The Sum Of All Fears: Mike Williams Quits Syracuse Football

by Sean Keeley on Nov 2, 2009 12:50 PM EST Comment 40 comments

I...

I don't...

I just...

Please...just hold me.

Multiple sources are reporting that Mike Williams, the star WR and arguably the best player on the Syracuse football team has quit. Doug Marrone made the announcement today.

The story is literally developing right now so start rubbing some jalapeno in your eyes now, it's going to be a rough one.

As a reminder, Williams was suspended two weeks ago before the Akron game for undisclosed reasons though it was widely rumored to be an academic issue. Williams was particularly evasive when asked about the specifics, saying "It was just between me and Coach Marrone." Williams was a nominee for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the best receiver in college football.

Update 1: Donnie Webb posts the official story.

Syracuse University wide receiver Mike Williams quit the Orange football team this morning, head coach Doug Marrone said.

Williams, who was the team's leading receiver and a semifinalist for the award given to the nation's top receiver, went into Marrone's office and said he was leaving the team immediately.

Wow. This day is about to get crazy. Especially as apparently Marrone just gave a "tear-filled" defense of Greg Paulus.

Update 2: "[Mike Williams] came up to me and voluntarily took himself off the team. That’s it.” - Doug Marrone (via D.O.)

Update 3: More from Doug Marrone on his meeting with Mike Williams: "I'm not going to discuss the conversation from my end. Obviously, I told you that he came up to me and voluntarily took himself off the team. That's it....I've been in this business long enough not to get surprised by a lot of things."

Update 4: According to Ryan Maloney, Williams made a preemptive strike. He says via Twitter: via starter on #Syracuse D: Mike Williams got into off field trouble this weekend & was to be suspended for Pitt. Chose to quit instead.

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Comments

This is either due to the Worst Uniform Ever nomination, or the lack of student support in the student section on Saturday. I’m leaning towards the former.

Go Tartans!

by voteprime on Nov 2, 2009 12:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

How stupid and ungrateful can a person be?

Syracuse '12

by blackknight76 on Nov 2, 2009 12:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Hold on, hold on.

This is all very sudden and confusing. Let’s let all the information come out. And then we can accuse him of being stupid and ungrateful.

Go Tartans!

by voteprime on Nov 2, 2009 12:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

There you go

Troy Nunes Is An Absolute Magician - The Syracuse blog that cares.

by Sean Keeley on Nov 2, 2009 12:47 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

In defense of Mike Williams

It is going to be pretty cold the last month of the season.

(for the sarcastically challenged… yes, I am being sarcastic)

by ezcuse on Nov 2, 2009 12:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I laff'd

Bills fan? In Colorado? It's more likely than you think.

by UZ on Nov 3, 2009 12:12 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Umm...he already got kicked off the team, was given an entirely

blank slate by Marrone so he could rebuild his career, and was given every oppurtunity to succeed and be featured in the offense. He was a finalist for the damned Biletnikoff…and he throws it away.

I’m sorry, but unless something far beyond football or school is going on, he’s ungrateful. I’m not saying he had to come back for next season, but at least finish this one.

Syracuse '12

by blackknight76 on Nov 2, 2009 1:00 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Or

He’s a human being, and therefore has free will, and can do whatever the fuck he wants.

Say he finishes the season, and then gets nailed so hard he is permanently injured and ruins whatever he wants to go on to do from here. Would that make you feel better about him?

He’s not a pro athlete, he’s a college student who was part of a team and decided he didn’t want to be part of it anymore. As simple as that.

Follow me on twitter

by Branta on Nov 2, 2009 7:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

No. No. NO.

The Phillies are about to lose the World Series. I don’t need this right now! What. The. Fuck. God-motherfucking-dammit.

by NOLACuse on Nov 2, 2009 12:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Indeed.

I was trying to console myself with the way the Eagles played yesterday. Now this. Sigh.

by wildcatlh on Nov 2, 2009 12:56 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

+1

by Jameson_Fleming on Nov 2, 2009 1:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

I know this kid on my street

that runs a great post pattern with decent speed. I am going to have him fill out a SU football application.

*said while I am opening my first beer today.

Yep, the Phillies are about to lose the World Series smile

by TheSportHump on Nov 2, 2009 12:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Well

We only had four games of him left anyway.

by ezcuse on Nov 2, 2009 12:40 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Dear. God. No.

This season just went from “moderately depressing” (an upgrade from Groobers) to “no chance in hell of winning another game.” I hope Doug at least laid some tremendous whoop-ass on him before he left.

Oh yeah, Go Yankees!

by cvandeweert on Nov 2, 2009 12:43 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

you realize you play Louisville in 2 weeks, right?

by UL is my hot hot sex on Nov 2, 2009 6:29 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Not so fast

If G-Rob could win a game without Mike Williams… I think we can too.

Just another quitter in the end.

by ezcuse on Nov 2, 2009 12:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

disappointing, but not the end of the world. Sales did a good enough job filling in for Williams against Akron, and Catalina has demonstrated the ability to be a deep threat.

by stumpycuse on Nov 2, 2009 12:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Definitely true. I’ve been impressed with both of these guys’ progress this year, but no one on the current roster can replace the “big playability” or talent that Williams brings to the table. It’s a sad loss and end to his Cuse career.

by cvandeweert on Nov 2, 2009 12:51 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

sad day for su

This is an incredibly sad day for SU. Without Mike these next few weeks are going to be incredibly challenging.

Its really a sad story for Mike Williams two. Heres a player that got his second chance and took full advantage of it and seemed well on his way to a first day in the NFL draft pick. But somehow he couldn’t understand how lucky he was to get this chance and now he can probably say goodbye to his future. No one in the NFL wants a guy with an attitude problem like this. Mike will be regretting this decision for the rest of his life.

CUSE '13

by bspaul11 on Nov 2, 2009 12:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

ESPN had him the #4 WR on his big board. This is only going to hurt his draft stock.

by ryanwk628 on Nov 2, 2009 12:59 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

A wise man once said...

“Never go full retard.” Mr. Williams, you have gone full retard.

How much $$$ has this cost him.

Just amazing.

by moosedontbounce on Nov 2, 2009 1:00 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

It was only a matter of time

It’s too bad, because he’s a great receiver. But it seems that he forgets the whole “student” part of “student-athlete” that permits him to get a free education and, more importantly for him, a showcase to display his considerable running and catching skills. Unfortunately for him, and Syracuse football and its fans, is that he has also showcased his considerable immaturity. This kind of nonsense doesn’t play well with NFL scouts and he will likely be dinged quite a bit come draft day. First a full year suspension, then a 1 game suspension, and finally he has earned the title of Quitter. From what it seems, Marrone is well respected in the NFL and I can’t imagine many scouts or coaches, at least among those that know him, will be giving Williams much benefit of the doubt.

So long, Mike. Whatever.

by DMF on Nov 2, 2009 1:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

ezcuse is right...

…he was gone after this year anyway, and there are only four games left. It’s not like he was the point guard we were counting on to lead our basketball team for four years like, say, Billy Edelin.

by el_bresidente on Nov 2, 2009 1:02 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

In fairness to Edelin...

He was there for the 2003 national championship. Also, he supposedly struggled with depression and some other problems that really took a toll on him. As opposed to Williams who seems to struggle with stupidity and honesty. Also, Edelin kinda got screwed that year he got suspended for like 10 games by the NCAA for playing a game of rec basketball with 40+ year olds since they said it was “organized” basketball. Which is really a generous thing to say about a game where he was half the age of the rest of the players and likely the only one who had played beyond high school.

by DMF on Nov 2, 2009 1:08 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I hear you

Yes, I heard he was depressed and I think there were family issues too. And I will always be grateful for his contribution to the ’03 team. But he did leave the team in the lurch in the middle of the next two seasons.

by el_bresidente on Nov 2, 2009 1:17 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

he is still on the roster so that means HCDM can comment on this situation?

by ryanwk628 on Nov 2, 2009 1:06 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Update frequency...

I don’t think they update that very often. Especially if he really did just quit, Marrone’s first priority is probably not getting on the line with the webmaster or whoever updates the site (maybe Dr. G does it himself? Would explain a lot…).

by DMF on Nov 2, 2009 1:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

you can't fix stupid..

maybe he wanted NASSIB to be the starting qb and was upset paulus kept coming out throwing those soft lob passes. maybe not tho. either way bad news for the football team. i dont get this move one bit.

by orngfan on Nov 2, 2009 1:07 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

maybe Nassib is going to be the starter and that means that Mike Williams won’t be the only guy getting passes.

by stumpycuse on Nov 2, 2009 1:08 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

ANARCHY!

by Hoya Suxa on Nov 2, 2009 1:08 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

Whats up with these kids from Buffalo not finishing what they started? Is there something in the water out there? Is it because of the BIlls?

Maybe Marinovich can get him some modeling work. What do you think?

by ryanwk628 on Nov 2, 2009 1:09 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

On the other hand...

Maybe he was about to get kicked off the team? Not that it makes this any better, but it would explain why he would quit effective immediately. Or maybe he had done something so stunningly stupid that he was certain he would get kicked off the team? Like I said, not any better and not any less stupid.

In related news, is it me or is the Greg Paulus experiment over? He could have been a real good one if he played for 4 years, but the fact is that it seems that Nassib is at least as good and it could really help for next year to keep giving him more game experience.

Too bad, because it was a nice story while it lasted for those first few games where he really came out gunning.

by DMF on Nov 2, 2009 1:16 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Wow

I couldn’t agree with DMF more… this is clearly a case of someone who does not want to be a student, and just wants to be an athlete. What he fails to realize is that NFL scouts are going to take this as a BIG NEGATIVE. Seriously, what is he going to tell the scouts in the interviews? I just don’t like school? What does that say about your work eithic your ability to learn complex offenses and reading defensive schemes. The NFL is 10 times more complex than any system he has ever been in, yet he can’t even manage taking electives for a year and getting a C at least. He is an idiot. Wouldn’t be surprised if he bombs in the NFL too.

by JRSu1 on Nov 2, 2009 1:47 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Im calling it now...

The raiders will draft him in the first round.

by ryanwk628 on Nov 2, 2009 1:55 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

does he run a 4.2?

by JRSu1 on Nov 2, 2009 2:33 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

This hurts - but not where you first thing

Losing Mike Williams the football player hurts, but it’s not like this team was a BCS contender with him in the line up. They lose their best offensive weapon, no question, but even with him getting to 5-6 wins was an optimistic goal – I still think it is.

The defense has kept them in 3 games against quality opponents where either the offense was inept, turnover prone, or both.

I make the argument here that starting Ryan Nassib at QB will more then compensate for losing Mike Williams. Getting a better player involved on EVERY play (QB) helps the team more then losing their best player who impacts 20-40% of a game.

Where this hurts, is in SU’s reputation. The fading of the Greg Paulus story wouldn’t have hurt too much, but now you’ve got a story of a busted up PG playing QB terribly and the best WR leaving the team.

What bowl game wants that story, plus an apathetic fan base? What weekend does SU get picked up nationally now, with nearly no marketable asset on the team?

Whatever good will and media recognition was out there early, this could really kill it. And that can effect recruiting in a big way.

I think Coach Marrone can spin this correctly but winning 2 of the final 4 games is huge now. Hard to see a W against Pitt this weekend, though the final 3 are 50/50 I think all the way.

by JonnyNYC on Nov 2, 2009 2:18 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I think the last few teams on our schedule being running teams bodes well for us. We have one of the best run D’s in the country. Thankfully the best BE teams are out of the way.

by ryanwk628 on Nov 2, 2009 2:24 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs