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Sunday, January 25, 1998
Longhorns' runner faced tough decision to stay
in school
By BILL NICHOL / The Dallas Morning News
DALLAS -- The decision seemed simple to everyone else. Ricky
Williams, the nation's leading rusher and scorer, would leave
a struggling Texas team to become a first-round NFL draft pick.
But Williams' decision to stay culminated six months of deliberation,
contrasting advice, and bits and pieces of information.
The complex process boiled down to a simple factor: Williams,
despite being projected to be picked from fourth to seventh in
the draft, wanted to stay for his senior season because he enjoyed
the college experience. Sept. 13
On the morning of UT's game against UCLA, Williams awakes with
great expectations. This is the game that will give him a splash
for the Heisman Trophy, and his 11th-ranked team a chance to crack
the top 10. He is dead set on playing out his college career.
But UCLA, after opening with two losses, has something to prove.
The Bruins' stacked fronts shock junior quarterback Richard Walton,
substituting for injured James Brown, and Williams gains only
36 yards as the Bruins' defense spends most of the afternoon in
UT's backfield.
UCLA 66, Texas 3.
The second-worst loss in UT history plants a seed of doubt
in Williams' mind.
"That game hurt because we got beat bad," Williams
said. "I just sat there thinking, 'Things aren't going to
get better.' " Nov. 1:
Losses to Oklahoma State, Missouri and Colorado have wrecked
UT's season. And Williams, despite impressive numbers, has been
virtually discarded from the Heisman race.
In the second half of UT's game against Baylor, Williams sits
on the sideline waiting to go in. But the 1-6 Bears keep getting
first downs on simple running plays, and Williams' elation over
his fourth straight 200-yard game is quashed in a 23-21 loss.
"I'm sitting on the bench thinking, 'I'm out of here,'
" Williams said. "I was just watching the defense. I
thought, 'Oh, my goodness. It's not going to get much better next
year, guys aren't playing hard, and I'm not having fun at all.'
As time went on, I was convinced that I was going to the NFL."
Williams becomes aware of NFL scouts who visit UT. He likes
the attention.
"I'd go in to lift weights and I'd see the scouts in there
watching films on me," Williams said. "I'd go back and
peek, and I was like, 'Cool.' If they came to practice, I'd show
off in front of them. I was excited about moving on." Nov.
15: Nov. 15:
Texas breaks a four-game losing streak by beating Kansas, 45-31,
in the Longhorns' final home game.
Before leaving the field, Williams realizes this might be his
last game at Royal-Memorial Stadium. He hangs around with some
of the seniors who are taking pictures to commemorate their final
home game. Then, as the group walks off the field, a chant from
the crowd picks up steam.
"Stay, Ricky, stay!"
Williams enjoys the win, and the crowd's chorus provides a
warm feeling.
"At that point, I was like laughing at myself, like, 'Yeah,
right,' " Williams said. "My mind was definitely made
up. I heard the fans chanting, but I was like, 'Whatever.' It
meant a lot that they were doing it, but it wasn't going to change
my mind." Nov. 28:
The final game against rival Texas A&M may be the best
of Williams' career, although not statistically.
In a driving rainstorm at Kyle Field, he runs 33 times for
183 yards and two touchdowns, despite leaving the field twice
because of a sprained ankle.
Although the 27-16 loss leaves UT (4-7) with its worst record
since 1988, Williams all but clinches the national rushing and
scoring titles. He also breaks Earl Campbell's UT single-season
rushing record and Eric Metcalf's UT record for single-season
all-purpose yards.
That game makes Williams start thinking hard about staying
for his senior year.
"I thought that there was more for me to offer, more for
me to do, in college," Williams said. "I was still leaning
toward leaving, but I was kind of split." Nov. 29:
The reassignment of UT coach John Mackovic opens the door wider
for Williams' departure.
Williams had a good relationship with Mackovic, and he does
not relish the prospect of starting over with a new coach his
final season. Williams, while admitting he is leaning toward the
NFL, maintains that he will hold off until after meeting the new
coach.
Chad Patmon, Williams' roommate and teammate, notices the mental
anguish of his childhood friend:
"We'd be watching a college game, and Ricky would say,
'Yeah, I'm going to stay.' That Sunday we would watch an NFL game,
and he's saying, 'Man, I want to play on Sundays.' I'd say, 'What's
that mean, Rick?' He'd say, 'I don't know.' "
Dec. 5:
The morning after Mack Brown's introduction as Texas' coach,
Williams has meetings scheduled with Mackovic and Brown.
"It was kind of weird," Williams said. "I went
in there and Mackovic was in his office cleaning his stuff out,
and Coach Brown walked in.
"I talked to Coach Mackovic first. He sat me down and
said, 'Two things I want to tell you. One, if you leave, you can't
have any regrets. And secondly, if you stay, you can't have any
regrets.'
"He said I'd go in the top 10. He said, 'Running backs
run, and all they have is their legs.' He said to be careful because
the life of a running back isn't very long. And he explained to
me that the offense will probably be more balanced next year so
I probably won't get the ball as much. He just wanted to make
sure I'd be happy if I stayed."
Williams then talks to Brown for about 30 minutes.
"I felt like I was being recruited," Williams said.
"He asked me questions about the team, and I asked him questions
about how he does things. We had a good conversation, and I left
feeling split still."
Dec. 10:
When Williams arrives in Orlando, Fla., for two days of activities
at ESPN's "College Football Awards Show," he is leaning
heavily toward leaving.
Many of the game's best players are there, and talk inevitably
turns to the pros because several of the players are juniors.
Williams talks to Penn State's Curtis Enis, Washington State's
Ryan Leaf, North Carolina's Dre' Bly, Tennessee's Payton Manning,
Michigan's Charles Woodson and Florida State's Andre Wadsworth.
"I was gone," Williams said. "I knew Curtis
was going to go. I knew Charles was going to go. I knew Ryan Leaf
was going to go. Then I talked to Dre' Bly, and I said, 'Are you
going to go?' and he said no. That shocked me. He said, 'I want
to be the best at my position.' I thought that was impressive.
That made me think a little bit.
"Manning (who returned for his senior year) didn't say
I should stay. He said I should do whatever's best for me. Wadsworth
was real cool. We talked about his friend, Peter Boulware (also
of Florida State), who came out early and went to a really bad
team and didn't like it. Wadsworth said, 'You might want to stay
because college is fun.' "
UT football information director John Bianco, who accompanies
Williams on the trip, notices a big smile on Williams' face after
his conversation with Wadsworth.
Dec. 11:
Williams fills out the paperwork petitioning the NFL to enter
the draft. But his conversations with Bly and Wadsworth weigh
heavy in his mind. Dec. 17:
Williams again meets with Brown. Williams had heard rumors
that Brown would make him cut his dreadlocks, and he has avoided
talking to him. Speculation is rampant that Williams is leaving.
"I had questions about him and I wasn't sure where he
was coming from," Williams said. "And he kind of cleared
it up for me. He talked about my hair (the rumors were unfounded),
about me, just personal stuff. He said, 'If you stay, we'll be
happy. If you don't, we'll help you get in good shape and get
you drafted real high.' I felt real good." Dec. 18:
Williams and Patmon load up Williams' jeep for a drive home
to San Diego. They roll straight through, spending 17 hours on
the road.
In San Diego, Williams and Patmon go to the mall. "We
couldn't go anywhere without people saying, 'Take the money,'
" Patmon said. Williams goes to Patrick Henry High School,
where he speaks with his former coach, Jerry Varner, former assistant
coaches, and some of his former teachers.
Williams, at home talking to people not associated with his
decision, sways back toward staying with the realization of his
happiness at UT.
"I think he had made up his mind, but I think he was running
it by people to see what they thought," Varner said. "I
told him it was his decision and don't let other people try to
ride your coattails and make the decision for you. I think he
was wrestling with all the people telling him what kind of a celebrity
he would be if he came out." Dec. 21:
Williams attends the Christmas service at North Park Apostolic
Church with the Patmons.
Bishop Joel Trout's sermon has a dramatic impact. Trout, knowing
Williams is in the audience, speaks about the importance of involving
God in decisions.
Trout, a longtime friend of the Patmon family, notices Williams
and Patmon poking each other in the ribs during certain points
in the sermon.
Afterward, Williams approaches Trout, who had watched Williams
play several times in high school. Trout lays his hand on Williams'
head in prayer.
"He seemed to be really searching for what God's role
would be in his life," Trout said. "He was very intense,
focusing on what I was talking about. I said, 'Listen, you have
some big decisions to make, and you don't want to do that without
the presence of God. Just make a commitment to God, and trust
God to take charge of your life.' "
Williams feels relieved as he walks out of the church, as if
a burden has been lifted.
"I had a tough decision, so I really needed to pray,"
Williams said. "I was thinking about it the whole time. The
sermon was about the grass not always being greener on the other
side. Some people have what they want, but they always want more.
"I started to think, 'I'm happy where I am right now,
and why would I try to get more, when I really don't have to,
and risk not being happy?' I'm pretty sure I made up my mind in
the church because I went home (to Patmon's) and I was watching
the NFL, and I realized I didn't want to go anymore."
Dec. 22:
Williams calls his mother in Austin to tell her of his decision.
He does not tell anybody else, including Patmon.
Dec. 23:
Williams calls friend Darrell Russell, a first-round draft
pick of the Oakland Raiders last year. "I have all the money
in the world, but it gets kind of lonely," Russell tells
Williams.
Dec. 27:
Williams calls Bianco, and they talk about when he might make
a public announcement. He says he will firm up the decision in
the next few days.
Dec. 30:
Williams leaves San Diego firmly set on his decision. But in
the next 10 days, to keep his decision a surprise, he will give
varying accounts to reporters and other people who ask. Jan. 6:
Williams asks Bianco to help organize a news conference. Williams
jots down notes he wants to make in his announcement. Jan. 8:
Williams meets with Brown and the rest of the coaches to tell
them he is staying.
At 3 p.m., Williams, flanked by Brown, walks to the podium
in a packed room at Bellmont Hall. Speculation has been that he
will leave for the NFL. And he gives no indication otherwise,
wearing a green jacket over a white shirt and beige tie.
Williams builds the suspense by beginning his speech as if
he were leaving. He thanks his mother, his teammates and his coaches
for his success. Then he talks about the goals he set when he
arrived at UT, saying that getting his degree was one of those.
"And that's why I'm going to stay one more year,"
Williams says. ------ Distributed by The Associated Press
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