James Kingsley '02

Sophomore James Kingsley began to think he might get a chance to start against Middlebury when veteran LB Devareaux Brown went down with an injury Tuesday in practice. "Coach [Joe] Doyle just sent me into the next drill and told me right away to be ready for the weekend," recalled Kingsley. Not exactly a turn-up-the-inspirational- background-music moment, but it did put things in perspective for Kingsley. "It was early in the week so we had a few days to prepare." From that moment Kingsley just wanted to make sure he did not screw up this opportunity to get reps [repetitions] with the first team. There never was any official pronouncement from the coaching staff of his promotion, he just kept lining up with the first unit and that was that.

On the bus ride to Middlebury Kingsley was not particularly nervous or anxious. He was even relaxed enough to think about how it would be pretty cool if his high school friend, Scott Roberts, a Panther QB, was in the game at the same time. "I was hoping that Scott would get in so I could butt heads with him a little bit," said Kingsley.

"I had gotten on the field quite a bit as a first year so I knew what to expect as far as speed of play and contact," said Kingsley. "I just wanted to focus on doing what I was supposed to do." Farley's concern was that, while Kingsley had been on the field before, he had not been in with the first unit in games. "Practice is a lot different than the game," said Farley. "If you mess up a play in practice we can run it again and work out the kinks, but in a game you don't get that opportunity. We didn't want James to try and do any more than what he was supposed to do – he didn't have to win the game for us."

"Coach Doyle and Coach Farley had us very well prepared on defense so I felt good mentally as well," said Kingsley. Being prepared is one thing and being able to execute in game situations is another. Most competitive athletes say they never really feel comfortable until a game begins and the first play is complete. In a contact sport like football, the first hit is both mentally and physically important. "That game was no different than any game I had played in since I was about 10 years old," said Kingsley. "I always had the butterflies before the game, and luckily they always went away after the first hit."

On this day in Middlebury, Vermont, though, the hits kept on coming for Kingsley, along with a caused fumble, a recovered fumble, and a pass interception. Kingsley racked up a team-high eight tackles on the day and Williams won 25-0.

"On the pick, I do remember being surprised that the ball was thrown more or less right to me and all I could think was don't drop it," said Kingsley. "I was on the Middlebury sideline when I got tackled and I remember looking up at Scotty (he wasn't in the game at the time) and he said something like, "Nice job Kinger, I hate you"... so that just made it better."

The Wednesday after the Middlebury game James Kingsley was invited to the Sideline QB Club luncheon as the Ephs' defensive player of the week. "Last week I told you that I was concerned about who was going to replace Devareaux Brown in the starting lineup," said Dick Farley. "I think after the game Devareaux was more worried about James Kingsley than he is about his injury, but I told Devareaux at Williams you don't lose your starting job to injury. James had a heckuva game, but he'll still need to wait his turn when Devereaux comes back."

Kingsley understood exactly where Farley was coming from and he agreed. Kingsley knew he had played well, but he also knew that Devareaux had earned the job through hard work and execution so he was fully aware he was just filling in for now.

"Farley just commands a lot of respect," noted Kingsley. "I remember hearing about Coach Farley from high school coaches and high school players and, of course, Williams players before I even got on campus. He really was the Joe PA [Paterno] of Div. 3."

"There's something special about the tradition of Williams football, where the older guys watch out for the younger guys and show them how things are supposed to be done – how you prepare to play and how you compete – and that just keeps getting passed down from year to year," said Kingsley. Kingsley learned everything he could from the older guys as he went along and for 2001 he was voted captain and named 1st Team All-NESCAC and Div. 2-3 All-New England All-Star.

Kingsley ran up some impressive numbers as a LB for the Ephs and ranks seventh all-time in tackles with 106.5. He even owns part of an Eph football record – three interceptions in one game – but the one game highlight he will never forget came in the epic battle in 2001 between undefeated and untied Williams and Amherst teams.

"I don't know if there is a better feeling than to go undefeated, deny your arch rivals a perfect season and get swallowed up by your fans on the field," said Kingsley. How about an overtime session?

Amherst had the ball first in overtime and the Eph defense limited them to a field goal. Trialing 20-17 the Ephs needed at least three points to keep the hopes of a perfect season alive.

"Watching Ryan Friend catch Joe Reardon's pass at the four was one of the most exciting things I've ever seen," said Kingsley. "I remember crouching on the sideline, kneeling in anticipation with Marshall Creighton [current Eph assistant coach] and Conan Leary and the rest of the defense, knowing that we had it won right there. When Tyler Shea punched it in on the second shot from the one, as Marshall said afterwards, "It was a feeling unbelievable." Running out onto the field we got trampled by the mob that rushed out to meet us from the tailgate area. You don't forget something like that."

And if you are James Kingsley you also don't forget having your family travel to every game, no matter what the weather offered or what state the game was played in. "All the parents, really, that followed us around and fed us were just great," said Kingsley

Currently Kingsley is an Associate with Massey Knakal Realty Services in New York.