Chip Williams: More Than An Athlete Story and Photos by Casey Raschen
Chip Williams prays with his team.
Students who come to college to play sports often hear themselves referred to as studentathletes. However, there are some athletes that put their academics before their sport. Christopher Williams, commonly known as Chip, is a good example. Williams is a senior ecology and field biology major; he is also a starting inside linebacker for the Shorter University Hawks football team. Williams maintains a solid 3.8 GPA while balancing his sport with his classes. Growing up, Williams always had a strong love for the outdoors and being in nature. At a young age, he knew he wanted to work with wildlife and get his hands dirty. He just did not know what that looked like or how he would accomplish it. Williams also loved to play football. During his senior year of high school, Williams injured his left knee. He quickly went from having dreams of playing in college to slowly accepting the fact he might never step foot onto another football field. However, this changed in the spring of 2018 when he received a phone call from Shorter University head football coach Zach Morrison. When Morrison met Williams, he knew he wanted him on the team. However, Morrison did not have any scholarships to offer him. Instead, Morrison offered Williams a walk-
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on spot, which he accepted. In the fall of 2018, Williams red shirted his first year, taking the year to strengthen his knee and perfect his skills. When Williams’ junior year came, he was seen as a key player on the field and received scholarship money. When the major player in William’s position was injured, he took it as an opportunity to step up and lead his team. Now in his senior year, Williams plays as a starting linebacker and the team captain. Williams knew that majoring in a science and playing football might create some challenges, but he tackled them head-on. From being in the science lab six hours daily to growing bacteria to running straight to football practice, Williams is always on the run. He also juggles working on his senior seminar project, required of all seniors in majoring in a science. This project requires added hours of time Chip spends hours in the science lab growing, working on his senior project, but knows testing, the time is well worth it. collecting, and analyzing data. It is a wonder Williams has any time for anything except academics, especially collegiate football. “I take one thing at a time, take each day like that day, and prepare for what’s coming up next, whether that’s a lab, test, or practice,” said Williams. People who know Williams describe him as a loyal, faithful, and genuine person dedicated to both the field of science and football. William’s goal is to be a Christian influence to the world around him no matter where life takes him.
