Following Footsteps Three Second-Generation Cougars Continue To Make Their Fathers Proud

It started with a tug on the sleeve and a piece of advice.

“You always have to hit the person harder than they can hit you,” Wallace Williams told his son so many Septembers ago.

Across the state, another son, his Rough Riders’ uniform never dirtied, stood in the huddle and listened to something he would never forget.

“Victory doesn’t go to the stronger and faster man, it goes to the one who thinks he can,” Jerry Henderson told his son that day.

That day Collin Henderson and Jeremey Williams began their football careers.

Today, Dad’s Day at Washington State, their fathers will watch and learn how far their sons have come. From tossing the ball in the backyard to their first win and the first loss. From Friday night lights to Saturdays in Martin Stadium.

For them, this is a chance to celebrate their sons. For you, this is a chance to celebrate right along with them.

Wide receivers Collin and Patrick Henderson.

Defensive tackle Jeremey Williams. Three Cougars with Cougar dads.

Jerry Henderson was a Washington State quarterback in the late ‘60s.

“Not ever too good. Lucky to get a chance,” Henderson said.

Wallace Williams was a Washington State defensive tackle in the early ‘70s. “Not near the athlete Jeremey is,” Williams said.

Today they will both be in Martin Stadium. Section 4. About halfway up. Sitting, watching, learning, reliving.

For these fathers and sons, like so many others across the state, Washington State has always been a part of their lives. There’s a tradition of sons following in their fathers’ footsteps. But it’s rare the path has been so well-known to so many people.

“Jeremey, he was born in Spokane and has always lived here,” said Wallace Williams. “Growing up and when he was making his decision about where he wanted to go, we always talked about playing in front of that home crowd; in front of the people who knew him.”

“Collin and Patrick, we’ve been bringing them over here as long as I can remember,” said Jerry Henderson. “We would always come over in the spring, if not for the spring game then for a practice. Mike (Price, the WSU coach) would let them play on the field.”

There were the fall Saturdays. The ones where Collin would chase his cousin Jenny Cey around the general admission bleachers.

“Not really paying attention,” said Collin. “Just chasing my cousin everywhere.”

Running around. Like it was home.

It’s likely some of those same Saturdays, Wallace and Jeremey Williams were in the crowd. Studying the defensive front. Father leaning over to son, pointing this out, saying that.

What followed were the days when the sons wanted to know more about the pictures on the wall. Just how good were their fathers? What was it like to play for the Cougars? Who did you play against? What’s it like to play in front of all those people?

Collin and Patrick went over their father’s head to their grandfather to learn more about Jerry’s playing days.

“It is hard to get all the stories out of him,” Collin said. “I don’t think he wanted to put any pressure on us.”

Jeremey heard the stories at Walt Cubley’s house. Cubley was his father’s defensive line coach back at WSU. That’s where Jeremey would watch the film of his father and Washington State outplaying Stanford’s Thunderchickens in 1971. Now, several years later, it’s the sons’ turn to make the memories.

For the Hendersons, those memories started last year. Collin, playing as a raw freshman, pulled in the first touchdown pass of his career against Cal in front of his father.

“Watching that happen and my dad was there with me, was really neat for us,” said Jerry Henderson.

The next week, Patrick, a walk-on senior, worked his way into the game against Louisiana-Lafeyette.

“For him, just an average to fairly good athlete to get into a collegiate game, that’s huge,” Jerry Henderson said. “It just shows how hard he worked and how he stuck with it through it all.”

It’s all of them who have stuck with it. For going on five decades, these fathers and sons have been a part of Cougars football. And as they watch today, these fathers know they are here because of their sons. And as they play today, these sons will know they made it because of their fathers.

“I’ve been fortunate to have a dad who has cared for me, loved me, and always been there for me,” said Collin.

“It’s special, coming out of the tunnel, knowing he is up there,” said Jeremey. “It means a lot just to know that he went here and how much he loved it. To be able to follow in his footsteps is something special.”