The Texas Longhorns will honor Ricky Williams, the 1998 Heisman Trophy winner, with a statue.
The 1,000 pound bronze statue will measure about eight feet tall and will be unveiled on April 1, prior to Texas' annual spring game outside the southwest corner of DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium. It will be located by the statue of Earl Campbell. The statue will be designed by Cleveland artist David Deming, who was commissioned in November of 2010 to begin working on the work of art. Deming is a former University of Texas Dean of the College of Fine Arts.
“Words can’t describe how honored I am,” Williams said. “Wow, having a statue at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium is something I could never have imagined in my wildest dreams when I came here from San Diego. Texas was such a welcoming place, and with its unbelievable history and tradition, it’s extra special to be a part of that. I’m just humbled and grateful to be recognized in such an amazing way by a school and city that has meant so much to me and my family and is a vital part of my life."
“We’re so proud of Ricky and everything he’s accomplished,” Texas head coach Mack Brown said. “He is a special football player and an even better person. To me, this statue will represent everything that Ricky brought to this program; from his passion for football and life, to his infectious smile and positive energy. What he did to help our program get headed in the right direction in 1998, and his making that Heisman Trophy the ultimate team honor, will never be forgotten. He put us back in the national spotlight and helped us build a program that has been one of the nation’s most consistent winners the last 14 years. "
Williams played with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens last season, following a four-season stint with the Miami Dolphins. Williams was the fifth overall NFL Draft pick in 1999 following his Heisman Trophy 1998 season. The New Orleans Saints gave up a pile of draft picks in order to draft Williams, a two-year consensus All-American. Williams has gone through his highs and lows in the NFL and is beginning to wind down his professional career, which included a brief detour to the Canadian Football League in 2006.
At Texas Williams rushed for 6,592 career yards, including 2,327 yards in 1998. He scored 75 rushing touchdowns, with 29 in 1998.
Quotes provided by MackBrown-TexasFootball.com.
Kevin McGuire is a national college football writer for Examiner.com and the host of the No 2-Minute Warning podcast. He can be reached at cfbexaminer@gmail.com.
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