Guarded with the media

always clown me about one play when I dropped a sure pick, but overall I showed that I could play,” he said.

That’s for sure and Williams wound up getting switched to safety later that season after injuries depleted that position. The 6-foot-1, 197-pound player moved into the starting lineup as a sophomore and has been a fixture ever since.

Members of the media that interview Williams often get coach-speak and clichés. That is the responsible captain coming through, always careful to say the right thing and never providing the opponent with bulletin board material.

“Sean does come off kind of like Belichick with his responses. He’s just a very smart kid and real cautious with his approach to interviews,” O’Brien said. “There is another side of Sean that a lot of people don’t see. He likes to laugh and tell jokes just like everybody else.”

Gargiulo smiled when asked about the interview style of his co-captain.

“Sean is definitely very professional when dealing with the media. He is so serious and does not say anything remotely controversial. It’s like: ‘Yes sir, we’re looking good, practicing hard and just going about our preparation.’ I should probably take some lessons from Sean because I’m the type of person who says whatever is on my mind.”

Williams initially thought about becoming a flight officer after graduation, but those hopes were dashed by the discovery he is somewhat colorblind. He received supply corps as a service assignment and believes that branch of the service dovetails with a degree in quantitative economics.

“I tried make a judgment call about doing something in my military career that I could utilize later on in life. I feel like the knowledge and skills I develop in the supply corps could translate into a variety of civilian jobs.”

Sean Williams Sr. was totally on target five years ago when he determined that his son would thrive at a service academy. However, even the father marvels at how far Sean Williams Jr. has come and the fact he will be commissioned as an officer in May.

“Sean has surpassed all the aspirations and dreams I had for him. It’s just been great to see the transition he has made,” the elder Williams said.