Aug. 19, 2004
Senior tight end Darius Williams is currently battling for the starting tight end position. The Clarkston, Ga. native sat down for a little Q&A with Sports Information Intern Chris Whitehead to talk about Georgia Tech, football and various other odds and ends.
If you could open and run any kind of restaurant, what kind of food would you serve and where?
If I opened a restaurant it would basically be a buffet. Just keep it simple. I would try to have stuff you don’t get at a regular buffet like Golden Corral like sweet potato pie, crab legs. I would mix it up and have catfish and shrimp fried rice. I would be like a Chinese/seafood type buffet. I would probably throw in a couple of fried bologna sandwiches in there.
If you were elected to be the President of the U.S. tomorrow, what would be your first act?
I would pay collegiate athletes. Not big salaries or anything, but just a little more than we get. Just so we can survive a little bit better.
What is something that most people don’t know about you?
Most people don’t know that I was a pretty good basketball player in high school. I played small forward/power forward. Junior year we went to the semifinals and senior year we went to the quarterfinals.
What would be your ultimate Sports Center highlight?
Besides causing a fumble against Tulsa?! I mean, they should have put that on Sports Center. My number one highlight would be, gamed tied, fourth quarter against UGA. We’re in the huddle and I look over at Reggie and say “just put it up there. Let me get it.” Then we go over the top, just like we did against Auburn, except for this time we get six and win the game. Get the trophy and take it home.
If you could communicate with any type of animal, which would you pick?
I know most people say dogs, but if I could communicate with any type of animal I would say a cat to figure out why they are so stupid. Why they never learn their name. You can live with a cat for five years, and the cat will never learn its name and still run from you everyday you come home. You try to feed it and it will still run from you. So I want to ask them, “What’s the problem?”
If you had to exchange wardrobes with someone on the team, whose clothes would you want?
George Cooper, no question. The guy has green and yellow shoes. He has Oregon Duck shoes. You have to have an arsenal. Be ready to go to war.
Tell about one visible scar…
I have a scar on my leg that goes from my ankle to about the top of my calf. I was about eleven years old and we were at my apartment playing `Get on Top’, some people call it `Pick’em Up, Knock’em Down’, its like one-on-one football. I had the ball. The field we were playing on was about 40-yards long and about five yards wide and it had a hill on it. When I got the ball, I got in front of the pack. A good friend of mine came and hit me from the back and got my legs. I slid and when I slid I rolled down the bottom of the hill. When I hit the bottom I busted my leg open and you could see the bone and white meat. I thought it was just a scratch. Everybody ran over there and asked me if I was all right. I said, “It’s alright. It’s nothing but a scratch.” When I looked at it and saw all the white meat and all that blood, I panicked and just started screaming.
If you could relive any single family outing in your life what would it be?
We used to spend a weekends at my grandmama’s house, the whole family and me. It was nothing in particular, just all of us being together. We really don’t do it as much now.
If you could have season tickets for any team, sitting in any place in the stadium, which team would it be and where would you sit?
Falcons, right at the fifty-yard line. I’m a big Falcons fan ever since Dion Sanders. Since I could remember watching the pro football, I was watching the Falcons.
What is the nicest compliment that you have received?
I have nice facial features. Nice eyes, nice chin, stuff like that. I get it from the girls all the time.
When your Tech days are over, how would you like to be remembered?
Just as a fun person to be around. A person who just had a good time.
Who has had the greatest influence on your athletic career?
One of my close friends named Cory. He’s probably more of a sports junkie than I am. Everyday since I have been playing, he has been into my playing career more than even my momma. Everyday since I have been playing, he calls me with something, “did you see Shockey today man? You’ve got to go out there and run somebody over. Have you seen what Kellen Winslow is doing down in Miami? You’ve got to pick it up.” He’s like my manager.
If you could teach any subject/thing, what would it be?
Probably math. I like math and I’m actually pretty good at it. Out of all the stuff I have learned, that’s the only stuff that came natural to me. I didn’t have to study much for it.
When I was a youth growing up, I pretended to be like…
The Ninja Turtles. I wanted to be Michelangelo. “Cowabunga.” Everybody wanted to be Michelangelo. He was supposed to be the cool one.
If you were forced to give up all of your possessions but one, what would it be?
My car. It’s a ’72 Monte Carlo. I’m into the whole powerful car thing. I like being behind the wheel. I would say it’s about 70-percent restored.
What is your best non-athletic talent?
Probably rapping. I do a little rap thing. Me, Alfred Malone, Keyaron Fox, Jimmy Dixon, Daryl Smith, at times, on our day off, would just sit around and rap about how happy we were to not have to practice. We would get together and rap for like two hours. All of us get together and rap before the games too.
What one thing makes you smile?
People. If I am having a bad day, I try not to show it to people. People come around I just try to vibe off of their energy. I just try to take what they give and dish it back out.
What is the most valuable thing you’ve learned from being a college athlete?
There is always somebody out there that is in worse condition than you are. You can’t take anything for granted. Whatever situation you are in; there is a person out there in a worse situation. I’m a college athlete at Georgia Tech, there are probably 10-million other 21-22 year old people that would want to be in my shoes. I have just learned that I am in a great situation. No matter how bad it gets with classes or anything there is somebody out there who has it worse.
Do you have any pre-game rituals?
Just listen to music. For the most part, I listen to the same couple of songs before the game, just to get me focused.
What is the best thing about being a college athlete at Tech?
The best thing about being a college athlete at Tech is everybody outside of Tech things you are a genius just because you are here. They think I am a mechanical engineer. If I tell someone I play football for Tech, they automatically think I am an electrical engineer or something.
What has been the most memorable game that you have been a part of?
The Auburn game last year. I got my first catch of my college career last year. It was a nice little catch.
What won’t you miss about being a college athlete?
I won’t miss school. Nothing against school, but school gets stressful sometimes.
If you could have the largest collection of one thing, what would it be?
I would probably say cars, if not cars then it would be something stupid like video games or posters or something.
What is your all-time favorite meal?
Really I’m not a picky eater, but if I had to pick a last meal before I die, it would probably be some fried chicken, collard greens, cornbread, a tall glass or fruit punch or Kool-Aid, some sweet potatoes, macaroni and cheese.
If you were a pro wrestler what would your name be?
The Difference Maker. I’m the difference. I feel like I’m going to be the difference in whatever I do. If I am a part of a team, then I should be the difference and I’m going to make myself the difference. Any game we play, I feel like I’m going to be the difference between us winning and losing. It doesn’t matter what anyone else does. If Reggie throws 10 interceptions, then I am the difference between us winning and losing. The way I play. It would be the same with wrestling. I’m going to be the difference, nobody’s going to beat me. I might beat myself. If I lose it’s going to be because of me.
What was your favorite Halloween costume growing up?
I can remember one year dressing up as a turtle. A Ninja Turtle. I was Spiderman. I liked the super heroes. I like the Ninja Turtle one. I was a Turtle fanatic.
If you could make one thing come true for a friend what would it be and for whom?
If I could make one thing come true for a friend it would probably be to see my friend Cory play professional football.
What team would you add to the schedule?
I would put Florida State back on our schedule. I feel like every year they slip away with it. I feel like I just want to turn around and play them again on Sunday, especially after last year. I just wish we could have started the clock over and done it all again. I felt like we could have played a better game and actually beat them.
Name a professor that has had an impact on you here at Tech:
I think Dr. Alexander had an impact on me. She teaches African-American Studies. She teaches with so much passion. She reminds me of an athlete. She comes to work with so much passion and she gives out all of her energy to her job. She really pulls you into the lecture and gets you involved.
