Anthony: Where are you
from and where do you live now?
Bill:
I grew up in Savannah, Georgia and have lived in Alabama for a long time now.
Anthony: How did the University of Alabama find out about you while you were
in high school?
Bill:
I was highly recruited, because I was an All-American player in high school. All of the Southeastern Conference schools were
interested, as well as many larger universities around the country. I was a Georgia fan growing up, but got recruited by coach
(“Bear“) Bryant -- you know what I mean? I felt his team was the best way to win a national championship, and
wound up making a good choice. We won two of them back-to-back in ‘78 and ‘79, and I was able to letter three
years.
Anthony:
It must have been a high-point in your life to be a starter for Alabama during those incredible seasons. And, I understand
you’re the strongest man to have ever played for Bama.
Bill: Yeah, school officials have said that.
Anthony: Gamblers offensive line coach Bob Young, who was one of the strongest
football players in history himself, probably loved you.
Bill: Bob and I got to be pretty good friends… What happened was Bob had an ex-teammate
by the name of Tom Banks who was playing for the Birmingham Stallions. The Gamblers took me in the expansion draft from Birmingham,
I guess because of Tom’s recommendation with the strength thing, and I was also built very similar to Bob as far as
height and weight goes. Even after I got in all of my trouble, Bob was still a good coach and a good friend to me.
Anthony: Oh boy, the legendary “trouble.”
I’m sure Jerry Argovitz wasn’t too happy about that episode.
Bill: Jerry Argovitz was the kind of owner who was really in control of his
team -- he kinda reminded me of the Al Davis type. Well, I was one of his first players to get into trouble with the police.
Jim Kelly was there with me the night it happened, and I pushed him back inside and told him, “You don’t need
to be a part of this.” Regardless, any publicity is good publicity, and there was a huge headline and article in the
Houston papers about me and the team thanks to that event.
Anthony: It wasn’t the trouble with the law that sidelined you, though.
Bill: I tore a groin muscle really bad during
training camp, and it never really healed before I started playing. I had it injected before one game, so I could play, and
the muscle was totally destroyed after that. Such is the sport of football.
Anthony: A tough hand to be dealt, for sure.
Bill: I enjoyed my opportunity with the Gamblers, even though it was short-lived.
I was always a Raiders fan because I enjoyed their style of play, and while others may not agree, I felt like the Gamblers
were trying to model themselves to be a somewhat similar type of team. -- especially with the likes of Jerry Argovitz, who
was a bit of a maverick. I enjoyed getting to know Jim Kelly. He was a good guy, man.
Anthony: I’m sorry I couldn’t find you to let you know about the
Gamblers reunion we had in 2010.
Bill:
That’s quite alright, because I’ve been almost impossible to find the past several years. I was working with a
ministry in Alabama that was somewhat secluded way out in the country. They have a one-year program for guys who are having
problems with drugs and alcohol, coming out of jail or prison and are getting back into society, those kinds of things. I
entered the program as a student and was totally secluded for the year, and upon completion, was asked to stay and work there.
During this time very few people knew how to find me.
Anthony: Well you’re easy to find now. You’ve generated tons of buzz thanks to
your appearance on “Heavy.”
Bill:
Everyone’s interested in a train wreck. (Laughs) It’s not a train wreck now -- but it was. After high
school, I was always in some kind of trouble. Nothing too serious, but usually some kind of barroom fighting and staying out
too late. After playing for the Chargers, I went back south and just got involved in the wrong things. I wandered around for
a long time, and did have a commercial real estate career for several years, but to make a long story short, would up homeless
and living in my car seven or eight years ago.
Most
recently I’ve worked for an organization called Canaan Land Ministries, and now for a program called Changed Lives Christian
Center. Because of the TV show, I’ve had several speaking engagements, radio spots and other kinds of appearances.
Anthony: If someone is interested in having
you speak at a function, may they contact you?
Bill: Sure, I’d love to hear from them. They can find me on Facebook or call me at
(334) 595-1642.
