Williams Terminated As Spartan Head Football Coach
11/4/2002 12:00:00 AM | Football
Nov. 4, 2002
Press Conference Audio Clip
MSU Athletics Director Ron Mason:
"When I was named athletics director, I promised decisive leadership. I assured the administration that I would make the decisions I thought were in the best interests of the athletics department and the entire university. I knew some of them would be difficult ones, and didn't expect one this early.
"Tonight, I announce one of those decisions. I have terminated Bobby Williams as our head football coach, effective immediately. This was even more difficult because I respect Bobby as a person and he is a colleague. Morris Watts will serve as interim coach for the remainder of the season. Morris has no intentions to be permanent coach.
"It became clear to me that the direction of the football program required this decision. There was no one incident, event, episode, or game that determined my conclusion. Therefore, I don't think it wise or helpful to publicly analyze any single event or incident. I made the decision today. There was no reason to prolong what I had determined was inevitable."
On making this decision now . . . : "I didn't like the way the program was heading and at this point it clears the air. If there was anybody wondering whether or not there was going to be a new coach, now nobody has to wonder. There will be a new coach."
"It was the direction this program was heading that led to this decision. Like I said before, it wasn't one thing, it was a number of things. I can't isolate just one thing; it was a number of things that had to be considered. And after analyzing everything, I felt like this was the right decision.
"After the Michigan game, one of you people asked Bobby whether he felt he had control of this team or not. He said he wasn't sure and at that point, I really felt that if he wasn't sure, who was? To me, that was kind of a defining moment."
On selecting Morris Watts as the interim head coach . . . : "Morris is really the most experienced person on the staff. He's been around for these types of things before. Hopefully, under the circumstances, he can bring the team together and we can be competitive for the next three games."
On finding a new head football coach . . . : "I haven't really put a timetable together yet. I think that would be wrong. The most important thing is that we get the right coach. We're going to select the best coach we can for this program. It's my job to do what's in the best interest of the department and this program."
Interim Head Football Coach Morris Watts:
"This is a difficult time for me. I've been coaching 42 years and been an assistant coach all 42 years. One of the things that I feel I have prided myself in is loyalty for the people I work for - that would be Bobby (Williams), (Ron) Mason and Michigan State University. That's why this is such a difficult night. I was torn with my loyalty to Bobby and my loyalty to Michigan State when Ron asked if I would take over the interim head coaching job.
"I look forward to doing as good of a job as I can and getting the young men to play hard for the next three ballgames.
"Right now, most of my feelings are for Coach Williams. I was here when (George) Perles hired Bobby. I chose to stay here and work with Bobby instead of going to LSU (with Nick Saban). I think our staff is really close. I understand the nature of this business and what happens. I know that all of us as coaches are really judged by one thing and that is wins and losses. I know what the future of the program depends on.
"I didn't really expect this to happen. I've still got my practice gear on. I came off the field and this situation happened."
