The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Surprise, Surprise: Another Longhorn to stay in school
12.28.2002 | Football
Maybe it's the quality of life in Austin and on The University of Texas campus.
Perhaps it's that feeling of donning the burnt orange Longhorns jersey and the easily-distinguished helmet with the steer head to play in front of more than 80,000 rabid followers at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Quite possibly it's the veteran coaching staff that patiently develops youngsters to their fullest and puts them in positions to succeed.
Certainly the friendship, camaraderie and family atmosphere instilled in Mack Brown's program is a big factor.
More often than not it is a combination of all of those factors that have played a part in the history the Horns have had in retaining highly-regarded underclassmen.
It may have come as a shock to many when Texas' most recent young commodity, junior wide receiver Roy Williams, announced his intentions to put the riches of the NFL on hold and return to Austin for his senior season.
For anyone who has visited Austin, been to a game at Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium or spent time with Brown and the Longhorn football program, Williams electing to complete his eligibility at UT should come as no surprise.
Williams is following the lead of a long line of Longhorns who have passed on departing early for the NFL to enjoy another year on the "40 Acres." Since Brown took over the program in 1998 the list of top NFL prospects that could have left after their junior seasons but elected to return is a who's-who among UT current stars in the NFL.
In the last five years, NFL first-round draft picks RB Ricky Williams, OT Leonard Davis, DT Casey Hampton, CB Quentin Jammer and OT Mike Williams all told the NFL to wait while they completed their eligibility in Austin. All five of those players started as rookies and currently remain as starters.
Those UT stars talked of commitment to the program, the Longhorns family atmosphere, their love of The University and Austin, education and the development they were making as players as the key influences in their decision to return. They did so with no prodding from the Longhorns staff because Brown, his coaches and administrators believe strongly in encouraging each student-athlete to make their own decision.
"It is different with every guy," Brown said. "Whether they are going to leave early for the NFL or not is a decision for them. Our philosophy is to get them as much information as possible to help them make an informed decision and to support them through the process. I think each of the guys we've had come back have done so because they truly wanted to be here and they have all improved and been rewarded in the end."
Ricky Williams won every honor possible, including the Heisman Trophy; Davis was an Outland Trophy finalist, and along with Hampton, claimed consensus All-America honors; and Jammer became the Horns' first-ever Thorpe Award finalist and joined Mike Williams as a first-team All-American.
"I'd have stayed for 10 years if they would have let me," Ricky Williams said. "I loved Austin, the coaches were great and there is a great family atmosphere around the whole program. It went by to fast for me.
"I'm happy for Roy because I think he will really enjoy his senior year and that's something that you can never get back no matter how much money you make or success you have in the NFL, but I'm even happier for him as a Longhorn football fan. He's a great player who I really enjoy watching, especially in the Longhorn uniform."
Although not related, the Williams' have a lot in common. Both are student-athletes that clearly enjoy the college experience. They each are unselfish players that put winning ahead of personal achievements and they both have helped elevate the Longhorns program to a level of winning not seen in Austin in decades.
On a personal side, Ricky and Roy each do set goals, and like Ricky, Roy has set his sights at unheard of heights. When Ricky came to Texas, he wanted to break virtually every rushing and all-purpose mark possible and he cleared everyone of those hurdles before heading to the NFL. Roy envisioned himself breaking every receiving record in UT history and he's well on his way to doing that.
Like Ricky Williams, Davis, Hampton, Jammer and Mike Williams, Roy Williams knows that records are made to be broken. It's friendships and legacies, developing skills and maturing, and most importantly, having fun and enjoying your senior year in college that last a lifetime.
"If you want to play for a good football team, play for a great coach, win a lot of games and have a great time, Texas is the place to be," Ricky Williams said.
"Exactly," Roy Williams said.
