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Ricky's ready Texas Tech's Williams hopes to rekindle past glory
Posted: Wednesday April 19, 2000 12:55 AM
By Tim Griffin, Special to CNNSI.com LUBBOCK, Texas -- The solitary figure with the huge knee brace stands apart from his other Texas Tech teammates, making cuts and reading defenses on almost every offensive play. Ricky Williams isn't wearing his pads or charging through the defensive line like he normally would. But the junior tailback is getting the most out of spring practice even if he isn't facing any contact. Doctors say Williams is slightly ahead of schedule in his rehabilitation from knee surgery, a result of the injury that ended his season last year after less than one game. "It's kind of hard for me not to be out there running," Williams said. "I would really like to be. But I think this is a way for me to learn the offense, show some leadership and get back close to playing." Williams hopes to bounce back close to his 1998 form, when he ranked fourth in the country with 1,582 yards and scored 13 touchdowns. That big season sparked Heisman Trophy hopes before last season. While at home in the Dallas surburb of Duncanville last summer, Williams ran every night along a dirt road near Interstate 20. The biggest hill on the circuit was named "Hopeful Hill" because of his hopes to win a rushing title, the Big 12 championship and the Heisman Trophy. Those aims were dashed in Tech's season opener against Arizona State when a blocker rolled up on Williams' knee in a pileup after a simple belly play. Williams originally thought he had hyperextended the knee and returned to the field for the second half. But on his first carry, his knee collapsed and with it crashed his hopes of the Red Raiders. Tech finished 6-5 and missed a bowl in what turned out to be Spike Dykes' final season. "I think back to all of that every now and then," Williams said. "I am just trying to forget about the injury now. It was almost like I was jinxed." Williams remembers being unable to watch the Red Raiders' games immediately after his injury. Acceptance of the injury came gradually. "I think I'm more mature after what happened," Williams said. "With my knee being hurt like it was, I learned your season can be swept away after one play. I don't take anything for granted." Williams should be ready when the Red Raiders begin two-a-day practices in August. But teammates say his mere presence on the practice field has been a big inspiration throughout the spring. "Ricky has been out there every day, teaching the other running backs what is going on," Tech quarterback Kliff Kingsbury said. "He's been a great motivator for us." New Tech coach Mike Leach says Williams' presence has helped unify the team as it learns his new offensive attack. "He's one of the most committed, hard-working guys I have ever seen," Leach said. "It's good to have him out here." After adding 15 pounds of muscle since his injury, Williams said he plans to play at 200 pounds when next season begins. "I feel strong at the weight and don't feel that I've lost any quickness," the 5-foot-9 Williams said. "I think it will make me better able to take the pounding when I come back." Leach's radical new offense will demand different qualities from Williams than in Tech's former offense. In the new, never-say-dive attack, running backs will be frequently featured as pass receivers. Backs also will benefit from running lanes caused when multiple-receiver sets spread the field. "I'm starting to like it a lot," Williams said. "It's different, but I think there will be more creases when we spread the field. It should be a lot of fun." While offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, Leach helped transform a dormant Sooners offense into one of the nation's most innovative passing attacks. The Sooners improved from 101st nationally in total offense to 11th in 1999, averaging 427.2 yards per game and breaking 17 school records. In the previous two seasons as offensive coordinator at Kentucky, Leach's team set six NCAA records, 41 Southeastern Conference records and 116 school records in 22 games. The pass-first offense will provide a big change for Williams, who averaged almost 28 carries in 1998 and has snagged only 18 passes in his career. "My mentality in the past was knowing that I would get the ball with a running play," Williams said. "Now I know there is more balance in our offense. I'll have to focus on my running, but also my pass catching and blocking." Leach thinks Williams will blossom in the new multi-dimensional attack when he returns to contact work. "I think he will touch the ball almost as many times as he did in the past," Leach said. "It just that they all won't be handoffs." Those changes have left a new goal for Williams, who hopes to make history this season to become the first back in NCAA history to amass 1,000 yards both rushing and receiving. "Of course, I want to get the numbers," Williams said. "But with the new offense, it might be a little different for me." Those might be lofty goals for some, especially considering Williams' devastating injury. His teammates say he relishes the chance to disprove his doubters. "I think that the injury has added fire for him when he comes back," Kingsbury said. "He will be back probably better than ever. If people have forgotten about him, I think Ricky will make them remember who he was really quick." Williams can't wait. His combat boots already have been put aside for his first trek of "Hopeful Hill" when he returns home next month. "My main goal is to prove everybody wrong," Williams said. "I know that my speed will be back. It's a challenge for me to come back like the back I was." CNNSI.com's Big 12 Insider Tim Griffin covers the Big 12 for the San Antonio Express-News.
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