’25 DL carried the fight to his critics every last step of the way!
In the end, William Long leaves the sport he has played since he was nine years old a shining example of all which can be accomplished with tremendous effort, toil, want to, and a ‘never give up’ spirit. In the end, and on his last official day as a football player, he was recognized for his excellence, a level reached at all different stops along his route.
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, “KPGFootball”
Danville, KY: William Long was average sized in a sport which deifies abnormally large people. At the end of his career, it became readily apparent William’s size was the only thing average about him.
William’s number in junior pro was “60.” He wore “50” in middle school and high school.
In college, as a freshman, he was “51.” His sophomore year William wore “50” once more. Then, William’s junior year at “YJ,” William wore number “34,” to ultimately end his career, his senior year, back on the defensive line of scrimmage; this time wearing number seven (7), a lucky number.
It is fitting William would go out wearing old lucky number seven. William experienced a ton of good luck as a player. The teams on which William played were equally lucky.
William left the Centre Colonels with a conference championship. How very fitting for a highly decorated player to go out a champion.
Yesterday, at the Centre Football Awards banquet, William Long went out adorned a final time. This time William was awarded, by a vote of his teammates, a co-recipient of the Joe McDaniel Excellence Award.
William, who was never really one to seek out the public eye, though not altogether unaccustomed to finding it, left us with a statement on his social media about his feelings concerning this last achievement. William told us, “[I am] struggling to find the words to express what this award means to me. Surreal.”
William continued, “Coach McDaniel’s example shines through a lot of what we do in Centre Football, and if you’re familiar with the program, you know the weight his example holds. Incredibly proud to have been chosen by my teammates as an award recipient and even prouder to share it with Aiden Jackson.”
“Here’s to the continued Pursuit of Excellence with a Vengeance!”
I am struggling to find the words to express what this award means to me
William Long, ’25, Centre College
This may well be the last article this digital magazine, which began to support and promote the playing career of William Long (and players like him), may ever publish about this particular player. Through it all, the all-state teams William made, the powerlifting championships William won, to William being honored as a captain of the many teams on which he played; William has set an enviable (and even incredible) example.
William has shown us all what may be achievable even when one finds himself an average sized human being. William has shown us the possibilities for accomplishment even by an undersized athlete the entire world couldn’t wait to forecast would fail; couldn’t wait to predict would NEVER be able to do exactly what he did.
William’s career officially ended as an active football player yesterday. His example and the many ways he found to inspire us didn’t. It has only just begun.
As his father, I am proud of all William has done. I am more proud of the example William has set.
From junior pro, to middle school, to high school, to college, William has left every program he has served better than how he found it. At the end of the day, looking back on William’s complete body of work as a football player, the only thing average about William Long was his frame.
It certainly wasn’t his heart. It certainly wasn’t his force of will.
That is how I will always remember it. Then again, what do I know?
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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