text size

Ricky Reflects on His Legacy

Updated: Thursday, March 29 2012, 10:51 PM CDT
A high school stand-out from San Diego, Ricky Williams set his sights on big things.

"When I came from California to Texas," said Williams, "I realized everything was bigger in Texas, and I just wanted to be a part of it."

In Texas, where football is a religion, Williams and the Longhorns were a match made in heaven.

"When God decided to make a running back, he created Ricky Williams," said Bruce Chambers, Williams' running backs coach at UT in 1998.

Modeling dreadlocks rather than a halo, for four years Williams was worshiped by Texas fans.  Sunday prior to the Texas Football Spring Jamboree, the 1998 Heisman Trophy winner will have his UT legacy set in stone.  Bronze, actually, as Ricky becomes just the second Longhorns player to have a statue unveiled at Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.

"I didn't do it," says Williams.  "The UT community took me in and for me to be celebrated along with Texas football is just awesome."

"It's quite an honor," says Texas co-offensive coordinator Major Applewhite, who played with Williams in 1998.  "It's permanent.  That's our Mount Rushmore, and he's earned every part of it."

Despite telling KEYE TV sports that he's got five more years left in the tank, Williams retired from the NFL in February on his own terms.  The 11 year NFL vet made sure he is in a position to carve out another legacy off the field, through his Ricky Williams foundation.

"I think a lot of athletes play too long, so when they retire, they're physically and emotionally exhausted," says Williams.  "They're confidence is shot too, because someone cut them.  For me, I've been looking forward to doing big things over the years, and I have the energy and creativity to make a difference in retirement."

This weekend, when his Longhorns legacy is officially cemented, in his eyes; Ricky will just be breaking ground on his impact in Austin.Ricky Reflects on His Legacy