DE/LB Nathan Williams (official thread)

[leroyjenkins]

Originally Posted by SEREbuckeye

Looks like Williams is saying that it wasnt his fault, but he was taking the rap for a friend:

CPD: OSU freshman football player arrested on theft charge

I understand why someone would go to bat for their friend, but if youre future depends on how you act, you cant do things like this.

[bucknutz]

Going to bat for a friend or not it makes it his fault. He made that decision when he took the fall.

[SEREbuckeye]

Originally Posted by bucknutz

Going to bat for a friend or not it makes it his fault. He made that decision when he took the fall.

Agreed. You cant "take the fall" for someone, then turn around and displace blame when the heat is on. Dumb move from such a promising guy.

[BuckTwenty]

He needs to learn that his actions don't only reflect on him at this point. He is part of something much bigger and broader than himself. He represents Ohio State, he represents Columbus, he represents the entire state of Ohio, and he represents the pride of Buckeye nation all around the country.

Nathan took a big one for his supposed "parolee" friend, but Buckeye nation is taking a big one for Nathan.

[Jake]

Sounds like Nate needs to pick better friends.

[bukIpower]

well this is awesome... WTF if i'm a college football player who just got done having a great freshman year i'm not taking the fall for someone who's already apparently been in trouble with the law. His friend obviously isn't very smart so why take a fall for something HE DID. Dumb mistake and now he's gonna be out for his first BCS bowl as well. Unbelieveable.

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

Freshman: I took the blame, not the shirts
Williams faces shoplifting charge
Friday, December 12, 2008 3:16 AM
By Ken Gordon


THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
SHARI LEWIS | DISPATCH
Nathan Williams: "I took the blame for somebody; I didn't do anything."



Ohio State freshman defensive end Nathan Williams said his arrest Wednesday on a shoplifting charge is a case of trying to protect a friend. Williams, 19, was arrested by Beavercreek police and charged with shoplifting three shirts valued at $80 from the Macy's department store in the Mall at Fairfield Commons in suburban Dayton.
"I took the blame for somebody; I didn't do anything," Williams said last night.
He said he was with a friend, and as they were walking out of the store, the alarm went off. His friend told him he had the three shirts, and Williams agreed to take the shirts -- and the blame.
"If he got in trouble for this, he would be in jail," Williams said, explaining that his friend has been in legal trouble previously. "So I took his back."
Williams didn't name the friend.
Cont...

[osugrad21]

Dispatch

On Williams, I have to say I was absolutely shocked that I spoke with him tonight. Typically -- and understandably -- players in trouble do not call reporters back. It's our job to try, but when you leave a message, you feel like you're chucking a rock over a cliff, you know?
Imagine my surprise when Nathan called, and then my further astonishment when he talked openly about the incident.
The kicker was when I asked him how coach Tressel had reacted, and he said he had not told anyone yet. He meant no one literally, I guess, even though he had already appeared in court.
I had to tell him I had already left messages with Tressel, so he probably knew by now.
So while we're talking, all the sudden Williams says, "Wait, my coach is calling me now, I'll call you back."
Wow. I don't know what to say to that. Except that of course I did not hear back from him; I'm sure we won't talk to Nathan again until, oh, maybe photo day next fall at the stadium?
It certainly gives me no pleasure to report on these things, but it's a welcome change to actually be able to report the player's side of the story.

[ysubuck]

The kicker was when I asked him how coach Tressel had reacted, and he said he had not told anyone yet. He meant no one literally, I guess, even though he had already appeared in court.
I had to tell him I had already left messages with Tressel, so he probably knew by now.
So while we're talking, all the sudden Williams says, "Wait, my coach is calling me now, I'll call you back."

Well I'm sure that coach appreciated that one.
But let's be frank here, given Coach Tressel's wildly inconsistent disciplining of players (at least that's my perception) Nathan Williams may have had no idea of what to expect.

What I mean by that is: Take Doug Worthington for example. DUI. Coach Tressel cited Worthington's "body of work" when making the decision not to suspend him. Doug didn't miss any game time due to the fact that his body of work at Ohio State was one that didn't include any trouble. Same with Alex Boone. But Antonio Henton also had a clean "body of work" up until his arrest, yet we never saw him again after that.

[Zander42]

Originally Posted by ysubuck

What I mean by that is: Take Doug Worthington for example. DUI. Coach Tressel cited Worthington's "body of work" when making the decision not to suspend him. Doug didn't miss any game time due to the fact that his body of work at Ohio State was one that didn't include any trouble. Same with Alex Boone. But Antonio Henton also had a clean "body of work" up until his arrest, yet we never saw him again after that.

Honest question here, but do you work in the program? Do you know for sure that Henton had a clean body of work up until his arrest? Just because something is not news worthy doesn't mean the rules are being followed. It's possible that there are plenty of disciplinary actions that do not involve game suspensions. If Nate has been in trouble or made poor dicisions in the past, I'm sure he'll be out for the bowl game, or worse. If he's been clean, he might get somewhat of a pass here.

(Yes, I've looked in the rumer mill....)

-z

[Buckrock]

We may have a new poster boy for stupidity (see Eugene Clifford) and entitlement (See Ray Small). " I just thought i'd get a ticket"

Mr. Williams, pick better friends!

[bukIpower]

Well I'm sure that coach appreciated that one.
But let's be frank here, given Coach Tressel's wildly inconsistent disciplining of players (at least that's my perception) Nathan Williams may have had no idea of what to expect.

What I mean by that is: Take Doug Worthington for example. DUI. Coach Tressel cited Worthington's "body of work" when making the decision not to suspend him. Doug didn't miss any game time due to the fact that his body of work at Ohio State was one that didn't include any trouble. Same with Alex Boone. But Antonio Henton also had a clean "body of work" up until his arrest, yet we never saw him again after that.

No Tressel has been pretty consistent IMO. He has given penalties that has fit the crime. Worthington I believe was suspended a game or two and I don't know about Boone but I thought his was in the off season. So Tressel just got him help (a more serious drinking problem), but Henton was supposively asking a prostitute for services (atleast from what I can remember). Henton's thing was a more serious issue but ulitmiately his suspension didn't fit the crime, but Tressel suspended him until the matter was figured out (which took a while). I'm pretty sure Henton would've been on the field had the authorities investigation been through.

Tressel is one of the FEW college coaches also however that is not afraid to send the guy packing as well and he also is one of the few that will suspsend players as well.. I think JT does a great job handling these things and the reason why some of ya'll think its inconsistent is because he does actually go on a case by case basis.

All's I know though is these guys don't know what they have and I can't believe Nathan with as much talent as he has would do something so stupid.

[Bucky Katt]

Originally Posted by bukIpower

No Tressel has been pretty consistent IMO. He has given penalties that has fit the crime. Worthington I believe was suspended a game or two and I don't know about Boone but I thought his was in the off season. So Tressel just got him help (a more serious drinking problem), but Henton was supposively asking a prostitute for services (atleast from what I can remember). Henton's thing was a more serious issue but ulitmiately his suspension didn't fit the crime, but Tressel suspended him until the matter was figured out (which took a while). I'm pretty sure Henton would've been on the field had the authorities investigation been through.

Tressel is one of the FEW college coaches also however that is not afraid to send the guy packing as well and he also is one of the few that will suspsend players as well.. I think JT does a great job handling these things and the reason why some of ya'll think its inconsistent is because he does actually go on a case by case basis.

All's I know though is these guys don't know what they have and I can't believe Nathan with as much talent as he has would do something so stupid.

Worthington was not suspended. He played in the YSU game this year.

However, I agree with your conclusion. Tressel doesn't have a guide book where he pulls it out and looks up "DUI" or "Shoplifting" then suspends a player for X or Y games.

He seems to look at each individual and uses his judgment to determine what sort of punishment is necessary to ensure that the kid learns his lesson. In Boone's case, he obviously felt that the post-incident lifestyle change Boone made was indicative that he had, in fact, learned his lesson. Obviously he saw something in Worthington that led him to believe that it was a one-time deal and Doug would not allow another transgression to occur.

Some kids just don't learn, though. When a player or his parents come out griping about inequality in punishment, you get the sense that the player still doesn't "get it" and any punishments in excess of another player's punishment is a result of that.

Hopefully, Nathan learns from this and we never hear another bad thing about him.

[Buckrock]

Originally Posted by Bucky Katt

Worthington was not suspended. He played in the YSU game this year.

However, I agree with your conclusion. Tressel doesn't have a guide book where he pulls it out and looks up "DUI" or "Shoplifting" then suspends a player for X or Y games.

He seems to look at each individual and uses his judgment to determine what sort of punishment is necessary to ensure that the kid learns his lesson. In Boone's case, he obviously felt that the post-incident lifestyle change Boone made was indicative that he had, in fact, learned his lesson. Obviously he saw something in Worthington that led him to believe that it was a one-time deal and Doug would not allow another transgression to occur.

Some kids just don't learn, though. When a player or his parents come out griping about inequality in punishment, you get the sense that the player still doesn't "get it" and any punishments in excess of another player's punishment is a result of that.

Hopefully, Nathan learns from this and we never hear another bad thing about him.

Earlier in the year Nathan Williams sat out a game. JT indicated that he was "banged up". There was talk that the sitting was discipline related and JT may have been trying to protect the young freshman from media scrutiny. Does anyone recall this? I tried to find this but cannot locate. Anyway, best of luck NW in getting back on track.

[jimotis4heisman]

Originally Posted by Buckrock

Earlier in the year Nathan Williams sat out a game. JT indicated that he was "banged up". There was talk that the sitting was discipline related and JT may have been trying to protect the young freshman from media scrutiny. Does anyone recall this? I tried to find this but cannot locate. Anyway, best of luck NW in getting back on track.

two words: rumor mill.