The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
Catching up with Roy Williams
07.15.2006 | Football
How does it feel to be back in Austin? It's fun to be back here. I'm working out with the guys, getting to see their faces, and they can see my face. I'm playing a little golf, trying to pick up the game, and working out for the Lions, it's a good thing. It's good for me, and it's good for these kids to see that you can make it from here. As long as you work hard, and that's what Mad Dog does to them, that's what gets you there.
Who are you playing golf with? I'm playing with Cleve Bryant and George Wynn from the football office, and they're pretty good. I was the last place golfer yesterday, but we're going to play again today and see what happens.
When did you decide to start playing? About a year and a half ago, and I'm still trying to get to where Tiger is. That's the only thing that keeps me going, is trying to be the best at everything that I do. What keeps me going with golf is that I know I can't hit like Tiger, but I know Tiger can't run a route like I can (laughing).
What brings you to Austin specifically now? Just working out. I'm getting some of this Texas heat, some of this dry heat out here. You go outside and start sweating just walking to your car. That's good for your body, and that's what gives Texas the advantage, especially at home games, because other teams come in and aren't used to this heat, and these guys run in it every day.
So with the Lions you'll have a new starting quarterback this year. We have Jon Kitna as our starting quarterback. I wish Joey (Harrington) could have stayed, but he got traded to Miami. We have a new offensive coordinator in Mike Martz. Smart Martz is what I call him because he's a very smart guy. We should be pretty good. I'm expecting big things from this football team.
And you have the addition of yet another Longhorn in Jonathan Scott. Jonathan Scott is coming over to Longhorns country in Detroit, Mich., going from the heat to the snow. It's going to be a big adjustment for him, but we've all adjusted to it, and I don't see why he can't.
Another new addition to the NFL is Vince Young, can you describe the transition you've seen in him from a redshirt freshman when you were here until now? It's like night and day. I tell everybody that when I was here, he was just getting started and wasn't nearly as good. He could run, but his throwing wasn't there yet. I think that's one of the things that hurt this football team my senior year, just that our passing game wasn't as good. You see him now, hitting everything he throws and making plays with his feet, which you knew that he could do, but the plays he's making with his arm, I just wish I could have played with him when he was like that. I say that he's the best athlete to go from being average to excellent in such a short period of time.
Did you watch the Rose Bowl last year? I did, everybody wanted to go to the game, but I wanted to watch it on TV. I wanted to TiVo and rewind and do all of that. I saw Reggie Bush cut the corner, and that might be the fastest human being I've ever seen. Vince was making all of his plays, and I had to rewind all of those and see what he was looking at, because you know how to really watch film now in the NFL, and he was just making plays.
How did it make you feel to see them win, because you were such a big part of the foundation of the team with those players? I was excited for them. I wanted to win one as well. I had three shots at it, and didn't make it, but they finally pulled through. Not only just to get there, but to win it, was the best thing about it. They won it, and it's been 35 years, which is a long time. Everybody's a part of history. Us old-heads, we can say we were the building blocks, and they can say that they won it. It's all in the same chain.
What are your thoughts on the current wide receivers, especially Limas Sweed who you were close to here? As far as all of our receivers, that's another reason I try to come back, to try to teach them something that I've learned in the past year. I'm still learning, as well, and I try to teach those guys what I learned. Sweed is going to listen to me, and I think he's the one who listens to me the most and takes everything that I say in his head and works on it. Those guys are out there working hard, and I'm just try to give them some coaching. I know it's not my job, but I just like to coach them and try to lead them in the right way.
Limas has been asked from his perspective about wearing No. 4, how did it make you feel to see him wear that number? He asked me about wearing the number, and I told him, "If you can deal with that pressure, because there will be a lot of pressure, because you're built like me, you look like me," well he doesn't really look like me, I look better than he does (laughing), "you look like me in your uniform, so you're going to get that question, 'You look like Roy Williams, but can you play like Roy Williams?'" I said, "If you can handle that, go ahead and wear it." He chose to wear it, and so far, so good.
Are you working with them in seven-on-seven? Yeah, I worked out with them last night, and they were doing one-on-ones, and I try to coach them on that. I went against Tarell Brown and showed him something new, because he's gone against me before, but I showed him some new things, and he was out there learning.
Do you get to come across Coach Drake much now that he's with Chicago? Yeah, I talk to him once a week during the season, and in the offseason, I talk to him every so often. I try to let him get away from football and spend some time with his family, because you don't have very much family time in the NFL, and I guess here too, but as far as coaching, you really don't have much time. I try to keep in touch with him as much as possible, because I think he's the one that got me to where I am now.
Any other feelings on being back in Austin? Just the restaurants -- Pappadeaux, Pappasito's, Tiffany's Treats, Player's...Player's cheese fries. I'm supposed to be 209, and I'm probably 218 (laughing).
