Texas Tech University Athletics
Ricky Williams Named Dr Pepper Doak Walker Candidate
June 21, 1999 | Football
August 15, 1998
DALLAS, Texas - The Southwestern Bell-SMU Athletic Forum board of directors released the 45 pre-season candidates for the Dr Pepper Doak Walker Award, the national running back award. Candidates include Texas Tech tailback, Ricky Williams from Duncanville.
The annual award recognizes an individual for his achievements on and off the field, including good academic standing and on schedule to graduate within one year of other students of the same classification.
The winner of the 1998 Dr Pepper Doak Walker Award will be announced Dec. 10 on ESPN's Home Depot College Football Awards Show. He will be presented with the award at the Dr Pepper Doak Walker Award Presentation Banquet on Jan. 19, 1999. Roy Firestone, six-time Emmy-winning host of ESPN's Up Close Prime Time, will serve as keynote speaker for the event.
Texas Tech is the only school in the nation to posess two winners of the award. Byron Morris was the recipient in 1994, while Byron Hanspard earned the honor in 1996.
"We've been real fortunate to have had some of the best running backs in the nation right here at Texas Tech over the last several years," said head coach Spike Dykes. "I think Ricky will be mentioned right in the same breath as Byron Hanspard, Bam Morris, James Gray... all of them, by the time he is a senior.
"Ricky is one of the hardest workers on our football team and he is an outstanding runner. I really expect great things from Ricky and I believe he is a guy who can deliver. Ricky is a winner."
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