GRAMBLING, La. — There's nothing better for the coach of a freshman starting quarterback than to see that player handle the test under fire and grow up on the field during a game – even if it takes a sandlot, drawn up on the sideline kind of play to do so.

 

Let's just say that Grambling head football coach Doug Williams had a pleasant opening game last weekend.

 

That's because Doug Williams saw that happen during last week's season-opening 21-14 win over Alcorn State in the Port City Classic as his son D.J. guided the Tigers to the win in his first collegiate action ever. His father said one play defined the GSU win and the way D.J. grew up during the contest.

 

“For me, the biggest play came 10 seconds before halftime,” Doug Williams said, “Actually, we called a timeout to kick a field goal, and in any other situation as a coach, with a freshman quarterback, 10 seconds and a chance to get three (points), you kick the field goal. I've been D.J. for 18 years, but when he came to the sideline, I've never seen a young man looking at me like 'I can do this.' I was like, 'Shut up, just be quiet.' But that look was convincing.

 

“I told him we had 10 seconds — he could either throw it away out of the end zone or Mario (Louis) catches it. D.J. said he could do it, and I said OK. D.J. threw a perfect pass for a touchdown.”

 

And in that moment, Doug Williams knew he and his coaching staff made the right move in naming D.J. as Grambling's starting signal caller.

 

“I think that one play was the difference in the game,” Doug Williams said. “I think you could see (D.J.) growing up because he believes in what he can do. When you call plays, you call plays you feel like your quarterback can execute. And it's a good feeling when a quarterback comes to the sideline and tells a coach what he can do. It was a fade pass to the end zone — you either throw it to him or out of the end zone. We really didn't call a play — that's the honest to God truth. We just said throw it to Mario or out of bounds.  When we scored we had 4.6 seconds left, so we still would have had the opportunity to kick the field goal if it had gone incomplete.”

 

Doug Williams said he was pleased with the way D.J. handled the pressure of making his first college start.

 

“I played my last football game at about 34 and before I took any snap I was nervous, so I figure at 18 years old taking his first snap, he had to be nervous,” Doug Williams said. “I think we have to take our hats off (to D.J.) When you compare the two — Air Canada (Alcorn State quarterback Brandon Bridge) was 17 of 25, with one TD and no interceptions. D.J. was 16 of 24 with two TDs and no interceptions. So when you compare the two, you have to give (D.J.) some kudos because he stood the test and came out with a 'W.'”

 

The head coach does have some phases of the game he'd like to see his starting quarterback work on.

 

“After you watch tape, you realize that during the game we got out with the 'W.' On Saturday, you probably would have given D.J. an “A-,” but on further review, it's a little different when you watch the tape. There are some things he did well and some things he could have done early and taken advantage but didn't. The one time down near the goal line when he fumbled the football, we were lucky to get it back.

 

“The other thing was managing the clock. I think we had three delay (of game) calls because of D.J. not paying attention to the clock. But you know what, he's a freshman, and hopefully after going through that game he'll learn that it's on him to get the ball snapped.”