Williams named AP Player of Year

NEW YORK — Ricky Williams returned for his final year at Texas with modest goals: Win games and have fun.

Mission accomplished, and he still gets to play in the Cotton Bowl.

On Monday, Williams won The Associated Press’ first College Player of the Year Award in balloting by AP member newspapers, TV and radio stations.

“Anytime you are considered the best it’s flattering,” Williams said, “and to be picked the top player in college football by the reporters who watch the games so closely is truly an honor.”

Williams provided college football fans with an extra special season. While running for 2,214 yards and 27 touchdowns — he also had a TD reception — Williams became major college football’s career rushing leader and carried his team to an 8-3 record and a Cotton Bowl matchup against Mississippi State on Jan. 1.

“If I was to tell someone before the season that we were going to win eight games, they would have told me I was crazy,” Williams said. “For us to come together as a team and surprise so many people with how we played was extra special.”

Williams received 76 of the 143 votes in the AP balloting, easily outdistancing Kansas State quarterback Michael Bishop, who had 17 votes. Kentucky quarterback Tim Couch was third with 15 votes.

On Saturday, Williams will be the overwhelming favorite to win the Heisman Trophy, given each year to college football’s most outstanding player.

Watching Williams play turned into lots of fun for everyone except the Longhorns’ opponents. Just ask Texas A&M.

When he ripped off a 60-yard touchdown run against the Aggies on Nov. 27, he broke Tony Dorsett’s career rushing record and started the Longhorns on their way to a 26-24 upset. He finished the game with 259 yards, giving him a career total of 6,279 yards to Dorsett’s 6,082 from 1973-76.

The record-setting run was typical. Needing 11 yards to pass Dorsett’s 22-year-old mark, Williams shed a tackler near the line of scrimmage, ran nearly 60 yards and then carried an Aggies defensive back into the end zone.

“That’s a run I’ll remember for the rest of my life,” Texas coach Mack Brown said.

Williams owns 15 other NCAA records, including most career touchdowns (75), points (452) and all-purpose yards (7,206). He also averaged a record 6.22 yards per carry.

Couch, who owns his share of records, recently said Williams was the best player in the country.

“As many times as he carries the ball, he’s just as strong in the fourth quarter as he is in the first quarter,” Couch said. “He’s an amazing player.”

Records don’t matter much to Williams. Helping his team turn into a winner again under a new coach was another reason he returned to Austin instead of bolting to the NFL.

“I think the thing that excites me the most about winning an award like this is the fact that people are giving me credit for having an impact on my team,” Williams said. “That’s what has always been the most important thing to me, helping the team win games.”

As all great runners do, Williams credits his offensive line, but he takes things a step further. After all, the Longhorns were trying to rebound from one of the worst seasons in their storied history.

“I couldn’t have achieved any of the honors I am receiving without the help of my teammates,” he said. “They sacrificed so much and worked so hard to help me have a great year. This team is a real special one. We all worked so well together and had a lot of fun.”

UCLA quarterback Cade McNown was fourth in the voting, followed by North Carolina State wide receiver Torry Holt, Ohio State quarterback Joe Germaine, Central Florida quarterback Daunte Culpepper, Wisconsin running back Ron Dayne, Louisiana Tech wide receiver Troy Edwards and Florida State wide receiver Peter Warrick.

Associated Press