The Wolfpacker: An Independent Magazine Covering NC State Sports
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Warner Robins is roughly 450 miles away from the RBC Center, but that hasn't slowed the Williams family down in coming to see C.J. play. The family often drives an hour and a half up to Atlanta, flies to Raleigh, and then rises at 4:30 a.m. the next day to fly back for work. "As I was raising my kids, if it was at all possible, I wanted to go to every single game," said Wendell Williams, who has worked for the Air Force for 28 years and has accumulated vacation time. "I wanted to be there to show my support for my son and as well as his team. I know the only two games I missed during his NC State career was the week that the Air Force relocated me from Fayetteville to Georgia. I missed two non-conference games that week." The RBC Center (or PNC Center) will take on a different look next year if the Wil- liams family isn't in their family half-court seats across from the team benches. "Hopefully, I'll be playing somewhere professionally, and my sister has already told me wherever I'm going, she's going," Wil- liams said. "If I have to go overseas, she'll be going with me and will watch me play." Wendell Williams still would like to watch NC State play in the future, but admits it will be different with his son not playing. "Next year is going to feel strange," Wen- dell Williams said. "It's been almost five years of going around and supporting the red and white of the Wolfpack. If the coaching staff allowed me to come around and support after C.J. is gone, I'll come back and support as much as I can." Williams, who was recruited by former NCSU assistant coach Larry Harris, was affected by injuries at the beginning of his Wolfpack career. He injured his back dur- ing the traveling team season going into his senior year at Jack Britt. Rivals.com ranked him No. 144 overall and the No. 25 small forward in the country, but the sense was his best basketball would be ahead of him when he got healthier. Williams' versatility and pretty shooting stroke were the cornerstones of his prep ca- reer. It took him a few years, but the same could ring true of his lasting impression at NC State. Williams plans to go into coaching some- day, but for now would rather make the NCAA Tournament for the first time in his college career. He expects the last few games to be among the hardest. "It means the world to me right now," Williams said. "It's somewhere I've never been. I just want to get a taste of it. That is my mindset, and every time I come and work out, I just want to get to the tourna- ment. Once I get in the tournament, I want to win." ■ Gardner Marsh Gas Equipment Company, Inc. 8209 Brownleigh Drive 2119 Jody Road Raleigh, NC 27617 Ph: 919 787 8214 Ph: 800 334 9245 Fax: 800 400 2596 Florence, SC 29501 Ph: 843 669 3136 Ph: 800 868 8988 Fax: 843 661 5236 Call Now! (919) 386-9238 Alan Hoffler, owner BS AE '90 MS MA '93 millswyck.com Speak up. Stand out! _ Just Say NO! to Boring Presentations! Web: www.gardnermarsh.com MARCH 2012 ■ 59 _