In Their Shoes

By Davin Edwards

For my second interview, I traveled down to the dog track in Commerce City to meet up with Willis Marshall of the Colorado Crush. A local media station was conducting interviews and filming segments of their workout, as a chef set up lunch in the building adjacent to the field. Spaghetti, meatballs, and salad, was on the menu for that day, as I later found out that the team receives a catered lunch from a different restaurant everyday after practice… nice.

Unflashy, the epitome of a seen-it-all veteran with his feet firmly planted on the ground, a career waiting in the future for him after football, Willis Marshall encompasses the Jerry Rice type of attitude, loving the game, the rare, raw gem of being able to just play football, than the ego-maniac, over-inflated athlete of past and present generations that torment their teams.

“One thing about what I do, I’ve been blessed obviously with the talent to play professional football, but the reality is… it can end any day through injury.”

Looking down the road, Marshall is already planning for that day. To emulate the persistence and unconditional drive needed for the long haul to buck obstacles that besiege any profession, takes a certain kind of individual strength. The pressure to ascertain that dream is sometimes blackened by the loss of that original goal.

“Going to the NFL was my first choice, but I didn’t’ want to go and then get sent home, ending up just another body. If I didn’t get drafted, which is exactly what happened, then I said to myself I was going to Canada to earn my way over there.”

As I’m waiting in the hall observing the team eat lunch, it looks more like lunchtime at high school, as the players sat down in chairs and placed their trays on a chair in front of them, and sat down at a desk and pulled up the side table. Every Tuesday the students of The Boulder College of Massage Therapy come down to the training facility and earn credit. The sign up sheet went fast, as the players jumped at the chance for a massage. Most of the athletes request a female student when they get massage, not a male, because they feel more comfortable with a woman.

On Wednesdays, not only does the chiropractor come, but also they have a team chapel, The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is available. The corridors are filled with numerous Arena Bowl framed pictures and pictures of one of the team’s main owner, the extraordinary John Elway.

When I first meet Willis Marshall, it’s over an hour later, and he’s showered and changed, eaten and relaxed… and ready to go.

“I started playing football at 8,” he says. “I love the sport, I was never afraid of the contact, which I think was to my advantage, especially as a young boy.”

Willis Marshall played a variety of sports when he was younger, basketball, baseball, and track. He excelled in basketball in high school, and was offered the opportunity to go to a couple of divisional one schools, but it was in his senior year where fate stepped in and decided his destined future.

“I had more football scholarships, and being 5’10 and 170lbs, I figured I had a better chance going pro playing football… so I chose that career path.”

The love of contact sports, the physical interaction explained the initial attraction, because that aspect of football allowed Marshall to be more aggressive as opposed to toning it down and fowling out of basketball games. Innately, football was in his blood. Marshall’s father played in college, so he had someone to look up to for advice.

Originally Marshall was going to attend Arizona State, but at the last minute changed his mind and decided to stay closer to home and ended up attending Youngstown State. Brought in as a defensive back, he was ultimately switched to receiver, now gaining experience playing offense.

“I sat out my first year and didn’t play. Basically that means you get a year to develop. In my position we had 3 or 4 guys that were seniors, so why waste a year of my eligibility.”

I ask him how that worked out, switching from defense to offense?

“I like going for touchdowns. Being on offense, you’re a little bit more in the limelight, so it was a good thing… I didn’t mind. I have a defense attitude though, I like to hit people.”

Friendly and well mannered, Marshall is totally at ease during our interview, and the juggernaut of my next question doesn’t phase the easygoing athlete. Talking about his past, the forgotten dreams of lost innocence is unavoidable, as we merge into the interrogative that always raises a few eyebrows, holding a special place inside this football players heart.

“Was it hard for you to go to the CFL, when you dreamed of going to the NFL?”

“My agent said we know you can go to Canada right now in the CFL and possibly make the team, because the people over there really want you, but it was a lot harder over there then I imagined.”

After completing his four years in college and ascertaining a B.A. degree in advertising and communications, Willis Marshall missed his big moment walking up on stage during the ceremony.

“It was huge for me to get my degree, but it was funny… (laughs), out of college I went to Canada right after I graduated instead of going to the NFL. Going to the NFL was my first choice, but I would have been a free agent and had to take my chances, so… to make a long story short, I made the team in Canada, and my first year won the Grey Cup.”

Sounds like he made the right choice. As it turns out, the experience that Marshall gained would later on be beneficial to his career.

“I was in Calgary for 2 years, it was beautiful, I loved it. I wouldn’t take it back for the world!”

“So it was a great experience?”

“Yes, I got to learn the game on a professional level, which is a good asset, because it was a lot faster.”

From there it seems that Willis Marshall was set for the NFL. He had gained the experience, played in the CFL, it was his time… nothing could stop him. But sometimes, life doesn’t always go as planned, and the heartbreak of tears having your dream taken away from you a second time… is unavoidable.

“After Canada, I sat out a year because I was trying to come back to the NFL, because I did so well over there. I got a few workouts with some teams, the Detroit Loins, the San Francisco 49ers brought me in, and the San Diego Chargers… but long story short, everybody said I did well, but nobody gave me a chance to come into their training camp. It was always a matter of numbers, them telling me we drafted this guy, we have to give him a chance… so I said to myself, I’m done waiting, I got to keep playing… and that’s how I landed in the AFL.”

I agree with Marshall trying to anodyne the slight disappointment I see in his eyes, as I listen to his story. Although he never made it to the NFL, to me, Willis Marshall would not change his life for the world. He seems very happy with the outcome and playing in the AFL, and his first year playing for the Grand Rapids Michigan, his team won the Arena Bowl.

I tell him he must be a lucky charm, his second team, another bowl win.

He laughs, agreeing with me. “I’ve never mentioned it, but my first year in college we won the national championship too. I won 3 national championships in college,” he boasts.

And it seems that all his training and experience having played both offense and defense came in handy.

“In this league, you have to go both ways. You play both sides of the ball. I play wide receiver and defensive back.”

“Is that harder to conform to, playing indoors in a smaller field?

“Well, I will say this… this game the athletes are better athletes on the NFL field as far as athletic ability. So in saying that, I have to be like Jerry Rice and Deion Sanders during the same game. I have to do both; where in the NFL you’re in just one position. Our league is made up of guys who are either on their way to the NFL or came from the NFL and still want to play, and a lot of guys who come from the NFL can’t make our team because they can’t play both ways. It takes a special kind of athlete, which I believe is why our game thrives so much.”

In 2004 Marshall came to the Colorado Crush. His first year here the team made it to the semi-finals, and his second year, last year in 2005, they went to the Arena Bowl and won. Willis Marshall was not only a part of the winning team, but received two awards for his outstanding performance. MVP and Ironman.

“The Ironman Award is the best two-way player, and I got them both.”

“That was an immense honor, very prestigious to receive one let alone two awards.”

“Yes, it was a great day,” he says with a beaming smile.

A normal day for Willis Marshall hardly varies within a regular routine. He wakes up about 8:30-9:00, and usually goes to McDonalds for pancakes, and loves those hash browns. He gets to the dog track and goes immediately into the hot tub. Puts his equipment on, stretches, and is ready for practice out on the field by 11:00. They practice for 2 hours a day, 4 days a week, having one day off to relax. After practice they lift weights, eat a catered lunch, massage and team chapel depending on the day, have a team meeting, and then are finished around 4:00.

“On game day, it starts the night before. I always take an Epson salt bath, which helps take away the swelling from my soar muscles. Then I stretch with my rubber band about half an hour before I go to sleep, that way when I wake up in the morning my muscles are already loose, and I’m not waking up stiff and cranky, I’m already limber.”

His breakfast every morning before a game is the same, oatmeal, toast and orange juice.

“I’ve got to have honey on my toast (laughs), preferably maple and brown sugar oatmeal, it’s the best, I actually look forward to that breakfast.”

After breakfast, Marshall gets his things together for the game, and stops off at the store for a bottle of Pedialyte.

“I always have to have that before a game, it’s kind of my secret.”

Then he heads to the stadium, does a radio show before the game, gets into the hot tub for about 5 minutes to warm his muscles, then puts on his uniform minus the shoulder pads. He gets tapped and warms up on the field. After that, Marshall meditates, by placing a towel over his head for about 20 minutes and sits in the locker room alone visualizing all types of situations that might arise during the game.

I ask him if his meditation really works?

“Yes, when it happens in a game, its almost like second nature, I get that from my dad. He was big on visualization. I picture good and bad situations.”

After that, he places on his shoulder pads, helmet, and has a team prayer.

“Everything is mental to me. We face teams that you can see the fear in their eyes.”

I ask if he has any superstitions before a game?

“I have one major superstition, I stay away from the training room before a game or practice, because I want to stay injury free. I don’t even get near the training room, I feel it’s like a jinx if I walk in there.”

“Does it work?”

He laughs. “So far it’s worked.”

After a game whether the team wins or loses, Marshall usually goes home or over to another player’s house and celebrates the win by watching the game and hanging out.

After the rigorous daily routine, I inquire to what he does in his spare time?

“On my days off, if I’m not taking care of my house, in the yard or basement, I like to bowl.”

“Are you a good bowler?”

“I’m a pretty good bowler.”

“Are you in a league?” I ask him.

“No I’m not, I basically do it for fun, it’s something that relaxes me. Also, I do a lot of planning for my promotions company, adventures that we might want to get into.”

Marshall is talking about his company called 4ward Motion, an event and party planning company he co-owns in Michigan with three friends.

The door suddenly opens, and in walks his pr person who advises me that Marshall is needed for a team meeting. Eventhough I’m not finished, our time was cut short due to practice running overtime, and so I finish up the next day over a phone interview.

After a little detour, we move towards his aspirations after football. While most football player’s careers are over at a certain age, Willis Marshall will begin the next phase of his life.

“I actually got hired 4 years ago by a pharmaceutical company to be a sales rep, which is a field I like being in. In our league they take pretty good care of us. The money is pretty good, it’s not millions, but guys make six figures… and you can’t complain. Once I’m done, I’ll go full fledge into the promotions thing. Playing football allows me to make so many contacts across the country, I want to take our promotions nationwide.”

His company coordinates parties, concerts, and poetry readings.

“It sounds like a lot of work, but it’s fun work. Our motto is, take care of business, as we pry ourselves on that,” he tells me.

Walter Peyton is his football idol; he even wore a #34 in college just to honor him. Marshall’s favorite place to hang out in Colorado is Lucky Strikes Lane, where he says the bowling and atmosphere is pretty cool. And what else would a Colorado Crush player say but his favorite restaurant to eat at is Elway’s.

“Not to boost him, but it’s actually magnificent, everything is good there,” he states, trying to convince me that the real reason behind going to Elway’s has nothing to do with the fact that John Elway owns the place.

R&B is his favorite music and Jamie Foxx and Sade are his favorite singers that he listens to in his CD. Everybody Hates Chris and The Family Guy are two shows he loves to watch, he even tapes The Family Guy not to miss an episode.

As our interview is coming to a conclusion, I ask him what do most people not know about you?

“That I’m a great cook,” he immediately interjects. “My cooking is phenomenal!”

Able to talk for hours, Willis Marshall’s biggest collection is his 7 championship rings he has collected over the course of his long, impressive career throughout the different leagues.

I ask if he has any advice to give to rookie players?

“I guess the best thing I could say is, I call it the two H’s. Be hungry and humble at the same time, that’s the best advice I could give.”

He professes that his mom and dad are definitely the biggest influences in his life, and the prospect of becoming an owner someday, peaks his interest towards delving into another new endeavor.

“Yes, definitely.”

“Which team?”

“I would like to be the owner of the LA team in the AFL.”

From his first memory at age nine of being hit in the stomach feeling it was the worst feeling in the world, to getting back up and getting hit harder and sticking with it, Willis Marshall’s curvy, sometimes bumpy road towards a successful football career has come a long way from those days in Detroit. And so I ask him one last question.

“Do you feel complete? Is there anything missing in your life?”

To this I get a response that best sums up who is the real Willis Marshall. The man behind the championship rings.

“I feel as if… I wouldn’t say complete, because there is always room to get better… I feel blessed. I feel like I have a lot more do in this lifetime in football and as a person. I’m grateful for where I’m at in life, because I’m doing something I love.”

And with that, my interview comes to a closure, and I thank him for his time, leaving with a little look inside both athletes’ lives… stepping into their shoes for a day.

 

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