Horned Frogs First Person: Damonic Williams
11/5/2023 9:38:00 AM | Football
Defensive line standout credits his brother for him being at TCU
(as told to Lily Margaret Greenway)
I wouldn't be at TCU without my little brother. I was committed to play at Cal, because staying close to home was tempting, but I was on my knees every night asking God for a sign that I was making the right decision. One night, my little brother, Joshua, walked into our room and asked, "Dam, can I talk to you?" He keeps to himself a lot, not because he's shy, but because he's focused, so I knew I would listen to every word he said in that moment. He told me, "Go to TCU, Dam. I know recruiting is a hard process to think about, and selfishly we want you to go to Cal to be a short flight away, but TCU is going to be the best place for you. It's such a beautiful school, and you're happy there. It is your best bet to make things happen." He was 13 years old and talking to me like a grown man, but him saying that completely settled my mind. My little brother was my sign, and I came here for him.
Driving through campus with my mom was breathtaking. Dang, I was excited! They still had the purple Christmas lights wrapped around all the trees, and we were just driving around with soft music – my mom's favorite – playing in the car. She was crying and telling me how proud she was of me, and I had to stay strong because I didn't want her to see me cry. When she dropped me off, she told me, "stay positive, hit my phone when you need me, and don't forget to call little bro." Moving to TCU was the start of my life, but I was sad to leave my big brother Devin, little bro Joshua, mom and grandma in California. My mom and my grandma raised me. My grandma was a teacher for 40 years, so growing up, she drove me to school every day. It was a 40-minute car ride, and she didn't let me waste one minute of it. We were always having conversations. She would say, "Tell me what you learned about the Declaration of Independence," or "Do you know who Abe Lincoln is?" Every morning she had me read to her or learn something new. And after school, she or my mom would pick me up, we'd go to Grandma's house to get my homework done, and then I'd go to football practice at night. They both got me into good habits and instilled a strong work ethic into me. Mom didn't let me go to sleep without laying my clothes out every night, and even at college, I still do it.
No matter how heavy the door is, I keep pushing until I see the light come through. "We will have good days," my mom always says. "But never bad days. There are only bad moments in the day, so live for the positive outcomes in negative situations." It is a huge test to go through hard things, feel as if the world is against you, and still have an optimistic outlook. I have learned that it is okay to not be okay, and that it's okay to cry, as long as I keep pushing forward and going as hard as I can. After all, I know my little brother is watching my every move, and I'll flip the earth for the people I love.
God has blessed me with an incredibly close circle. Soni Misi, Marcus Williams and Coach (JaMarkus) McFarland are who influenced me to grow from the kid I was when I came here to the man I am now. My teammates are the guys who will be the groomsmen at my wedding. We're goofballs, but they keep my mind straight and help me lock in to get the job done. And when I'm down on the ground, they're gonna pick me up, but they're gonna laugh with me about it. Coach McFarland has always been a strong encouragement in my life, too. I remember him calling just to get to know me a month after I committed to TCU, when he took over the job from the coach who initially recruited me. During our first game against Colorado last year, I knew I was going to be a starter, and I was really nervous. Coach McFarland told me to take it all in, because this was my moment. He gave me his headphones and played a song for me – now I listen to that song before every game. He encouraged me again before the Big 12 Championship, the Fiesta Bowl, and the National Championship – where I was playing in my hometown, in front of my family, on the team my little brother encouraged me to play for.
I know I have to be serious on the field, but when I'm standing on the sidelines and hear little kids yell out "Dam!" I have to turn around and give them a smile or a fist bump. One thing I am very excited about for my future is having a family and being a father. My father wasn't in my life after I was 7 years old, and ever since then, I knew I wanted to be a great dad for my kids. I'll work to give them the world, and help them be great, and smart, and big. Being a dad will be such a great gift, just like getting to walk out on the field, do what I love, and have incredible people backing me.
I wouldn't be at TCU without my little brother. I was committed to play at Cal, because staying close to home was tempting, but I was on my knees every night asking God for a sign that I was making the right decision. One night, my little brother, Joshua, walked into our room and asked, "Dam, can I talk to you?" He keeps to himself a lot, not because he's shy, but because he's focused, so I knew I would listen to every word he said in that moment. He told me, "Go to TCU, Dam. I know recruiting is a hard process to think about, and selfishly we want you to go to Cal to be a short flight away, but TCU is going to be the best place for you. It's such a beautiful school, and you're happy there. It is your best bet to make things happen." He was 13 years old and talking to me like a grown man, but him saying that completely settled my mind. My little brother was my sign, and I came here for him.
Driving through campus with my mom was breathtaking. Dang, I was excited! They still had the purple Christmas lights wrapped around all the trees, and we were just driving around with soft music – my mom's favorite – playing in the car. She was crying and telling me how proud she was of me, and I had to stay strong because I didn't want her to see me cry. When she dropped me off, she told me, "stay positive, hit my phone when you need me, and don't forget to call little bro." Moving to TCU was the start of my life, but I was sad to leave my big brother Devin, little bro Joshua, mom and grandma in California. My mom and my grandma raised me. My grandma was a teacher for 40 years, so growing up, she drove me to school every day. It was a 40-minute car ride, and she didn't let me waste one minute of it. We were always having conversations. She would say, "Tell me what you learned about the Declaration of Independence," or "Do you know who Abe Lincoln is?" Every morning she had me read to her or learn something new. And after school, she or my mom would pick me up, we'd go to Grandma's house to get my homework done, and then I'd go to football practice at night. They both got me into good habits and instilled a strong work ethic into me. Mom didn't let me go to sleep without laying my clothes out every night, and even at college, I still do it.
No matter how heavy the door is, I keep pushing until I see the light come through. "We will have good days," my mom always says. "But never bad days. There are only bad moments in the day, so live for the positive outcomes in negative situations." It is a huge test to go through hard things, feel as if the world is against you, and still have an optimistic outlook. I have learned that it is okay to not be okay, and that it's okay to cry, as long as I keep pushing forward and going as hard as I can. After all, I know my little brother is watching my every move, and I'll flip the earth for the people I love.
God has blessed me with an incredibly close circle. Soni Misi, Marcus Williams and Coach (JaMarkus) McFarland are who influenced me to grow from the kid I was when I came here to the man I am now. My teammates are the guys who will be the groomsmen at my wedding. We're goofballs, but they keep my mind straight and help me lock in to get the job done. And when I'm down on the ground, they're gonna pick me up, but they're gonna laugh with me about it. Coach McFarland has always been a strong encouragement in my life, too. I remember him calling just to get to know me a month after I committed to TCU, when he took over the job from the coach who initially recruited me. During our first game against Colorado last year, I knew I was going to be a starter, and I was really nervous. Coach McFarland told me to take it all in, because this was my moment. He gave me his headphones and played a song for me – now I listen to that song before every game. He encouraged me again before the Big 12 Championship, the Fiesta Bowl, and the National Championship – where I was playing in my hometown, in front of my family, on the team my little brother encouraged me to play for.
I know I have to be serious on the field, but when I'm standing on the sidelines and hear little kids yell out "Dam!" I have to turn around and give them a smile or a fist bump. One thing I am very excited about for my future is having a family and being a father. My father wasn't in my life after I was 7 years old, and ever since then, I knew I wanted to be a great dad for my kids. I'll work to give them the world, and help them be great, and smart, and big. Being a dad will be such a great gift, just like getting to walk out on the field, do what I love, and have incredible people backing me.
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