- Smash Williams
FNL character
name = Brian "Smash" Williams
role = Startingrunning back of the Dillon Panthers
relatives = Father: Michael Williams Mother: Corina Williams
1stappeared = Season 1, Episode 1 "Pilot"
actor =Gaius Charles Brian "Smash" Williams is a
fictional character in thedrama television series "Friday Night Lights" portrayed by actorGaius Charles . He is the startingrunning back at Dillon High School Panthers in the series. Considered the most talented player on the roster after quarterbackJason Street , Smash received his nickname from his father after hitting a water heater. [Smash Williams: I remember the guy who taught me to throw a spiral. And took us fishing. And gave me my nickname after I crashed my bike into the water heater. "Friday Night Lights NBC"] Smash is believed to be based on Boobie Miles from the "Friday Night Lights" movie. Williams is shown to be a jock in the beginning of the show. He starts a feud with fullback Tim Riggins, after having sex with Riggins' girlfriend Tyra Collette, resulting in their breakup. After being caught takingperformance-enhancing drugs , Smash begins a more mature approach to life, taking QBMatt Saracen under his wing, building a friendship with Riggins and leading the team after the devastating injury on Jason Street.Role in "Friday Night Lights"
Biography
Smash was born in fictional Gatling,
Texas presumably in the late 1980s to Michael and Corrina Williams. [TV reporter: ...but we have an interesting situation with Smash Williams. Now Gatling is his hometown, it's where he grew up. "Friday Night Lights". "Full Hearts".5 December ,2006 .] He grew up there before moving away to Dillion, Texas because his mother wanted him and his two sisters away from their father. [ Smash Williams: Did you move us from Gatling from the ghetto, or from dad? "Friday Night Lights". "Full Hearts".5 December ,2006 .] Eventually a few years later, Michael Williams was killed in a car accident in 1999 with a woman while still married. [Smash Williams: Dad's accident? I remember it was late and Dad was coming home from work by himself, and a lady ran a red light and he never stood a chance. Corrina Williams: You were right, it was late at night, but he wasn't coming home from work and he wasn't alone. "Friday Night Lights". "Full Hearts".5 December ,2006 .]eason 1
When "Friday Night Lights" begins, Smash is shown to be the stereotypical jock, being portrayed as loud-mouthed and flashy on the field. Though a skilled player, he has an off-day at the worst time imaginable during
Homecoming Week, when an renowned football scout is in the audience. Desperate to be a top-100 recruit in the nation, Smash turns tosteroids and is able to win the next game for the team. However, when his mother discovers the drugs she assumes that Coach Taylor is behind it and accidentally reveals his indiscretion when she accuses the coach. [Coriana Williams: (waves bag in Eric Taylor's face) And I thought you were a Christian man, Coach Taylor, but you're messin' with my son's life to win football games? These kids, they're stupid. They think they're invincible, I see it every day at the clinic. But Coach Taylor, you supposed to know better. "Friday Night Lights". "Little Girl I Wanna Marry You".24 January 2007 ] For a time Smash's future is in doubt, but eventually Taylor allows him back on the team provided he takes regular drug tests. [Eric Taylor: What I'm about to say stands between you and me. You're gonna get yourself clean. You're going to submit to private voluntary drug testing until I can decide I can trust you. "Friday Night Lights". "Little Girl I Wanna Marry You".24 January 2007 ]After assistant coach Mac McGill makes controversial comments regarding the abilities of black football players to the press, Smash is at first accepting of his apology. However, discussions with the other black players leads him to become very offended at the comments, and he convinces all the black players to sit out of every game until Mac is fired. [TV Reporter: Do you want Mac McGill fired? Smash Williams: That would be a good start. "Friday Night Lights". "Black Eyes & Broken Hearts".
14 February 2007 ] However, after his mother tells him to be more careful about picking his battles, he relents and plays in the next game. [Coriana Williams: This Mac MacGill thing? It's over, it's done, you hear me?You quittin' football to make a point about racism in a small Texas town? That ain't the Million Man March. If you want to get back at the Mac MacGills of the world, you needs to play like the star that you are, get recruited by a big time school, and get your degree. "Friday Night Lights". "Black Eyes & Broken Hearts".14 February 2007 ] At the following playoff game against Dunston Valley Cardinals, Smash and the black players face real racism from an all white football team who were involved in the hazing of a player inblackface and the Cardinals don't act differently towards the Panthers' black players. During the game they are the subject of numerous taunts, corrupt officials and dirty hits leading to a brawl (instigated surprisingly enough by Tim Riggins at Smash's defense over a late hit followed by a racist remark from a Cardinals' Player) that ends the game in a Panthers victory. On the way back, the team bus is pulled over by local officers who tell the coaches to hand over Smash for a trumped up charge of assault stemming from the last play of the game, but Mac steps up and refuses to let them on the bus without a warrant, resulting in Smash and Mac's reconciliation. [Police Officer: We need Smash Williams for questioning. Eric Taylor: For what? Police Officer: Witnesses say that Smash Williams threw the first punch. "Friday Night Lights". "Black Eyes & Broken Hearts".14 February 2007 ] [Mac McGill: They made a mistake, son, just like I did. "Friday Night Lights". "Black Eyes & Broken Hearts".14 February 2007 ]At the state championship Smash's former teammate "Voodoo" Tatum, now on the opposing team, offers to let Smash transfer so they can be the same formidable duo again. [Voodoo Tatum: Me and you together? It'll be something this state has never seen. Every college will want you. "Friday Night Lights". "State".
11 April 2007 ] Smash declines, his loyalty to the Panthers having grown over the season. In the game, Smash gets injured after scoring a touchdown, but returns in time to make a last-second score with no time remaining to complete a Panther comeback to win the state championshipship. [Slammin' Sammy: Saracen drops back to pass, got Riggins inside, he fires a beautiful pass to Tim Riggins, he cuts it short... OH! It's a pitch to Smash Williams on a lateral! He breaks a tackle... TOUCHDOWN! PANTHERS WIN STATE! "Friday Night Lights". "State".11 April 2007 ] After Coach Taylor visits the school after possibly transferring to fictional Texas Methodist University, Smash leads the other players in a chant of the team's motto "Clear eyes, full hearts, can't lose," showing they still have respect for him.eason 2
In his senior year, Smash is made the centerpiece of the Panther offense under new coach after Eric Taylor's departure to TMU. Despite the team struggles, Smash shows little concern outside of his personal performance which enrages the rest of the Panthers. When confronted by quarterback
Matt Saracen to try a team-first approach to the game, Smash responds that this year will determine the rest of his life and that he's enjoying the attention. When Coach Taylor returns, tensions between Smash and Saracen come to a head, but after winning a close game at home, things revert back to normal.Late in the season, recruiting period begins in
college football and Smash is courted by scouts fromUniversity of Alabama ,University of Miami , and fictional TMU. He eventually gives a verbal commitment to TMU, calling it his 'dream'. This brief period of happiness is shattered when Smash is attacked and retaliates against by a group of racist white teenagers who were making remarks at his sister and Smash's white girlfriend, Noelle in a movie theater. Coach Taylor forces him to apologize but Smash erupts after seeing his televised apology to members of the local media. The school board decides to suspend Williams for three games(the rest of the regular season), with the Dillon High on the brink of the playoffs. Before the Panther's first game without him, Smash gives a stirring pre-game speech in the locker room to Coach Taylor's approval.In the season 2 finale "May The Best Man Win", it is revealed that TMU has revoked its scholarship offer to Smash, as has most Division-1 schools such as Texas A&M and
University of Alabama . With only a few colleges still willing to accept him, Eric Taylor directs him to Whitmore, aHBCU whose coach, Deeks has followed Smash's career his 8th grade year. With the opportunity to transfer to a D-1 school in two years, Williams gives Deeks his verbal commitment.eason 3
In the premiere "I Knew You When", it is revealed that the Panthers gained entry to the playoffs, only to lose to a freak injury to Smash. As a result, he loses his college scholarship. Still employed at the Alamo Freeze, Coach Taylor works with Smash to get out of Dillion.
References
External links
* [http://www.nbc.com/Friday_Night_Lights/bios/Gaius_Charles.shtml NBC.com article on actor Gaius Charles]
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