Television-radio professor Wenmouth Williams always made sure he was at his kids’ sporting events. Now that his children are grown up, Williams makes sure he is at as many of his students’ sporting events as possible.

“The thought of spending an afternoon watching a football game on television just doesn’t excite me much,” Williams said. “I’d rather stand in the rain and watch a soccer game, which is what I did on Wednesday.”

As a sports fan in Ithaca, rain can sometimes be the least of your worries. Williams said he and his family have supported the college’s athletes in all types of weather.

“My son and I sat through a football game in a hail storm when he was 8,” Williams said.

Not only is Williams one of Ithaca College’s most dedicated fans — attending games in all sports at home and traveling to as many as possible — he also shows his dedication through his position as faculty athletics representative.

Williams reviews athletes’ grades, attends coaches’ meetings and stays involved in most aspects of athletic issues. But, Williams said it’s supporting the athletes while they’re on the field that is most important to him.

Williams and his wife often show their support on a higher level. They each have a full rain suit and hit the road for as many games as possible. Their travels have included Elmira for women’s soccer and Oneonta for football. The furthest they have ever ventured was to a football game in Norwich, Vt.

“That’s a five-and-a-half to six-hour drive through windy roads,” Williams said. “I’m not sorry at all that is over.”

Williams said his main job as faculty athletic representative is to make sure student athletes have the right balance of school and sport. He said at the Division III level, academics are the priority.

“When I first got here [former Head Coach Jim Butterfield] was getting his team ready for a playoff game and the starting quarterback wasn’t there,” Williams said. “And a reporter from the Ithaca Journal said, ‘Hey, Coach, where’s your quarterback?’ and Butterfield said, ‘He’s in lab where he needs to be. Where else would he be?’”

When the athletes take the field, you can be sure Williams will be there to support his students the way he always supported his children when they were growing up.

“The demands on your time and the pressure that you’re under, not only as a student, but as an athlete, make it even more astounding that kids can be successful academically and perform at the level that they do,” Williams said. “Somebody should be there to encourage that.”

Cory Francer is a senior sport studies major. Contact him at cfrance1@ithaca.edu.