North Texas/Alabama 9/14/02 - Shaud Williams druidcityonline.com your guide to Tuscaloosa, Alabama and the Deep South
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Druid City Online's unique coverage of Alabama football brings you up close and personal with players and coaches after every home game. Click below to read pieces
of their post-game interviews ...

Tailback Shaud Williams scores his first Tide touchdown
during a 33-7 win over North Texas State

After the game, Tailback Shaud Williams gets re-acquainted with an old friend from his high school days ... linebacker Taylor Casey of North Texas.

Shaud Williams (#21 Jr. AB, 5-8 189 lbs. Andrews, TX - Texas Tech transfer)

When we can start out with Ahmaad in there, and then come back with Ray and myself, I think it keeps the defense off balance. It gives them another look and something else to think about.

Should we be surprised by the speed you showed on that run, or is that kind of second nature to you?

No! (laughs) I don’t know, I got the sidelines and a lot of people were telling me they thought I was faster than that! So I don’t know. Maybe I need to get with Coach Pauley. In the off season, and he can get me a little faster.

This had to have been better feeling than the last time you played North Texas (before transferring from Texas Tech to Alabama).

Yeah, there’s no doubt. I felt a lot better this time playing North Texas than in the past. They’ve given me some fits in the past and it finally felt good to play well against them and beat them soundly.

What do you remember about those games against them?

They never quit. They beat us my freshman year, so it felt good to beat them

What was going through your head on that touchdown run?

Don’t get caught! (laughs)

How good did it feel this week, after not getting a lot of touches, to have the game that you had?

It’s a relief. You know like I said, it’s just a matter of time I just had to be patient. Ahmaad and Santonio ran the ball good the first two games so there was no need to take the ball out of their hands. But tonight, I got a chance and on my first carry I made the most of it. Coach Fran and Coach Keonning had enough confidence in me to come back to me.

You were one of the last people to run off the field and the fans were chanting your name. What did that do for you?

It’s a good feeling and I’m just happy to be part of this football family. It means so much to me. I never really thought about it before, but t really means so much to put on the Crimson jersey. We have the greatest fans in the country. Rain, sleet or snow they’ll be out there supporting us. And that gives us a lot of motivation because we know we represent those people.

I saw you talking to a player from North Texas after the game? Who was that and can you talk about him a little bit?

That was Taylor Casey. He’s one of my buddies from back home. He’s from Odessa, which is about 20 minutes from where I stay. I played high school baseball and football against him. He’s a great guy. I really think a lot of him and he’s a good athlete. I haven’t got to talk to him much since I transferred. But I was just telling him that I was proud of him, and that was playing hard and just keep up the good work.. And I told him that when Christmas break rolls around we’ll get to hang out. So I’ll enjoy that.

What did he have to say to you?

He told that he was happy to see me playing again. He told me I had a good game, and I told him he played well too. I just told that I really missed talking to him because when you play high school sports you become friends with people from other teams. He’s one of those guys that I’ve always respected. He’s going to compete hard and I’m looking forward to hanging out with him when I go home.

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Click on the name for parts of their post-game interviews ...

Dennis Franchione (Head Coach)

Shaud Williams (#21 Jr. AB, 5-8 189 lbs. Andrews, TX - Texas Tech transfer)

Santonio Beard (#34 Jr. TB, 6-1 225 lbs. Nashville,TN - Pearl/Cohn High School)

Kenny King (#55 Sr. DT, 6-3 280 lbs. Daphne, AL - Daphne High School)

Tyler Watts (#14 Sr. QB, 6-3 220 lbs. Pelham, AL - Pelham High School)