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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 6 • 18 Although Williams isn't a captain this season — seniors Sean Robinson and Ryan Russell are on defense — the fourth- year junior seems destined to be one next season. He's vocal, prodding his defensive team- mates to give it their all, and his offensive ones too. Doing anything that could potentially help. "I try to get in there as much as I can," he said, referring to his penchant for jumping in the offen- sive huddle before it goes on the field. "Honestly, I have to hurry be- cause I have to go back and we've got to draw some things up on defense, but just trying to help the team. I feel like I have a great con- nection with each individual on the team and can say something to one guy. I'd rather not regret it than not say it and regret it later." Williams has always been will- ing to voice that opinion, although it's probably better directed now. Fellow safety Landon Feichter says Williams "hooted and hollered" during his early years as a Boiler- maker, but to pump himself up more than to help others. It's bet- ter directed now. "Now his hooting and holler- ing is strictly leadership and that's what we need," Feichter said. "He is a live wire, that' s a good way to describe him. He's a guy out there who is always talking, always seeing something and coming back to the sideline and is coach- ing everybody else on the sideline. He does a really good job with that. He's very passionate, not a guy that you're going to see being quiet through good times or bad. He's al- Tom Campbell Williams' leadership is rubbing off on the oth- ers around him, a reason why Purdue's defense has played well of late. FOLLETT'S PURDUE BOOKSTORES Purdue West | Black & Gold Mine 4/C Black & White For Black background, there is a white border around it. /FollettsPurdueBookstore BOILER UP ® Get the latest in Boilermaker gear GOAL? TOUCHDOWN Often it's said that a punt returner's goal is a first down. In other words, get 10 yards up field to give the offense a shorter dis- tance to cover. Frankie Williams scoffs at that idea. "The goal is a touchdown," he said. "That's the short of it. We'll go for per- fection and perfection would be that touchdown." Williams hasn't yet hit that home run, but he might not be far off, either. The junior is averaging 19.3 yards on his seven attempts this season, good for 11th in the country. He's on pace to set the school single-season punt return record set by Vinny Sutherland (16.4 avg.) in 1999. Considering his long is only 36 yards makes the average even more impressive; it shows consistency. "I think it means the front 10 have been consistent," Williams said, refer- ring to his blockers, calling their effort "ridiculously" good. "And I need to work harder to get in the end zone, honestly." Williams was close against the Hawkeyes. On one of his two returns, he skirted up the left sideline, dancing by a couple would-be tacklers, and only the last Hawkeye, who had slipped off a tackle on the sideline, hemmed him in. Maybe the next one. "I want to score," Williams said. "Touchdowns win games, not first downs." — Kyle Charters