Super Bowl champion talks success, perseverance at N.J. middle school

JERSEY CITY - Perry Williams was an 11-year-old boy living in North Carolina when he decided he would one day earn a college football scholarship, play in the NFL, and win a Super Bowl championship.

His mother and grandmother joked with him, saying maybe he'll win a toilet bowl some day.

"I used to tell them that I was going to be somebody one day," Williams said. "I was going to make something positive happen in my life."

Fourteen years later Williams was a cornerback for the New York Giants playing in Super Bowl XXI. After the team's victory over the Denver Broncos on Jan. 25, 1987, Williams called his grandmother, one of the most important people in his life.

"Whatcha think of this toilet bowl kid now?" he recalled asking her her.

On Monday morning, Williams, 56, shared the story of his success and his journey to greatness with about 200 students at Middle School 7 in Jersey City.

He told the students, mostly sixth graders, he grew up in a "broken home" and knew what it was like not having a lot of money, but he pushed himself to keep trying when times got tough.

The football field is hardly where Williams' success ended. Since 1995 he has served as the director of outreach programs for the Petrocelli College of Continuing Studies at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He is also an adjunct professor at the school, teaching undergraduate and graduate level leadership and ethics courses.

Some of the most important things he told the middle school students to remember were not to quit and don't be intimidated by others.

Following his short talk in the school's gym, students had the chance to ask the two-time Super Bowl champion questions: no, he doesn't think athletes should kneel during the National Anthem, Williams thinks end zone celebrations are "unnecessary," and the best advice he ever got was from his grandmother, who told him to give the Giants an "honest day's work" every time he plays.

One group of students - the homeroom that brought in the most donations for Hurricane Maria relief in Puerto Rico - was able to meet Williams and received autographed photos of the former Giants cornerback.

Evelyn Maldonado, 11, said she was motivated by Williams' story. She said what stuck with her the most was Williams determination after winning two championships to return to school to earn his master's degree.

"I think it was very inspiring," Evelyn said.

Caitlin Mota may be reached at cmota@jjournal.com. Follow her on Twitter @caitlin_mota. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.

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