Doug Williams Reflects on the Career Moment That Shaped His Path to Success

Well, for me it was the moment when Muhammad Ali knocked out Sonny Liston. You know, I was a Muhammad Ali fan back then, a Cassius Clay fan, and when he knocked out Liston, my father, a big boxing fan, thought Sonny Liston would beat Cassius Clay. And when knocked him out, for me it was one of the greatest defeats in world history. Yes, when you talk about honoring our community, that's something we value even today. I don't think many people respect our community. And I think it's great to find people who are willing to take the time to give us credit for everything that black people have done in America. You know, we have to give ourselves due credit when you think about everything that was invented and everything that was taken away.

I think that's what I always remember when we start being honored. Wow, the moment that shaped me. Wow, man, it's hard, you know, when I think about what moment really shaped me. Um, there are so many of them. But I think number one is the opportunity to play quarterback for the first time at Grambling State University. I thought that from that time, from that flow, everything went up, you know, because Coach Robinson gave me a chance to become that player. And I never looked back, I didn't give anyone a chance , while I was healthy, no one else had a chance to play, and that only helped me achieve what I was able to do in the future. You know, when I talk to young boys and girls about sports and becoming who you want to be, the first thing I say is: go to

school, go to class, study your lessons, do it. And besides, you know, when it comes to training, never skip it. No one should tell you that you have to work for what you want to achieve. Um, you know, I'm lucky to have two daughters. One is at the University of South Carolina, and the other is in college, having just started her freshman year. And they understand what needs to be done to get where they want to go. It's work, and if you're going to do it, Dad won't wake you up to do it. You have to wake yourself up. You have to want it yourself. If anything, you come to wake up your dad to say you need to go to practice, you know. I think that's exactly how it is. And you have to pay a price for everything. And nothing comes easy. And you

have to pay that price to get what you want.