View From The Sideline - Week 6

In memory of Julian Blacklock Wills Sr.

I found out less than an hour before the match against UNC last Sunday that my grandfather had passed away following a bout with cancer. He was 76 years old. During the match, an embarrassing 75-19 defeat, I was mostly indifferent. Normally exuberant on the sidelines, I was quiet and reserved for the most part. Instead of hustling to the try zone to try to inspire my teammates after the opponent touches down, I hung back and kept to myself. My thoughts were elsewhere.

I have many fond memories of my granddad and the experiences I had with my grandparents growing up. One such memory is that he would always ask me questions to initiate conversation-the kinds of questions that someone asks either just to make small talk or because they actually truly care, and there’s no question for me as to what his motives were. One memory is particularly funny for me, and I’m not sure why, but it sticks with me to this day. He used to ask me, “How’s lacrosse going, Mike?” “Granddad,” I’d remind him, “I play rugby now, not lacrosse.” It’s an easy mix-up for someone to make, especially in Maryland where lacrosse is king. Fortunately, when I went to high school, I switched my Spring sport from lacrosse to rugby. From the first time I walked off the rugby pitch after a game at Gonzaga, I knew that I had made the right decision. After that first match, I knew I had found a game that was made just for me. What makes this particular memory special to me is that he knew how much rugby meant to me and knew how much I loved to play, so he always made it a point to ask me how it was going (even though he did occasionally get it mixed up with lacrosse).

Rugby is a game unlike any other. In my 8 years of playing the sport, I’ve realized that the bonds that you form with teammates, coaches, and occasionally even opponents cannot be matched by any other sport. The blood, sweat, and tears that you share on the field with teammates help shape relationships that last a lifetime. I’m not sure exactly what it is about the sport that makes it so special because it’s extremely hard to put a finger on, but anyone who has ever played rugby at any level would likely echo that sentiment. I look back at my time as a player, and I realize that I have so many memories that will likely be etched in my head forever. Scoring three tries in my first game at Gonzaga is the first memory I have. Unfortunately, limping off the field with a torn ACL in Myrtle Beach, SC, is my last. Still, I will cherish all the memories in between and the bonds they have helped form for a lifetime.

The funeral for my grandfather was earlier today. The amount of people that came in droves to the viewing yesterday and the funeral today was a true testament to the kind of man he was- a well respected man and beloved friend to so many people. I’m sure all of the people there have similar memories of him as a caring, loving man, and he has touched so many people in that way. I’m very proud to have known him as my granddad, as a mentor and role model, and, most importantly, as a friend.

Rest peacefully, Granddad.

- Mike Wills, '10

Mike Wills is a senior center whose Wake rugby career ended prematurely when he tore his ACL in October. Mike has been writing a weekly blog giving his perspective on the team as it competes in the inaugural season of the Carolinas Rugby League.