-on spot on Clemson’s football team. During his workout, Williams went through traditional football agility and skills drills. He’s looking to become the oldest player to ever be on a Tigers’ roster and told the Post and Courier trying out originally started out as a joke.
It started out as a joke — “just try it,” Morris’s wife Tanya would tell him, “you’ve got nothing to lose” — but the more he thought about it, the more he got on board.
Morris, however, has little to no chance of making the Clemson team. Asked Monday about Morris, Swinney just smiled.
But a jovial former high school cornerback, Morris is at a point in his life where he hopes to have no regrets. It’s why he decided to make a sudden career change after 22 years as a licensed master electrician in Richmond, Va. It’s why he arrived on Swinney’s field unafraid Monday. And it’s why he decided to go to college and earn a bachelor’s degree nearly three decades after he finished high school.
Tanya said her husband, who was also a track standout in high school, has always been a perfectionist and that she watched him train for weeks while he preparing for Monday’s tryout.
“I just wanted him to try it,” Tanya said, beaming. “If they can see past his age and see what he does, I know he can do it. You can’t lose by trying.”
Below you’ll find a slideshow of faces I made after reading this.
When I first saw this I immediately thought it was a publicity stunt. Sure old men have suited up for football teams before – Joe Thomas Sr made history last year when at 55 he played in a game for South Carolina State and Tim Frisby played for the Gamecocks when he was 40 – but running track in high school nearly 30 years ago hardly qualifies you to walk-on for the reigning National Champs (I can only imagine how he looked going through that workout). I think Greg, with the encouragement of his attention seeking wife, decided that this story could make national news at best, Carolina Blitz at worst. LOL. So here you go Mr. and Mrs Williams, here’s your 2 seconds of fame.