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Williams still looking for chance in the pros
Darnell Williams
DONOHOE
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be patient and to avoid throwing into cover are.
"In this offense, we don't need a six-foot four quarterback," Warrill said. "It will be more pocket passing. And if he can get deep into the pocket, he can read the coverage."
Warner said his main concern with the quarterbacks this year was the freshman. If Donnebo and Mallory are injured in the freshman quarterbacks will have to play.
"We're in that boat at a lot of positions."
Warner said. "We just have to make the best of it. I don't want to ask a quarterback to do something he's not capable of doing."
"It is a concern. Hill runs the option well and he throws will, but when we put him in we want him to have success," Warner said that he has to go in, we don't have choice."
Hill, 5-foot-10, 160 pounds, said that it is Donoho and Mallory were unable to per form he would just do the best he could.
Warner said that Hill, from Columbus Ohio, would be the third-string quarterback this year.
"But, if Kelly went down or something happened to Steve I would feel pressure to perform." Hill said. "But, if I had to do it, I would do it."
By Craig Anderson
Kansan sports editor
Maybe success for Darnell Williams came too early and too easily during his football career at Kansas.
As a rebad freshman linebacker in 1983 Williams finished second in the Big Eight Conference in tackles with 147. Only teammate Willie Pleas had more stops than season.
It looked like Williams wouldn't have any problem living up to the bright future that had been forecast for him since his high school days. As a senior at Kansas City's KC, it was hard to find a recruiting list that didn't match with a blue-chip prospect.
Before deciding to sign with the Jay-hawks, he narrowed his choices to six colleges: Kansas, Oklahoma, UCLA, Arkansas and Kentucky, mainly because of its proximity to his home.
Kansas appeared to have a program that was on the upwelling. The Jayhawks played in the Hall of Fame Fowl the previous year and looked to have a strong nucleus of players for the future. Williams joined fellow Kansas City natives Robert Kimbs and Richard Extel as members of a highly successful football team, who could supposedly keep the tradition going.
It is easy to sit back now and analyze what that choice meant to Williams' career.
"I as look back on it now, I might have been better off going to a bigger school with me," he said. "There's always the question, though that if (the pro secs) were looking at me, they would not see it."
As it was, Williams went with proximity. He figured he had the talent to play with anybody, no matter where he went. After his first solo appearance, Kansas did not look like a bad choice.
Off the field, however, Williams wasn't finding the same rate of success. He admitted that he didn't take his schoolwork seriously during his first two years in college. With the thought of a pro football in his future, it was easy for him to slack off.
Soon after that, the fun and games stopped. Shortly before the Jayhawks were to open the 1984 season against Wichita State, they had an incredible alignable with five other players.
When "I started at Kansas), things were a lot looser as far as the studies went." said John Rendle, a graduate student who didn't work as hard as I should have. As I got further behind, it was just that much tougher to follow.
Williams regained his eligibility for the 1985 season and recorded 8 tacks as a junior. After spring practice in 1986, Washigton High placed four captains for his senior season.
Disaster struck again, though, just before the 1986 season. Williams was declared academically ineligible a few days before the 1987 season season against North Carolina.
"The year I left KU, they had just started tightening up the academics," said Williams. "Study halls hadn't been too tight before that."
In his five years at Kansas, Williams watched teammates Frank Seurer, Alvin Walton, Johnny Holloway, Paul Oswald.
Paul Farchild, Bob Johnson, Elvis Patterson and Mike Norseth all begin careers in the National Football League.
Pless, Williams's running-mate at linebacker during his freshman year, on event to play for Toronto in the Canadian Football League's defensive rookie of the year in 1986.
For Williams, his college career had vanished. It's impossible to say whether he played at the college teammates in the NFL had he been able to play four seasons. Certainly the raw talent
"I always felt like I had the skills to play in the NPL, "Williams said. "At KU, I had a chance to play, but things didn't always work out."
Williams said he was to blame for his misfortunes at Kansas.
"Yes, it's a big disappointment," Will liams said. "I have no one to blame but myself."
Williams' dream of playing in the NFL or CPL has ended yet, though. He recently returned from Italy, where he played for the Bolga Dove in the Italian Football League. Williams played limeback most of the years, and then end, fullback, tailback and wide receiver.
For a person who had never been far away from home, the season in Italy was a big step in Williams' life. The movie was based on his ambition to reach his athletic poten-
Once back on the field, Williams said he hadn't lost any of his athletic skills. Williams尺 is 6-foot-2, 225 inches and speed. He was still moving the same as when he attended Kansas
"I figured that I had to let people know that "I still could play football," he said. "After two years, it was good for me just to get back into uniform."
Williams described the play in italics as in "the major college level." The IFL was formed in 1800. League rules permit a team to play against teams from the United States on its roster.
"When people see Americans coming over there to play, they expect them to be the elite players on the team," said the 35-year-old who says his 'why' had to do a little bit of everything.
The game of football was still basically the same for Williams, but his adjustment to Italian culture was a little more difficult.
"It was exciting but frustrating," he said. "At first, I couldn't understand what people are talking about. Once I started to understand it, a little bit more, a little bit more, started to enjoy it."
Bologna thought enough of William to offer an offer to stay in Italy and coach Little League teams. Williams contemptuously offered the offer before deciding to return home.
Williams is now working at the United Parcel Service plant in Lenaea in the cleaning department.
With the Italian experience behind him, Williams is waiting for a chance to hook on with an NFL or CFL team. He is letting his agent, Jim Fendler, work out his options.
"I still feel confident in my abilities," he said. "I've been able to keep my speed and my strength. I feel confident that I can play at that level."
University Daily Kansan FOOTBALL '88 September 9, 1988 23