20 for 20 - Story 12 - Pro Pioneers Picture features Rod Streater rookie card and Aaron Williams baseball card.
Posted: Dec 08, 2020

20 for 20: Pro Pioneers

The 2020-21 athletic year is the 20th year that I (Paul Welker) have served as Alfred State's Sports Information Director. During this school year I plan on writing a 20-part series on my time covering the Pioneers.

Last night the Buffalo Bills took on the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football. The last time the two teams met former Alfred State football and track athlete Rod Streater suited up for the 49ers. Watching last night, I kept thinking about following student-athlete stories past their time at Alfred State.

Rod Streater started at Alfred State as a defensive player. Just over a year later he moved to the offensive side of the ball and began his climb to becoming a NFL player. In the 2009 season he caught 24 passes for 539 yards and six scores. This helped earn him a scholarship to continue playing at Temple University. Two solid years at Temple, that included appearances in two bowl games, and a solid pro day put his name on NFL draft boards. Streater didn't hear his name called in the 2012 draft but moments after the draft he signed with the Oakland Raiders.

He impressed the Raiders in camp and earned a spot on the team. In his first two seasons, he appeared in 32 games (16 starts) and caught 99 passes for 1,472 yards and seven touchdowns. He remained with the Raiders for the next two season but battled injuries. As a free agent in 2016 he signed with the Kansas City Chiefs but was traded last in the preseason to the 49ers. His trip in October 2016 to Buffalo was the first time he had played at Ralph Wilson Stadium (or whatever the stadium was called at the time).

Weeks before the match-up I was able to secure press passes for the game and had a reserved seat in the press box for the game. I was able to make contact with Rod and we would talk after the game. It was a different experience to be sitting in a press box and not worrying about every little thing going on. I sat in the press box that day solely focused on tracking every move Rod made in the game.

The Bills rushed past the 49ers in the game but the best part of the day was talking to Rod at his locker postgame. He treated me like a life long friend and was quick to remember stories and people from his days wearing the blue & gold. We talked in the locker room for a few minutes and then walked out to the field and interacted with some of his family that were in attendance at the game and one of his former coaches at Alfred State, Rick Yehl. 

Here is what I wrote for the local media and for the college following that day - https://www.alfredstateathletics.com/general/2016-17/releases/20161012cs1hfe

Streater spent the one year with the 49ers before signing with the Bills the next off-season. Unfortunately he never played in a regular season game with the Bills but with him being so close I had a pair of opportunities to speak with him again about his Pioneer experiences. In my three interactions with him at NFL venues, he was always so appreciative of his coaches Mick Caba and his track & field coach Gary Moore (Streater was a NJCAA National Champion in the high jump). Interview with Rod Streater at Training Camp in 2018

Rod finished his playing career with the Cleveland Browns and is currently working in the front office of the organization. In the summer of 2019, Streater became an Alfred State Hall of Famer and was able to share his thanks and memories for his time at Alfred State.

Rasheed Williams established all the rushing records during his two years at Alfred State. He broke or tied eleven records including single season rushing yards (1,676), career rushing yards (2,693) and rushing touchdowns in a career (26). Very similar to Streater he had drawn some attention by the NFL. In an effort to help his draft stock a Pro Day was put together and held on campus in April 2015. A scout from the NY Jets tested and recorded measurement and stats on Rasheed in activities in the weight room and on the field. 

It was a cool experience as Rasheed invited his teammates to watch and be part of the experience. Williams, like Streater, was signed right at the 2015 draft by the Detroit Lions. Playing for the Lions or anyone else in the NFL did not materialize but he did play in arena football.

Early in my career I was also able to follow Lyonel Anderson who played tight end at Alfred State before heading to Kansas University. He signed as a free agent with the Cincinnati Bengals and spent time on practice squads with the Packers and Giants. He finished his career in the Arena Football League.

During my first year, the baseball team had a hard throwing right handed pitcher Aaron Williams, who played professional baseball for six years following his career at Alfred State. Williams was signed by the Twins following his sophomore season (Alfred State played in the NJCAA in the early 2000's) in 2002. He spent his first year and the start of his second year in pro ball with the Twins.  After his release from the Twins, he spent the rest of the summer of 2003 playing in Richmond in the Frontier League. He returned to Alfred State in the Fall of 2003 and pitched in the alumni game in front of an Astros scout. The Astros signed him and he played in the Astros organization from 2004 to 2006 making it all the way to AAA Round Rock. He finished his career in the Northern League (independent baseball) in 2007 with the Joliet Jackhammer. He appeared in 291 total games in his career (189 in minor league baseball) and accumulated 22 wins and 63 saves.

In 2004, his first year with the Astros, Williams and his Lexington Legends team played a series vs. Lake County, located just outside of Cleveland. OH. It was the closest that Williams played to New York during his career. That series featured a night game followed by a morning game so I took the four hour ride to the game with Hornell Evening Tribune writer Matt Wing to see him play. Matt, who was my work study when Williams pitched at Alfred State, and I got to see him pitch on the first night and got to catch up with him after the game. He told us about what the every day life of a minor league pitcher was like and we shared stories back and forth of his time at playing for Coach Tom Kenney.

Other student-athletes like Dan Foley (basketball overseas), Jose Sanchez (independent league baseball), Laura Anderson (road races), and Ben Wilkerson (overseas football) have represented Alfred State professionally (I apologize as I know I am missing others). Covering student-athletes while they are Alfred State has always been my main focus but seeing them succeed beyond the valley brought smiles to my face then and now.

Previous 20 for 20's:

Story 1: The First Fall

Story 2: Gina and Juice

Story 3: Nose, Ear, Knee

Story 4: Football Tales

Story 5: Sand Storm

Story 6: The Voice of the Pioneers

Story 7: Homecoming

Story 8: USCAA Championships - Part 1 - Women's Soccer

Story 9: USCAA Championships - Part 2 - Volleyball, Women's Basketball, Cross Country

Story 10: Friendsgiving

Story 11: Facility Upgrades