Getting To Know Conquest Antwun Williams

June 12, 2008 - arenafootball2 (af2)
Albany Firebirds News Release


This week the Albany Conquest PR department sat down with Conquest all-time leader in touchdown receptions #80 Antwun Williams to find out a little more about the guy who has broken three franchise records so far this season and also attended the New York Jets Free Agent/Rookie Minicamp.

What are your thoughts on the season so far?

So far it's shaky, rocky, emotional. We're still in it; we still have the playoffs within reach. With all the ups and downs, more downs than ups, I think the guys have shown a lot of character. It's taken a toll on some of the guys. But as far as the whole season, I'm liking it, even though we're losing, because it's showing how we will come back together as a team.

What do you guys need to do to turn things around?

More team, playing together as a team. Not taking a play off here or there, and keeping it all going as a well-oiled machine.

You have the third most receiving touchdowns in the league with 24 and you've set a bunch of team records this year. Do you set any personal goals for yourself heading into each game?

Yes. Each game I just look to play at the top level. Play better than other receivers, play better than my teammates, and play better than my opponent's receivers. I want to dominate in everything I do. If it's special teams, if it's blocking, if it's running a route, being a decoy, whatever. I always set my standards at being the best so I can achieve at being the best.

Have you lived up to your standard this year in your opinion?

Not just yet. With the record setting and the record breaking it's all good, but I know that I haven't reached my peak yet. I know I still have a lot of work to do and just thinking about certain routes, I know as an individual that I've taken a play off here or there because of fatigue. I don't think I've reached that peak yet, and grading on an A scale, I do feel like I'm at a C right now, for different small reasons.

What about team goals for each game?

There are certain goals that we look for, for example defensive takeaways. The defense is playing great right now. Offense has to step it up as a whole. Once we level it out as a team, we win. During our three-game winning streak we played as the Albany Conquest, not as Albany or Conquest; we played together all on one level. I believe this weekend we'll show that the team unity will come back.

How does arena football compare to the outdoor game (11 on 11) that you played growing up?

I love the arena game! It's a passing game, I'm a receiver and I love to catch the rock and run routes. (Laughs) It's a lot faster game and the transition of going from 11 to arena was adjusting to the different angles, because this game has a lot to do with angles. It's easier going back to the outdoor game, like when I went to camp with the Jets. I felt like the outside game is a lot slower. I get used to the speed of the indoor game, so outside when I was on the go in the middle of a play, I felt like I could read and look a lot faster.

How does the talent level of af2 compare to college football?

There's a lot more talent here. In college you have many players that are good, but certain people that are just ok. But here you have to make the team, you're a professional, you get paid to play football, therefore nine times out of ten you're good. So the talent level here is a lot better.

Tell us about your experience at the Jets minicamp in early May?

It was great. It was an experience that I dreamed about since I was a little kid. I can't even explain it, it was so good out there and so lovely and so fun. At the same time I was learning and I was out there to make the team, I was out there to be in the NFL.

How did that NFL camp experience help you with your game with Albany?

It helped me pay a lot more attention to detail. There you have know where to line up on certain routes and certain plays. Line up two yards here, two yards there, inside the numbers here or outside the numbers there. There was a lot of detail stuff there that I brought back here. Now I'm using a lot more detail as far as getting into the playbook or breaking down films.

Albany WR Heath Decker said you have a very laid back style in the locker room: How are you able to stay so relaxed before the game?

On the field I'm a totally different person. On the field I'm...I guess I'm an animal or something...I'm so focused on the game and on the play and what's going on in the game. Off the field I'm just me. I love to laugh, I love to joke around and the play with the guys. Even when I'm on the field, I say little things as I'm in the middle of a route to a lineman and he hears me and starts laughing. I say if you're having fun on the field, then you're winning.

Is playing in front of a home crowd any advantage to the team?

Yes it is. You're comfortable, you're home. It's just like sitting at home and you have friends over, you're going to put your feet up on the table before they would. You're more comfortable playing at home playing with people behind you saying ‘Let's go Conquest' versus ‘Oh you stink, boo you this and boo that.' It's a lot easier; sometimes you get calls at home that you might not get on the road.

Do you have a specific pre-game meal that you eat before every game?

Pasta and baked chicken. I don't like it, but I eat it.

What is the story with the skeleton outfit that you wear during pre-game warm-ups?

My first year in Albany I got hurt catching an onside kick, had to have surgery and I was laid up in the hospital for a week and a half, maybe two. I lost a bunch of weight and I'm already skinny, so imagine me losing weight and being even skinnier. After that Pete Costanza started calling me ‘Bones.' So last year, this LRG Hoodie came out and it was a skeleton that zips all the way up. So I thought ‘that's nice! And since they were calling me ‘Bones' I decided to get it. So I got it and I wear it warming up before every game. I zip it up when I catch passes, it makes me concentrate on the ball a little bit more. I do a lot of things to help me concentrate on the ball, so when I don't have it on, it's a lot easier for me to see the ball. I think that's the reason I catch so many passes, because I work so much on my concentration.

What are some things you like to do off the field?

My son is my world now. Whatever my son does then I'm right behind him. I love chasing him around and laughing with him, so if I'm hanging around with him then that's all I do. I try to be with him all the time, everyday, when I'm not playing football.

Have you ever Googled yourself or searched your name on You Tube? There's a highlight film of you out there!

Actually Mike Lewis made that highlight film (laughs) and he did a pretty good job with it! Yeah I have Googled myself before...(laughing) I actually did it today. Nothing too exciting, just checking to see if anything new has popped up.

One more question for you. Who is your pick: Celtics or Lakers?

Oooooooh, I'm going for the Celtics. I just don't want Kobe to win it. (Laughs) Kobe doesn't need to win it.

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Albany will hit the road again in Week 12, this time traveling to Kentucky for the first-ever meeting between the Conquest and the expansion Lexington Horsemen. Kickoff is scheduled for Saturday, June 14th at 7:30 pm at Rupp Arena. It will be Albany's fourth all-time af2 game in the state of Kentucky; they have traveled to Louisville three times over the last four seasons. The Conquest will return to the Times Union Center on Friday, June 20th for a 7:00 pm kickoff against the Daytona Beach ThunderBirds.

Partial season ticket packages and individual game tickets are now on sale for the remainder of the 2008 Albany Conquest regular season. For more information please contact the Conquest at (518) 487-2244 or online at www.albanyconquest.com.



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