I can’t unsee it, and I’ll be honest, I’m struggling with it. I know Caleb Williams is good, I really do. Whether watching him play, seeing what the experts are saying, or reading the endless scouting reports online, we all get it. He’s good, maybe great, possibly Mahomes-esqe.
Let’s also get this out of the way…I’m one of those that thinks that Fields could win here if the Bears were to stick with him. But more than anything, I root for the laundry, so I just want them to win, so I’ll get on the Williams bandwagon if he has that GSH on his sleeve.
But I’m struggling because I can’t unsee it. You know the scene I’m talking about. Caleb Williams on national TV, crying in his mother’s lap like a kid who just dropped his ice cream cone and got yelled at by his dad for getting so upset about it (sorry Dad).
Let’s set the scene. Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Upwards of 72,000 fans have the place rocking like a T-Swizzle concert. Saturday Night Game of the Week on national television.
First drive, Caleb leads them down the field for a TD on an outside zone read in which he made the correct decision to give the ball. Later in the quarter he’d run for a TD of his own. He scored on an inside zone read in which the read key hesitated just long enough and turned his outside shoulder ever so slightly, giving Caleb the opportunity to pull it and score on a physical run.
That TD was all due to Caleb’s brilliant riding of the the back thru the hole and freezing the read key. He would then find Tahj Washington wide open on a flea flicker for a 41 yard score, oh and between it all, he made some magician like escapes, threw across his body accurately, and put balls in windows that were barely open enough to let in any air. Washington 35-28 at the half.
In the second half, realizing that the defense was going to be as effective as a one legged man in an ass kicking contest, Williams threw for two more touchdowns (both were ridiculous plays) made plenty of great reads, took hits, and did everything else you’d expect a great quarterback to do. In the end, it wasn’t enough.
It was no fault of Caleb’s though. 27 of 35, 312 yards, 3 TDs through the air and the aforementioned rushing TD. Sure he lost a fumble and missed a couple throws, but this was an elite performance. Washington won, USC lost for the third time and kissed the conference title goodbye. Everyone on that team should be upset.
Emotions Running High
But then the unthinkable happened. As he’s heading off the field into the tunnel, he hops up into the stands, leans his head on his mother’s shoulder and tightly grips her arm as if needing comfort after an encounter with the boogeyman. But wait, there’s more. She covers his face with a piece of paper, which he then wraps around his whole face, and then it really starts.
Here was my reaction to this…
The paper starts moving…
ME: “Wait, what’s happening?”
His stomach starts moving in a heaving type of way…
ME: “Is he crying?”
His arms and legs start twitching…
ME: “Wait, is he really crying like this?”
The guy sitting behind his mom is chewing his gum and trying not to laugh too much as he continues to sob.
ME: “What in the actual fu…”
Let’s unpack this.
I love the fact that he seems to be a 22 year old young man who loves his family and has their support and can openly show them his feelings. I love that fact that he clearly cares about winning so much that it causes this type of reaction. I love the fact that he has a bulldog named Supa that he said he wanted to go home to and cuddle with. I love it all.
But there’s a time and a place for everything. He just curled up in a ball and violently sobbed in front of 70,000 people in the stadium and 4.45 million viewers at home (Sportsmediawatch.com).
This is a bad look. I’m not looking for him to be Gary Cooper, the strong silent type (a nod to my fellow Sopranos fans), and I know we are in a time and place where masculinity is frowned upon and called toxic, but this isn’t about masculinity. If this were a women’s basketball game I’d have the same reaction.
Is Caleb Williams a Leader of Men?
This is the leader of a team. This is the future leader of a professional sports franchise. This is someone who is in a position that requires composure and the ability to move forward under all circumstances. This is a probable number one overall pick in the NFL draft who is going to be expected to lead grown ass men through weekly battles.
This is a bad look, and it’s engrained in my head. Couldn’t he have controlled himself long enough to not do this in front of everyone. If not, that’s kinda scary, isn’t it? Couldn’t he have at least not curled up (basically) in the fetal position? When the pressure is on as the quarterback of a professional franchise in America’s most popular sport, will he stand tall or will be metaphorically (or literally) curl up and cry uncontrollably. I’m not saying he’s a bad person for this and or that he will be a bust.
What does the Future Hold for the Probable Top Draft Pick?
What am I saying? Well, the guys he’ll be playing with saw this. His future opponents saw this, and I’m sure they’ll have something to say to him on Sundays. The fans saw this, and some liked that he showed the emotions, but some of us are struggling with it.
I don’t think less of him as a human, in fact, he seems to be a good guy. I just hope that he can keep his emotions in check. I hope that he earns his teammates’ respect. I hope that this is a whole big bowl of nothing that I’m overreacting about. But I can’t unsee it, and I’ll be honest, I’m still struggling with it.