There’s been plenty of controversy over D.A.’s post on Ishaq’s father and Shaun Williams’ angry response. I’ve reached a point in my time at The Fizz where I can categorically reject what D.A.’s saying, not be beaten with a stick and relegated to women’s lax duties. So I’m gonna go ahead and do that.
Shaun Williams’ comments seemed less about getting exposure for his son then they did about giving a positive quality of Notre Dame, based on fact. He praised the ‘Cuse because Coach Marrone is a family man, has a life skills program, and because Williams is an alumnus.
He used the word “expertise” with Penn State because, as The Fizz has chronicled, coach Larry Johnson sends people to the NFL. There is a special connection between the Ishaq Clan and Johnson. Oh yeah, and JoePa is there. He’s the best in the business.
Those are all facts. So is this: Notre Dame has a national television deal with NBC. Whether you hate the Irish for Brian Kelly, the legacy that gets shilled every Saturday, or the simple truth that ND is the most popular team in America, that deal is still in ink. And it is a logical factor in selecting a college, and a positive attribute to associate with a football program.
Does Shaun Williams come off a little media-hungry with the hats and the idea he wants his son to “become a houshold name?” Absolutely. But do you really think an SU alum is gonna have his kid choose a college just to put his name on the map? If you’re struggling with that question, I think you should look at Williams’ track record. He has pushed his son to be the best that he can be and to achieve his goals, for a long time now. It would be a breach of any normalcy and good parenting we’ve seen from him to base such an important decision on the stars in his son’s eyes. I simply don’t believe it.
As for the commenters who are freaking out over The Fizz under an irrational fear that a sports blog would actually influence the decision of a revenue-sport athlete. If that were really the case, would you want any part of said athlete playing for your team?
Mr. Williams, I’m still proud to call you an SU alumnus. And The Fizz is open to opposing viewpoints, even within its own house.
Posted: Ted Conroy
