Saying "YES" in Alabama

Kevin Norwood turned Kayla Williams around and got down on one knee, a moment on display for the numerous fans still in attendance at Coleman Coliseum following Alabama's gymnastics meet Friday night. 

Norwood began planning for this months ago, figuring out a creative idea for proposing to Williams with the help of Tide gymnastics coach Dana Duckworth. 

The plan culminated on the gymnastics team's Senior Night Friday, an elaborate scheme that began with Norwood handing out post-meet awards and posing for a picture with Williams and Duckworth before turning Williams around and beginning his proposal, a moment that was met with this reaction from a surprised Williams: "Oh my gosh. What are you doing?"

"He's more private," Williams said Saturday. "So for him to do that in front of that many people was a surprise to me. That's not how I expected it to happen."

The buildup to Friday night started in October. Norwood, a former standout football player for Alabama and current member of the Seattle Seahawks, and Williams, a senior gymnast for the Tide, have been together for three years.

The two both lived in Tuscaloosa most of that time, constantly with each other and able to spend time together whenever they chose to.

Last year was their first extensive time apart. Norwood was in Seattle. Williams was in Tuscaloosa. Being apart, Norwood said, confirmed his feelings about Williams.

"It was great in a way," Norwood said. "It was pretty much the focal point of all this. Being in Seattle by myself and not knowing anyone and stuff like that, I just had more time to think to myself of what I really wanted in life, so that was pretty much the game-changer for me. I've known for awhile that I wanted to be with her and stay with her for the rest of my life."

The final decision was made in October. Shortly later, Norwood asked a member of the Seahawks' organization for recommendations on ring designers. He met with four before choosing a designer based out of Hawaii.

The two eventually met in person, and Norwood had the ring since November.

The next step was figuring out how to propose.

"It was too cliché to do it over Thanksgiving or Christmas," Norwood said, "so I just kept thinking, when would be a perfect time? So I thought Senior Night would be better."

"The way I wanted to do it was going to be a little too much," Norwood said. "So I went to her. She came up with the idea, and I just went with the plan, and it worked out perfectly."Norwood met with Duckworth to strategize and seek advice for a plan once he got back to Tuscaloosa in February following the Seahawks' loss to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

An accomplished current or former Alabama football player hands out team awards to the Tide following each home gymnastics meet. After brainstorming, Duckworth recommended Norwood using that as part of the buildup to the proposal. 

Plans were finalized last week between Norwood and Duckworth, who Norwood said he strategized with around four times.So Norwood watched the meet -- part of what he called "the longest two hours of my life" -- before making his way to the floor and going through with the process leading up to the proposal.

"I really thought a lot of [fans] were going to be pretty much walking out and leaving," Norwood said. "When coach Dana and me were thinking about this, we were thinking of it being more her teammates, my family and her family down there, and we were just going to do it like that. But I guess a lot of people stayed and stuck out around and saw us."

The celebration came later at Cheddar's, which stayed open despite Norwood, Williams and their families arriving 20 minutes before closing time.

That was a chance for the two families to meet for the first time, as Norwood's family lives in Mississippi while Williams' lives in West Virginia.

Everything began to sink in for Williams over breakfast Saturday, she said.

"I don't think I slept last night, so I'm assuming that means that it didn't sink in," Williams said. "But we went to breakfast with my parents. And just talking to them helped it settle in a little bit, and then just doing our normal routine has kind of helped a little bit too."