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Saturday, September 19, 1998
Wildcats finally will see a legitimate I-A
program and player
MANHATTAN, Kan. (AP) -- Three weeks into the season, No. 5
Kansas State finally will see a top-flight opponent and player.
In fact, the 2:30 p.m. kickoff in sold-out KSU Stadium Saturday
between the Wildcats and Texas may be a head-to-head matchup between
two men who could wind up being top contenders for the Heisman
Trophy.
In most circles, Texas' Ricky Williams is already considered
in such a light. The top returning Heisman vote-getter, Williams
already leads the nation in scoring with 27 points per game and
is third nationally with a rushing average of 187.5. yards per
game.
The Kansas State defense, tired of getting bashed for a creampuff
schedule that had the Wildcats starting the season against Division
I-AA Indiana State and a Northern Illinois team on a 19-game losing
skid, can hardly wait for a crack at Williams.
"He's the main focus," defensive tackle Damion McIntosh
said. "But the offensive line in front of him is what makes
him that."
The Wildcats have sat transfixed watching tape of Williams,
who led the nation last year in rushing and has scored nine rushing
touchdowns his last two games.
"No doubt he's a great running back and a leading Heisman
Trophy candidate," linebacker Jeff Kelly said. "It's
going to be hard. It's going to be a tough job. He's got tremendous
speed, great moves, he's just the full package. If he wins the
Heisman, it'll be a privilege, my honor, to have played against
him."
The Wildcats, who won their first two games by a 66-point margin,
are not without weapons of their own. Most notable is quarterback
Michael Bishop, who has accounted for six touchdowns himself the
first two games.
"I've seen him on film. It's going to be exciting to watch
him run and throw," Williams said. "He's got a great
arm. It will be great to watch him play. I think I'm more of a
college football fan than a Heisman Trophy candidate."
Texas (1-1) was a 25-point underdog in the 2:30 p.m. kickoff
on the field where Kansas State has beaten 41 straight non-ranked
foes.
"If we do win, we have new life going into the rest of
the Big 12," said Williams. "And probably going back
to the top 25. As long as we can go in there and say we played
our best, it can't really hurt us too bad."
The powerful 225-pound Williams is the only man in Texas' rich
football history to run for nine touchdowns in two games.
"I think our whole defense is trying to make a statement
this week," defensive end Joe Bob Clements said. "They've
got their work cut out, and basically, I think our defense is
going to come prepared and it's going to be a good showing."
Williams surprised some by returning for his senior season
after leading the nation with 1,893 yards rushing.
"He's big. He's fast. He has moves," Wildcats linebacker
Mark Simoneau said. "A lot of running backs might be fast,
but they're undersized. He's got the whole package and he's going
to be tough to stop."
The Longhorns will be without senior quarterback Richard Walton,
who was injured against UCLA. In his place will be redshirt freshman
Major Applewhite, who has completed five of seven passes for 59
yards in two brief appearances this season.
"I probably won't even think about (the quarterback),"
Clements said. "Ricky Williams is a lot of their offense
and he's the guy we'll have to think about. He's a great player
and he knows he's a great player. He'll be ready to play."
Williams counts himself among the admirers of the Kansas State
linebackers.
"They main thing is they have three great athletes at
linebacker," he said. "They're really aggressive. It's
probably going to be one of the better groups we've faced this
year."
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