By John Kamara
What once seemed like to many as an impossible job and or goal, the George Williams Athletic complex will be done and ready for action come next season for competition. Saint Augustine’s college will be opening a new home for the school and the CIAA. George Williams Athletic Complex? Yes that’s the name that was chosen and why not. The field was named that to show tribute to Head coach of the track and field team and Athletic director George Williams, who while as his tenure at Saint Augustine’s college has met so many milestones and accomplishments. Coach Williams has earned thirty-one (31) NCAA Division II Track Championships, produced nine Olympians including 2008 Bronze medalist Bershawn Jackson, and served as head coach of the 2004 gold medal-winning United States Olympic Men’s Track and Field Team.
The school had basically slim to none facilities for the football team in past history and no where to call their home field, and playing at Broughton High school, (Raleigh, NC) was the site that the school has been playing at about ten minutes away from the school campus. Along with that track team practicing at a couple sites off campus but normally in the schools parking lots and open grass spaces this is a major upgrade.
This field seems like perfect timing for the school, with the football team coming off of one of their best seasons since the 2004 season posting an (9-2) record one game shy from going to the CIAA championship but did win the Pioneer bowl in Georgia. Along with that the team has two NFL prospects (OL) Justin Wells and (RB) Walter sanders both from Baltimore, MD are both ranked top prospects in their positions in the HBCU players to make it to the NFL. But let’s not just focus on the football side this brings great excitement to the Track team who is only known for winning championships year after year in Division two. This will give the team a Track to practice on it make convenient for themselves and maybe even the community.
This brings a lot of excitement to the Saint Augustine’s community and also a new field for all CIAA schools to witness when they come to Raleigh when they play the Falcons.
By John Kamara
