Coming off of a very rough 0-7 start for our Western New Mexico Mustangs was football player DeAndre Williams who caught the eyes of a plethora of people due to his performance. DeAndre is currently in his junior season as a collegiate football player for our Mustangs. He is originally from Tucson, Arizona, where he first pursued his football dreams. On Saturday October 27, 2018 DeAndre had tallied up a monster game in their loss against Texas A&M Kingsville. He had 18 carries for a total of 200 yards and 3 touchdowns which is his career high as a Western New Mexico Mustang. What follows is the question and answer series from the interview with the junior running back DeAndre Williams to discuss where he was at mentally with everything that’s been transpiring.
Q: “How did you feel about your performance on Saturday? Did you feel like you were at your peak or as if you could’ve did more for the team?”
A: “I honestly just felt relaxed, like any normal Saturday. I truthfully felt like I gave my very best all that game. Everybody did their job, and it was just an easy flowing game.”
Q: “Since you are a captain and considered one of the best players on the team what do you think you can work on personally to give your team a better chance at winning?”
A: “Everything needs work. I can always get better in some aspect every day. We have too much to work towards next season, I would be a fool to not take advantage of the opportunity.”
Q: “Me being an ex-member of the team and playing football throughout my life I understand that talent isn’t the only thing you need to win games. What do you feel you guys need to make that extra push into being successful? Because I feel every game you guys are a mistake away and that the team is extremely talented.”
A: “Everyone’s mind has to change. We cannot all successfully go up if people aren’t all thinking UP! If we as a team can fully be on one accord mentally, then we will be successful. Change the mind and the body will follow.”
Q: “I definitely understand and agree with you on that but back to your career high performance at Western New Mexico University with you rushing for 200 yards with only 18 carries and a total of 3 touchdowns, that’s impressive. How do you bounce back from a record setting game like that? Like is your mindset focused on beating that game? And how do you focus mentally on not getting so caught up in trying to top that and just playing your game? You have the last home game of the season this Saturday November 3, 2018 against Midwestern State, how are you going to approach these last two weeks?”
A: “I didn’t go into that game thinking I was going to do that, I just played my game and my team helped me reach that goal. So, I am going to continue to do my job, and if god permits, I will continue to contribute to my team and I am going to approach these last two weeks as a great opportunity. The chance to face the top two teams in the conference is something every competitor should be excited for. These are the last two weeks for a while that I get to go out there and go to war with my brothers. So, I’m going to give it my all.
Q: “That’s great and a very interesting perspective to look at it from, you definitely have a competitor’s mindset, everyone doesn’t inherit that you are just born with it. What have the coaches helped you with or what have they input into your head to make you a better football player not only on the field but off the field as well? What qualities can you take from this season and input into the offseason, so you can have a great senior year?”
A: “The coaches really preach a ‘next rep’ mentality. To always keep swinging the hammer and to keep going even if something isn’t working in your favor. The qualities these coaches have helped me build upon is maintaining a great work ethic always. Not just sometimes or most times; working hard and doing the right thing all the time.”
Q: “That’s great that the coaches inherit that mindset into the players. Well Deandre, it was a pleasure speaking to you and I wish the best in the rest of the season and your senior year as well.”
A: “I appreciate it Chris, thank you for taking the time out to interview me.”
