Willie Offord, John L. Williams and Jarvis Williams -- three former NFL players from Palatka, Fla. -- were looking forward to the challenges that come with turning around one of the worst high school football programs in all of Florida.
Offord, the 31-year-old former Vikings safety, began the journey in December when he accepted the head coaching position at Interlachen, a rural school 16 miles west of Palatka and 30 miles east of Gainesville. He then hired John L. Williams, a former running back who played 10 years with Seattle and Pittsburgh, as his linebackers coach. Jarvis Williams, a former defensive back who played seven years with Miami and the Giants, joined in as a volunteer assistant.
"My whole career, Jarvis was like a big brother to me," Offord said.
On May 26, the Interlachen Rams, a team that's 1-29 over the past three seasons, hit the practice field for an offseason workout. It would be the last hours Offord would spend with "big brother."
"He had asthma," Offord said. "He was dealing with that. He had a rough day at practice. And then, later on in the evening, he just passed away. It's tough. I know he was out there helping me like always."
Jarvis, 45 and in great shape, died of an acute asthma attack.
"He was already close to the guys on the team," Offord said. "We've dedicated this season to him. The players will wear his No. 26 on their helmets."
Offord tells the story from the practice field in Mankato. His playing career ended in 2005 after just four seasons, but like a lot of former players his age he's busy jump-starting a second career as a football coach. He's spending a month with the Vikings as part of the NFL's Bill Walsh Minority Coaching Fellowship Program.
