As many of you are already aware, William & Mary now has another head coach in the National Football League in our very own Sean McDermott. William & Mary is currently one of only three schools who has at least 2 coaches in the NFL, along with Idaho State (Marvin Lewis and Dirk Koetter) and Pacific University (Hue Jackson and Pete Carroll).
Today, Sean McDermott visited Buffalo for the first time since he was hired as Head Coach. He received a tour of the facilities and participated in his introductory press conference. In his press conference today, Coach McDermott got choked up when asked a question about Tribe Head Coach Jimmye Laycock. If you are a W&M fan, this will certainly bring a smile to your face.
Below, we highlight some of the pictures from his visit to Buffalo today, including his press conference and his aforementioned comments on Jimmye Laycock. Go Bills AND Go Tribe!
Jimmye Laycock & Sean McDermott Connection
In the above interview, Laycock was unsurprisingly very complimentary of his former player and current Bills Head Coach on a recent radio interview. Radio Commentator John Murphy mentioned the William & Mary/Buffalo Bills connection going back to former head coach Marv Levy (who coached at W&M before taking the Bills to 4 straight Super Bowls), and former Tribe/Bills players Mark Kelso and Steve Christie. This is an interview worth listening to if you are a Tribe fanatic. We highlight some of Jimmye Laycock’s quotes below.
On Sean McDermott’s mentality as a player:
“Very intense.. very intense. He would show up and be very focused not just in games but in practice. He set an example. he wasn’t the fastest or biggest guy out there but he set an example. He came to work and the players looked up to him, that is why they voted him Captain.”
On coaching for a year at W&M:
“He stayed here for a year with me, I couldn’t keep him around any longer than that. It was very obvious the one year he stayed on after playing that he would be a great great coach.” He had that ability to make the transition from playing to coaching, and to do it in a very positive way. I could tell he had the “IT” factor. I wanted to keep him here with me but he had the opportunity to go work for the Eagles. “
On what kind of leader Sean McDermott was as a Captain:
“When Sean would say something to a fellow player they paid attention. he set an example of how to do things the right way and how to work. And second if he said something to you or gave you a look he got your attention. Our players ha d great deal of respect for him as a person and a player.”On what Marv Levy was like as a coach at William & Mary (Levy actually coached a young QB named Jimmye Laycock):
“Well even back then he used to use words that we would look at each other and check to see if we knew what he meant. Very detailed, very organized. Always prepared. Always under control, very calm, cool, and collected. He usually comes back once a year to see one of our games and it is always a pleasure to see Mark.”
On former Bills player Mark Kelso, who also played for Coach Laycock:
“A heck of a player, one tough player. He was very quiet. Never forget as a freshman we went up and played Dartmouth and he intercepted 3 passes. and after the game I looked aroudn and he was the first person back on teh bus studying Spanish. he was that kind of guy.”
On if Sean McDermott is going to succeed:
“He will do what is necessary. He is very very good about coaching and knowing what to do. If everybody is going to the direction Sean wants to go, I don’t see how there is any way he won’t succeed.”
The William and Mary Sports Blog 