When you are a freshman in college, there are many courses to learn. There are more when you’re a freshman athlete in college. Consider how many lessons you want to learn if you are participating in two sports, like Texas Longhorn/baseball phenomenon, Jonah Williams?
A few months later, the early admissions game has already entered the starting lineup of the Texas Longhorns baseball team. But that doesn't mean that the 17-year-old has figured it out.
On Friday night against the Florida Gators, Williams was all the rage for the wrong reasons. At the bottom of the seventh inning at UFCU DISCH-FALK, the left fielder came to the set with a knockout and a runner at first base. What happened next was one of the most controversial, fiery walking in baseball history lately.
The sequence ends with words between Williams and the Florida pitcher, catcher and first baseman who need first base coach Michael Cantu, first base coach Michael Cantu, first base referee Eddie Newsom and head coach Jim Schlossnagle.
"I just want the referee to get out of him and let him continue playing," Schlossnagle said. Newsom separates the players while exchanging words. Schlossnagle told Newsom that he would talk to his players. No player will receive a formal warning.
"Jona is awesome, man. His energy and competitiveness and his willingness to win is that if I were a Texas fan, I was what I wanted," Schlossnager said. "He just had to understand that baseball was a little different and there were unwritten rules in the way the game was played. He knew that. He just wanted to win, he didn't do anything to show anyone. He really wanted to win. When I said win. When I said win, it was not just a game, it was a court, it was a hit, it was a game."
Of course, if you are on the football field, the behavior of freshmen will be even more celebrated. Williams scored 2-2 in six losses on Friday.
But another lesson in life is that tomorrow is a new day. Of course it's Williams's.
Williams tied for the sixth inning 2-2 on Saturday. The defensive back drove the 92mph fastball with a 1-1 record, clearing the base and making Texas' first lead. Williams celebrated enthusiastically in second base just to maintain the “brand”.
The Longhorns beat their four-game losing streak with a 5-2 lead.
All of this shows the ups and downs of becoming a newborn, no matter how talented you are. The good news for Longhorn fans is that Williams seems to learn from his mistakes and use them to improve. Through all this, Galveston Ball's products keep his passion.
Schlossnagle said Williams, who reached .344 this season, just "want to win so badly."
"He brought a lot of refreshing things to our team," Schlosnerger said after the game. "Have a competitive person. He is such a special person. Obviously, he has physical talent. But there is only this belief. … It shows who he is. Who his parents are."
Texas' third and final game of the series held in Austin at 1 p.m. Sunday.