Running Down A Dream

Oct. 6, 1999

By Ross Blacker

Coming out of Holyoke High School, Cedric Washington was everybody's All-American. Make that everybody's high school All-American. While Washington slashed and dashed his way to a Massachusetts schoolboy record 6,688 yards and about every accolade that exists, Mike Cloud, currently a member of the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, was already situated in Chestnut Hill. Washington, who entered Boston College in the fall of 1997, was in for a rude awakening. The reporters' tape recorders and lights from the television cameras weren't by his locker. There was no need. Omari Walker and Cloud were the featured attractions. Feeling like every hometown hero slapped in the face with the reality of college, Washington took a back seat to Walker and Cloud. Toiling in virtual anonymity for the past three years, he is now the 4-0 Eagles' main threat out of the backfield, amassing 512 yards in the season's first four games - better even than Cloud's totals the first four games of his junior year.

Coming out of South Jersey powerhouse Holy Spirit, William Green was projected as a "can't miss" prospect. The focus of the fans' and media's attention from the day he arrived on the Heights, Green is in the same position Washington faced three falls ago: a highly-regarded player doing his best to fit into the college system. A player who visited Ohio State and North Carolina before deciding to stay in the Northeast and become an Eagle, Green has developed nicely into the team's third tailback with head coach Tom O'Brien recently pronouncing him the squad's designated third down and short yardage back. With his deceptively swift breakaway speed and prodigious strength, Green's work ethic and willingness to learn the offensive system is earning him immediate playing time, something Washington was without.

Two players, both running backs, both accomplished and decorated, both after the same thing: Boston College's first winning season in three years and the likely bowl bid that would come along with it. Never mind the preseason magazines that Washington felt ignored him or that made a hero out of Green, Predictions and expectations are thrown out the proverbial window when it's time to strap on the pads and take some hits.

The Family Man
Washington, who entered fall camp as the Eagles' No. 2 running back behind senior Carlton Rowe, has literally burst onto the scene, with 100+ yard games against Baylor, Rutgers and Northeastern. Not even a starter on the first Saturday in September, Washington made believers out of Baylor by racking up 177 yards on 32 carries. He also found paydirt three times including once in overtime to give Boston College the victory. The performance obviously warranted the notice of the BIG EAST Conference, who named No. 35 as its offensive player of the week following the offensive outburst.

"I knew going into that (Baylor) game that I had to perform," Washington said. "I had the most experience of the three (Green and Calrton Rowe). I wasn't really surprised at how well I did. I knew I had it in me."

Currently 11th nationally in yards per game with 128.0, Washington is not only a standout tailback but also a father. Washington and longtime girlfriend Jamie Gonsor are the proud parents of 2 1/2 year-old daughter Jordyn, someone Washington considers his biggest fan.

"She's getting to the age where she knows who I am and can recognize me on TV," Washington said. "During the Rutgers game my girlfriend told me that she (Jordyn) was saying ?there's my daddy!'. That makes me feel good, it's very sweet."

Becoming increasingly adept at balancing life as a father, athlete and student, Washington's field vision, strength and ability to lower his shoulder and bounce off defenders are aspects that have impressed first-year running backs coach Jason Swepson. Himself a former Boston College gridder, Swepson is in his first year working with the running backs and fully expected Washington to run the ball like he did against the Big 12-member Bears.

"I wasn't surprised at all," Swepson said. "He (Washington) had a good spring and came back to camp in tip-top shape. He was also extremely focused."

With the departure of Cloud, new offensive coordinator Dana Bible and head coach Tom O'Brien have elected to go with a three-back rotation. Washington, Carlton Rowe and Green all share the carries. Rarely is a player in for more than two series, even rarer is he in for three. No matter how well he's running or how many yards he gains, there's always the chance that he'll be on the sideline watching. The constant coming and going and shuttling in and out can make for difficulty in focusing, especially for a player near the top of the conference in rushing.

Swepson, who didn't watch a minute of film on Washington and Rowe upon taking the job, is a proponent of the system claiming that while it may be difficult to adjust to, its long-term benefits outweigh whatever negatives may exist.

"I want to use this year to completely understand the offense," Green said. "I know that there are two older running backs ahead of me so whatever the coaches feel (about playing time) is okay with me."

"With the situation we have it is sometimes hard to get into a flow," Swepson said. "We have three good backs and they are all going to get the ball. What I tell them is that when they get the opportunity whether it is one snap or 17 plays, they have to know what they're doing and run hard."

While his name may not have been known or spoken prior to the season, Washington has more than burst onto the scene, instantly raising the level of expectation amongst the coaches, fans and himself.

Taking it all in stride, Washington just wants to keep running whether it is 20, 25 or 30 times per game. Comfortable with the pressure and expectations that are now present, Washington has regained the confidence and then some from his days as everybody's All-American at Holyoke High School.

"I really do believe in myself and thrive in pressure situations," Washington said. "I want to be the main guy, I want to score touchdowns, I want to be the guy that our team depends on."

The Diaper Dandy
Heading into his first fall camp on the Heights, William Green had a mountain of expectations. Some expected him to be the main man, figuring that it was a matter of time before Green would be the next Cloud. Others felt that he was just the type of player needed to put the Eagles over the top. Everyone had lofty goals and expectations - everybody but William Green himself.

"I never expected to come in here and dominate or anything like that," Green said. "I just take it day by day and hope to play well."

Turning heads early with a pair of 100-plus yard efforts in the team's pre-season scrimmages, Green gained 77 yards on eight carries in the season opener against Baylor.

A week later, he ran for just five yards on two carries, a fact that would frustrate many backs. Green, termed mature for his age by Swepson, took it all in stride, realizing that as long as he kept working hard, good things would happen. Green came back strong against Rutgers, running for 64 yards on 14 carries. Content to watch and learn behind Washington and Rowe, Green is comfortable with his role and is using the year to master Bible's offense.

A player whose phone never stopped ringing during his high school days, Green chose Boston College shortly after visiting. Hitting it off immediately with his hosts Antonio Garay and Jerome Ledbetter, he also found an instant comfort level with the coaching staff. Green went to so far to pronounce the team atmosphere present at Boston College unlike the situation in either Chapel Hill (N.C.) or Columbus (Ohio).

Finding a kinship with the plethora of Garden State natives currently wearing the maroon and gold, Green has become close with Keith Hemmings, a freshman wideout hailing from Woodbridge, N.J.

Green hopes to continue playing football at the professional level, but is aware that a sound education will benefit him. "Honestly there is no social life," Green said. "It's either school or football. If you do have free time you're too tired to do anything."

Two players, both with the same goal, headed in the same direction -- up the field, towards the end zone to a bowl game. Nobody ever said it would be easy or without sacrifice.

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