To say football head coach Bobby Williams has done anything to disgrace our football team or school is ludicrous (“Coach disgraceful, dismiss Williams, SN 10/25).

It takes time to build a football program, and he is certainly doing that. The group of freshmen and sophomores he has recruited are the best back-to-back classes we have had since the 1960s. Next year’s class looks even better. The fact that so many of these players have to be on the field this early in their careers is not Williams’ fault, but rather a result of some poor recruiting decisions by Nick Saban, and some horrendous luck with injuries.

The only thing to fairly hold him accountable for is the academic casualties, and while those are disappointing, they are a continuation of a problem the last two coaches have had.

I am proud to have a football coach who treats his players with respect, keeps his troops off the police blotter, is building a national recruiting base and continues to show improvement. This is a better team than last year, and next year will be even better. There will be setbacks, but he is building a top 10 program, I have no doubt.

I hope Nick Friant has more patience with his crops following graduation then he shows with our football team.

Mike Rodden
1981 MSU graduate