Smash Williams

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Friday Night Lights character

Gaius Charles as Smash Williams
Brian "Smash" Williams
Role Starting running back of the Dillon Panthers
Relatives Father: Michael Williams
Mother: Corina Williams
First appearance Season 1, Episode 1
"Pilot"
Portrayed by Gaius Charles

Brian "Smash" Williams is a fictional character in the drama television series Friday Night Lights portrayed by actor Gaius Charles. He is currently the senior starting running back at Dillon High School, for the Dillon Panthers in the series. Considered the most talented player on the Panthers roster after quarterback Jason Street, Smash received his nickname from his father after hitting a water heater.[1] Smash is believed to be based on Boobie Miles from the Friday Night Lights movie.

Williams is shown to be a jock in the beginning of the show. He starts a feud with fullback Tim Riggins, after having sex with Riggins' girlfriend Tyra Collette, resulting in their breakup. After being caught taking performance-enhancing drugs, Smash begins a more mature approach to life, taking QB Matt Saracen under his wing, building a friendship with Riggins and leading the team after the devastating injury on Jason Street.

Contents

[edit] Role in Friday Night Lights

[edit] Biography

Smash was born in fictional Gatling, Texas presumably in the late 1980s to Michael and Corrina Williams.[2] He grew up there before moving away to Dillion, Texas because his mother wanted him and his two sisters away from their father.[3] Eventually a few years later, Michael Williams was killed in a car accident in 1999 with a woman while still married.[4]

[edit] Season 1

When Friday Night Lights begins, Smash is shown to be the stereotypical jock, being portrayed as loud-mouthed and flashy on the field. Though a skilled player, he has an off-day at the worst time imaginable, when a college scouts is in the audience. Despairing of his chances to be a top-100 recruit, Smash turns to steroids and is able to win the next game for the team. However, when his mother discovers the drugs she assumes that Coach Taylor is behind it and accidentally reveals his indiscretion when she accuses the coach.[5] For a time Smash's future is in doubt, but eventually Taylor allows him back on the team provided he takes regular drug tests.[6]

After assistant coach Mac McGill makes controversial comments regarding the abilities of black football players to the press, Smash is at first accepting of his apology. However, discussions with the other black players leads him to become very offended at the comments, and he convinces all the black players to sit out of every game until Mac is fired.[7] However, after his mother tells him to be more careful about picking his battles, he relents and plays in the next game.[8] At the playoff game against Dunston Valley, Smash and the black players face real racism from an all white football team who were involved in the hazing of a player in blackface. At Dunston Valley, they are the subject of numerous taunts and dirty hits leading to a brawl that ends the game. On the way back, the team bus is pulled over by local officers who tell the coaches to hand over Smash for a trumped up charge of assault stemming from the last play of the game, but Mac steps up and refuses to let them on the bus without a warrant, resulting in Smash and Mac's reconciliation.[9][10]

At the state championship Smash's former teammate "Voodoo" Tatum, now on the opposing team, offers to let Smash transfer so they can be the same formidable duo again.[11] Smash declines, his loyalty to the Panthers having grown over the season. In the game, Smash gets injured after scoring a touchdown, but returns in time to make a last-second score with no time remaining to complete a Panther comeback to win the state championshipship.[12] After Coach Taylor visits the school after possibly transferring to fictional Texas Methodist University, Smash leads the other players in a chant of the team's motto "Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose," showing they still have respect for him.

[edit] Season 2

Smash is seen as the star of season two. Smash is the center of attention and gets into a fight with starting quarterback Matt Saracen, both get benched for it. Late in a game when Dillon is losing, Matt and Smash decide to "kiss and make-up" in order to get back in the game and lead Dillon to victory. Smash then gets caught up in the recruiting whirlwind and eventually declines offers from Michigan, Alabama, and Georgia to play for the fictional school TMU. Later, Smash goes on a date with his girlfriend Noelle and gets into a fights with a group of white kids who were making racist remarks about his sister. One of the kids pressed charges and Smash was forced to apologize. Smash insists that he should be apologizing for what he did and says that while his actions were inappropriate, he is not sorry. As a punishment Smash gets suspended for 3 games and has his scholarship revoked for character issues. With his options growing thin, Smash decides to play for the fictional historically black college Whitmore. Smash is surprised and impressed on his visit to Whitmore when he finds that the coach there has been following his career since the 8th grade. Season 2 ends unexpectedly, with the Panthers entering the playoff push and Smash in the locker room, sitting on the bench with his head down.

[edit] Future

Smash is the only main character that is a senior, as confirmed by show producers.[13] In the series premiere, he indicated he wanted to go to the University of Texas to play for real-life, renowned Longhorn coach Mack Brown.[14] In season 2, he committed to play for TMU, however, after an altercation at a movie theater, he was placed on suspension for the remainder of his senior season. Consequently, TMU revoked their scholarship offer. After following the advice of Coach Taylor, Smash committed to Whitmore, one of the few offers still standing.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Smash Williams: I remember the guy who taught me to throw a spiral. And took us fishing. And gave me my nickname after I crashed my bike into the water heater. Friday Night Lights NBC
  2. ^ TV reporter: ...but we have an interesting situation with Smash Williams. Now Gatling is his hometown, it's where he grew up. Friday Night Lights. "Full Hearts". 5 December 2006.
  3. ^ Smash Williams: Did you move us from Gatling from the ghetto, or from dad? Friday Night Lights. "Full Hearts". 5 December 2006.
  4. ^ Smash Williams: Dad's accident? I remember it was late and Dad was coming home from work by himself, and a lady ran a red light and he never stood a chance. Corrina Williams: You were right, it was late at night, but he wasn't coming home from work and he wasn't alone. Friday Night Lights. "Full Hearts". 5 December 2006.
  5. ^ Coriana Williams: (waves bag in Eric Taylor's face) And I thought you were a Christian man, Coach Taylor, but you're messin' with my son's life to win football games? These kids, they're stupid. They think they're invincible, I see it every day at the clinic. But Coach Taylor, you supposed to know better. Friday Night Lights. "Little Girl I Wanna Marry You". 24 January 2007
  6. ^ Eric Taylor: What I'm about to say stands between you and me. You're gonna get yourself clean. You're going to submit to private voluntary drug testing until I can decide I can trust you. Friday Night Lights. "Little Girl I Wanna Marry You". 24 January 2007
  7. ^ TV Reporter: Do you want Mac McGill fired? Smash Williams: That would be a good start. Friday Night Lights. "Black Eyes & Broken Hearts". 14 February 2007
  8. ^ Coriana Williams: This Mac MacGill thing? It's over, it's done, you hear me?You quittin' football to make a point about racism in a small Texas town? That ain't the Million Man March. If you want to get back at the Mac MacGills of the world, you needs to play like the star that you are, get recruited by a big time school, and get your degree. Friday Night Lights. "Black Eyes & Broken Hearts". 14 February 2007
  9. ^ Police Officer: We need Smash Williams for questioning. Eric Taylor: For what? Police Officer: Witnesses say that Smash Williams threw the first punch. Friday Night Lights. "Black Eyes & Broken Hearts". 14 February 2007
  10. ^ Mac McGill: They made a mistake, son, just like I did. Friday Night Lights. "Black Eyes & Broken Hearts". 14 February 2007
  11. ^ Voodoo Tatum: Me and you together? It'll be something this state has never seen. Every college will want you. Friday Night Lights. "State". 11 April 2007
  12. ^ Slammin' Sammy: Saracen drops back to pass, got Riggins inside, he fires a beautiful pass to Tim Riggins, he cuts it short... OH! It's a pitch to Smash Williams on a lateral! He breaks a tackle... TOUCHDOWN! PANTHERS WIN STATE! Friday Night Lights. "State". 11 April 2007
  13. ^ Friday Night Lights Spoilers from Ausiello [fnl-online.com FNL-Online.com]
  14. ^ TV Reporter: What's after high school for you, Brian? Smash Williams: Me and Mack Brown are going to get it on in Pasadena. Get my championship on, get my Heisman on. Friday Night Lights. "Pilot". 3 October 2006.

[edit] External links