BY LEON B. CREWS

Sentinel Staff Writer

When the Tampa Bay area was awarded an NFL franchise in 1976, no one was happier than Albert Perry. He automatically became a Tampa Bay Buccaneer fan, and rarely missed a game.

In 1978, when the Bucs reached out to Grambling State University and brought in quarterback Doug Williams (pictured), Perry was full of pride and admiration.

“There weren’t many Black quarterbacks around in the 1970s. We were lucky to get Doug to come to Tampa, and it didn’t take long for him to reward us.

In the five seasons Williams played for the Buccaneers, he led the team to three playoff seasons, and two division titles. He also set records, and was voted as the team’s MVP two straight years.

In 1982, Williams played his last season with the Bucs, but for the fans, he left an everlasting image as a winner.

The Bucs have started putting former players in the stadium’s Ring of Honor for the contributions they’ve made to the franchise.

In the ring are the late Lee Roy Selmon, Paul Gruber, Jimmie Giles, and Warren Sapp. But no Doug Williams.

Perry wants to change that. He’s started circulating a petition demanding Williams be put in the Ring of Honor, and he plans on submitting it to the NFL, the Glazers, Tampa Sports Authority, and anyone else who has a say in who gets enshrined.

“I think ignoring the things Doug did for this team is disrespectful. There’s no excuse for it. He’s done as much for this franchise as the people they have put in the Ring of Honor.

“Williams was supposed to finish his career in Tampa, but the ownership at the time had different ideas, so he went to the USFL, then later to the Washington Redskins, where he not only won a Super Bowl, but was the game’s MVP.”

Perry said he’d like to enlist the help of others in petitioning for Doug Williams to be in the Ring of Honor.