All things considered, everyone's attitude was exceptional.
Jonathan Williams' senior season is gone after injuring his foot last Saturday and undergoing surgery, which included having a screw inserted, on Monday. The early prognosis is he may be ready if the Arkansas Razorbacks go to a bowl.
The question becomes: Why then?
Williams will not help his draft status by playing in one game. Plus, how do you tell Kody Walker or even freshman Rawleigh Williams III that they aren't as big a part of the game plan as they had been all season?
On another note, remember that name, Rawleigh Williams, and the number, No. 22. Williams has a ton of upside as a running back.
J. Will could have laid in that hospital bed and asked "Why me? Why me?"
Instead, he tweeted Monday night that surgery went well and that he was "blessed."
Arkansas Coach Bret Bielema could have rolled around on the carpet in the privacy of his office yelling, "No! No! No!"
Instead, he said if any program in the country can take a hit at running back, it's the Razorbacks.
That had to be confidence-building music to the ears of Walker and Rawleigh Williams.
Junior Alex Collins, who will have most of the carries to himself this season after sharing carries the past two seasons with J. Will, knows he is a big part of the game plan.
J. Will and Collins were considered the best running back tandem in the country. Each had more than 1,000 yards rushing last season, with Williams getting 1,190 on 211 carries (5.6 yards per carry average) and Collins gaining 1,100 on 204 carries (5.4).
Williams will be missed, especially with hints flying that the screen pass might be a bigger part of the offense this season.
Williams has 26 receptions for 345 yards and 6 touchdowns in his career, and that was mostly in an offense that didn't throw to the backs.
He was also one of the leaders and was one of many who totally bought into the strength and conditioning system of Ben Herbert.
Williams squatted 450 pounds on one leg. One leg.
Williams, Brandon Allen and Keon Hatcher wore identical blue suits at SEC football media days. Williams' pants couldn't have been altered enough to hide his muscled thighs. He had somehow managed to drop a couple of pounds, but it definitely wasn't in his legs.
From Day 1 as a freshman, Williams proved he was fearless running between the tackles and his powerful legs matched his mental courage.
Williams will have the option of using this as a redshirt season. He played in 11 games and started two during his freshman season. He had started 24 of 36 games he played in over three seasons.
Whether he returns most likely will depend on what the NFL Draft people tell him, and they may have some concerns. Then again, they had questions about former Arkansas running back Knile Davis, who had several surgeries dating back to high school, but Davis has spent the past two seasons playing for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Davis is still listed as the No. 1 backup at running back but is out a few days with a sprained knee.
Williams will have options after this season. Every Razorback fan should want him to return, but it would be understandable if he took his chances with the NFL draft.
Williams has been a tough, durable team player for three years. He's done everything that has been asked of him from playing on special teams, to running inside, catching passes and blocking. He's a fearless blocker.
Through it all, he has had the right attitude.
At a time when he could have been depressed, he chose to be slightly disappointed and let all those who follow him on Twitter know that he's blessed.
Sports on 08/19/2015