Aug. 6, 2006
Each day during preseason camp a Texas State senior will have an opportunity to sound off on a wide variety of subjects. With the team reporting Sunday, Texas State senior safety Epsilon Williams talks about being a newcomer and those first few days as a Bobcat.
"Beginning preseason camp is a lot like going to a new high school for the first time. You really don't know anyone and after your family leaves, you are all by yourself. That's why it is important for us as upperclassmen to make the newcomers feel welcome and get to know them by their names. There is going to come a time during two-a-days when they are going to question, `Do I really want to be here?' We need to make them feel welcome and let them know we are all in the same position. Coming here four years ago, it was a shock. Coming to a college town ... we're all in Butler Hall ... we're all waking up at 7 in the morning ... we're practicing twice a day ... you don't have any time to yourself. It really tests you and builds a lot of character that first year you are here. The coaching staff usually puts a young guy with one of the veterans just so if the young guy has trouble acclimating himself to a college training camp, there is somebody there for him."
About home sickness ...
"For some it comes early and for some it comes late. For some it will come as soon as parents leave and they are in the dorm for the very first time. Even though I'm in my fifth year, I know I still get homesick. I want to see home but as Coach (David) Bailiff always tells us, it is about `Having fun doing hard things.' Being out here every day may not be the easiest, but you have to have fun doing it and have that family camaraderie."
On the first few days of practice ...
"The first few days of practice for the defense are vital. It will set the tone of how we practice. You don't necessarily come in with poor habits ... you learn them. There are things such as not running toward the ball and not communicating on defense. Those first couple days I know we will over emphasize being enthusiastic, running toward the ball, making that extra play and communicating. Basically, teaching everyone our style of football ... Bobcat Football. We can tell them about what it means to be a Bobcat and why we play hard. But when we show on the field that we are making that extra effort and the newcomers see the passion that we have when someone makes a play and we're on top of that defender congratulating him, that demonstration goes a lot further. Repetition is the mother of retention. By showing the newcomers and instilling Bobcat values, it will help ensure we are going to be successful around here."
