FORT BEND – Even when Taye McWilliams' and his family moved to Houston, Wilson Raymond McWilliams never missed a game.
Every week, Wilson would make the two-hour plus drive from Austin to see him play. Every game.
"It meant a lot. When I was younger, I really didn't pay much attention to it, I thought it was his responsibility to be there," McWilliams said. "But as I got older, I started appreciating it more, especially when I was two hours away and he was still making it."
This Wednesday morning would have been one of those times Wilson would have made the drive. The commute to see his grandson sign with Baylor University.
In a tragic turn of events, Wilson suffered a stroke last week, which he passed away from on Thursday. Less than a week before Taye's signing.
"It really hurt," McWilliams said. "I'm doing this for him. He was super excited, and he couldn't wait for me to sign."
Madison Morris/VYPE U Ambassador
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Madison Morris/VYPE U Ambassador
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Madison Morris/VYPE U Ambassador
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Madison Morris/VYPE U Ambassador
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Madison Morris/VYPE U Ambassador
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When he was young, Taye remembers his grandfather motivated and supported him, even on his bad days.
"He always played around," McWilliams said. "He was a playful man."
In March, when Taye originally verbally committed to Baylor, he told his grandfather.
At the time, Taye remembers him being mad, wanting him to go to TCU, like his dad did, but then he jumped on the Baylor train.
"He started buying Baylor gear," McWilliams said.
When McWilliams arrives in Waco and starts running for the nationally ranked Baylor Bears, everything he does from now on will be for him.
It'll be for grandpa.
"From now on, it's for him," he said.
VYPE Q&A
McWilliams on Baylor: "I already knew it was the place for me because whenever I got around the coaches and the players I knew the environment was true and not fake."
McWilliams on Baylor's 2019 Season: "I knew they were going to do good but I didn't know they were going to show out like this. I was surprised but I knew [Matt] Rhule was going to turn it around sooner or later."