Troy's Tavares Williams Makes Life Changes For His Son

TROY — Despite his football talents and academic smarts, Tavares Williams would have been content with not pursuing further education after high school or a football career.

It would have meant working a low-wage job in Gainesville, Fla., where he is from. But a moment in high school changed all of that.

He found out he was going to be a father.

At that point, Williams, who had football scholarship offers, decided it was worth it. He would get his education and make the most of his football talents.

And Tavares Jr., now 5 years old, would be the beneficiary, even if it meant not being there for most of his early life.

“School was easy,” Williams said. “I passed all my classes and the SAT, but I wasn’t sure if I wanted to pursue football and go to school.

“When he was born, I made up my mind that I’ve got to go to college now. If I dropped out, I’d have a minimum wage job. That wouldn’t be good enough for me, and that definitely wouldn’t be good enough for him.”

But the hard part began when he had to leave home for Troy University, which offered him a scholarship a month before Signing Day in 2004. Junior was a year old when he left, but the five-year sacrifice was about to begin.

“I couldn’t stay home, because that would be nothing but trouble or working at a minimum-wage job,” Williams said. “I wasn’t going to do neither one of those.

“I think he’ll understand when he get older and I’ll tell him what I did. I think he’s starting to understand now.”

He visits Junior plenty, but only on breaks from school.

The big change

At Eastside High in Gainesville, Williams starred in football, basketball and track. He was also one of those guys who wouldn’t let you tell him he was wrong.
Junior changed him.

“It wasn’t a mistake, because I’m proud of my son, but it was something that happened before I thought it was time,” Williams said. “I had to grow up fast.
“When I had my son, it made me more relaxed and calmed down.”

He also decided he was going to be there for his son. Williams was estranged from his father, Darryl, for much of his life until Darryl passed away right after Tavares Jr. was born. He never got to see his grandson.

“Daddy was staying 20 miles down the road and he hears his son’s doing good in football and won’t come to his Pop Warner games?” Williams said. “When I was young, I had a grudge, but all I needed was my mom.”

Williams chose Troy, which is about five hours from Gainesville, over offers from Wake Forest, Maryland and South Florida.

“I didn’t want to go to South Florida because that was too close to home,” Williams said. “I didn’t want to go too far because I had just had my son.”

From the get-go, Williams established himself as a leader at Troy. He redshirted his first year and became a full-time starter in 2006.

“He was mature the first day he stepped up on campus,” Troy defensive coordinator Jeremy Rowell said. “He had some stuff in his life that made him grow up earlier than he should have.

“He’s been right down the line on both ends, taking care of both ends here and at home. He’s been a great guy to have around.”

Said linebacker Boris Lee, “He’s a peacemaker. He doesn’t like for there to be problems.”

Williams, like he normally does, laughed off that statement.

“I try to keep everybody together so we don’t fall apart,” Williams said. “I don’t put up with too much drama. All I like to do is hang out, have fun and laugh a lot.”

Road coming to an end

Now, Williams is starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel. He talks to his son every morning — depending on who beats each other to the phone to call first.

He’s a third-year starting safety for the Trojans (1-0), who play their home opener Saturday at 6 p.m. against Alcorn State. Tavares Jr. should be in attendance.

“He talks all the time about when he’s coming to Alabama for the first game,” Williams said. “He’s got a good understanding now. He knows everybody. He knows Sherrod (Martin), T-Mo (Terence Moore), Boris (Lee), Leodis (McKelvin).”

When he graduates next May with a degree in business management, he’ll try his hand at pro football with Junior by his side. Fortunately for Williams, he maintains a civil relationship with his son’s mother, as she and Williams’ mother rotate duties taking care of Tavares Jr. when Williams is away.

Williams said his mother, who would work two jobs while he grew up and still works as a manager at a local Steak and Shake, is his inspiration.

If pro football doesn’t work out, he wants to start his own business, maybe open a sports bar.

“I made my mom a promise that when I’m done with school, whether I’m in the NFL or if I’ve got my degree and working, she doesn’t have to work any more,” Williams said.

“I’m looking forward to it. She’s just got a few months left to work.”