University of Richmond Athletics
Captain's Choice: Craig Flips The Switch On The Gridiron
05/27/2016 | Football
Think throwback for a moment and conjure up a vision in which the game day Robins Stadium locker room is to Winston Craig what a phone booth was to Clark Kent. In this case, the “S” on the shirt is for Spiders, although a convincing argument could be made for a Superman-like transformation in Craig's psyche.
For as much as a hulking, 6-3, 295 pound All-Conference defensive lineman and two-time captain can be perceived as unassuming, the mild-mannered Craig fits comfortably into everyday campus life.
“That's pretty accurate,” admits Craig. “I try to just relax (away from football). To be honest, I'm just like a big kid. I like to have fun, play video games, watch cartoons, throw the football in the parking lot, just hang out.
“Then on game day, I kind of flip the switch. When you put the mask on, you've got to change the whole mindset. I think for me a lot of it is getting myself into that mindset. If people follow, they follow. I'm not the kind of guy who's on people all the time. If there's something that needs to be addressed, I'll address it. I think I do it more for myself. But I am more talkative on game day, for sure.”
Fellow captain Kyle Lauletta echoes Craig's words and hears them, too. “He's one of the most vocal leaders we have,” said Lauletta. “He won't shut up to be honest – in a good way. He's one of the guys who gets us fired up. I'm vocal on the sideline, but before a game, I'm rather reserved. Quiet, really. Winston is quite the opposite. He's one of our hype guys who gets us fired up and gets us going.
“He always has energy. He's always encouraging. He's a great vocal leader. But he leads by example. I've never seen Winston take a play off. That's one of the things I love about him – how hard he plays.”
Craig considers that assessment from a teammate as the ultimate compliment. “That's huge,” said Craig. “The D line in general, we don't get a lot of credit for some of the stuff we do. But one of the things I've seen since I've been here and a part of this team is that it is noticed.
“I remember the Rhode Island game. Omar (Howard) had like 20 tackles, which is phenomenal, but after the game all he talked about was the D line did this, the D line did that. It's a huge compliment when people notice that.”
Teammates come and go, but they all notice Craig's high level of play and leadership, voting him a captain back-to-back seasons. Howard and Thomas Evans have also been voted captain two years in a row, and David Jones was given that designation at the end of last season, before being voted a captain this year.
“It's an honor having the respect and trust from my teammates,” said Craig. “Last year, as a junior, it was kinda cool seeing that our team recognizes you don't have to be a senior to be a leader on our team.”
No one recognized and appreciated that more than head coach Danny Rocco, who often pointed to the role of last year's junior class in helping guide the Spiders to a 10-4 record, CAA Championship and national semifinals.
“I think it showed how mature our team was,” said Craig. “Even though we were a young team – we had lost like 30 guys from the year before - the junior class and captains showed we were very mature. Even the freshmen would speak their minds and not be afraid to share. That's different than when I was a freshman. Now the team is forming to not only what Coach Rocco wants, but also what the players want. It's kinda cool to see everybody coming together and want the same goal.”
Craig has personal experience being young yet mature. As a high school sophomore he was thrust into the varsity lineup due to injury. It made his junior and senior years better. He also credits time away from football for his success in football. Craig excelled in track and wrestling at Lucy Ragsdale High School in Greensboro, NC, earning All-Conference honors in both sports, as well as football.
“I think it's a great chance to craft the smaller details. I didn't wrestle until 8th grade. But it pushed me to stay low, be aggressive, physical, smart, fast, and strong. That equates on the football field – especially on the defensive line – having the balance while still being strong. And then track – I did the discus and shot put. You're spinning around with a weight in your hand while you're still trying to be explosive with your hips, legs, arms, but you have to keep balanced.”
All of which paid immediate dividends when Craig was again thrust into action at an early stage of his collegiate career. He played as a true freshman and lived a defensive lineman's dream in his first game with an interception against VMI.
“Every once in a while I think it might be nice to be back for (a fifth) year. At the same time, it's a blessing to have played my freshman year and gotten thrown into the fire.
“D lineman don't get many interceptions,” laughed Craig. “I couldn't have done it if Kieran (Gregory) hadn't made a play and tipped the ball. It's nice to have and nice to remember it, but I'd rather think about the team effort.”
Unlike last year, the 2016 Spiders will be a preseason favorite, returning a strong, large nucleus from a team that finished ranked third in the nation. The “S” on the chest of Captain Craig and his teammates may look like a bullseye to opponents looking for a signature win.
“We're going out there confident in ourselves – like a champion should be. But we will play like we've got to prove something. Whether we're ranked first or last it doesn't matter. We're going to go out there and prove something every single game.
“As Coach Rocco preaches to us, 'have the confidence of a champion and the attitude of an underdog.'”
