Northwestern University Athletics
Two Minute Drill: Nate Williams
10/20/2008 12:00:00 AM | Football
Oct. 20, 2008
Though a little reserved, a calm confidence underlies Northwestern linebacker Nate Williams. His voice does not waver or rise much with emotion, but his eyes tell the story.
"I always wanted to play linebacker," says Williams with the crack of a smile and a light of excitement flashing through his eyes. "I love being physical and rude, getting tough and mean. It's something I've loved since I was little. You know, I've always had that defensive mentality."
That flare of exhilaration for the nastier, hard-hitting side of football may come as a surprise when considering his quiet, friendly nature, but Williams grew up in a blue-collar environment in Pittsburgh, Pa., and has a special appreciation for toughness and hard work.
"Pittsburgh was a great city to grow up in for high school football," he says. "Everyone goes crazy for football there and takes pride in the coaches and playing tough. It's kind of a blue-collar style, and it's a really close-knit community."
That sense of community is one that resonates deeply in Williams and is even what attracted him so strongly to football. With a firm look of certainty, he states, "Without a doubt, football was my favorite. I've always had a passion for it. I love that feeling of bonding together as a team, reaching a common goal with a group of people."
But for Williams, his ties to the football teams he has played for throughout the years have always run deeper, as his younger brother Quentin has played alongside him from the time they were nine- and seven-years-old.
"When we were little," Nate says, "equipment day was the most fun. We'd throw the pads on and go out in the backyard and kind of hit each other, tackle each other." Even now, years later and at the highest level of competition in college football, Nate and Quentin are teammates (and, in fact, they are both linebackers, though Quentin is redshirting his freshman year) for the Wildcats.
"I was pretty excited when he signed," Nate says. "I was a little unsure of where he wanted to go, so I was really excited. You know, it's something not a lot of college football players, not a lot of athletes, get to have." He pauses for an instant then continues with a gaze full of warm sincerity, "It's something special."
For Nate and Quentin, playing football on the same team and going to the same school is all the more dearly and deeply significant in the wake of their recent family tragedy.
"We lost our number one fan," Nate says. "She used to come to every game."
After Nate and Quentin's mother, Evie Williams, passed away, family and even football became more important, more meaningful. "It brought us a lot closer, my brother and my dad. Having [Quentin] here definitely makes it easier. And football-wise, it gave us something to play for. On the field, I can kind of get rid of some emotion, and I'm a lot more focused. You know, she always wanted to see me succeed, so I try my best, you know, for me, but also for her."
The goal on the remains the same today as it was when he first started: "Just come out and compete every opportunity I get and contribute however I can," Nate says. "Take advantage of all those opportunities and try to get the win. Go 1-0 this week. That's all I can say."
