Ricky Williams Speaks
September 30, 1999 | Football
Sept. 30, 1999
LUBBOCK, Texas - Ricky Williams Quotes from his 9/30/99 press conference
Were you optimistic about the injury or did you always have an idea that this injury might be worse than you thought?
A: When I hurt it in Arizona I didn?t know how bad it was hurt, but I came back and started doing the rehab and it felt a lot better. They told me I had to have a brace if I was going to practice, so I wore the brace. I ran in it during the off week and it felt a lot better and I really felt like I?d be able to play. But I went out there and practiced on it two days, it was okay, I didn?t feel any pain. I made one bad turn on it and it just gave out again.
Q: What exactly are the doctors saying right now.
A: They say I hurt my ACL. That?s the main thing. They?re going to try to fix that and from that point I have to rehab.
Q: How long is the rehab process going to take?
A: They say about six to nine months I guess, and hopefully by spring I?ll be able to be out there practicing again.
Q: Four years of high school and two years of college football, did you ever have problems with your knee? How are you feeling about it?
A: No. This is a first. I?m trying to keep positive. The good thing about it is the Lord gave me another season after this one. This hurts a lot but I can?t say anything about it. Things happen for a certain reason and I?ll find out later on.
Q: Where do you see the team going now without you in the lineup?
A: Well, I think things will be okay. I think leadership was missing with me and Sammy (Morris) out of the lineup. Sammy will be able to fill that spot and take care of that part of leadership and Rob (Peters) can as well. I think the team will be okay and coach Dykes will do a great job of coaching like he?s done since I?ve been here.
Q: With your role on the team are you still going to be out there trying to pick the guys up?
A: Oh yeah. My role hasn?t stopped as captain. They elected me captain and that job doesn?t stop no matter what, even if you?re hurt you need to help the team out however you can.
Q: Can you talk about the discussion you had with your coaches after you found out about your knee.
A: Coach Rick (Dykes) and Spike have both done a great job. It was hard the first time I hurt it because I didn?t know if I?d be able to come back or not but Spike sat down with me and gave me a great motivational speech. He told me everything would be all right and I?d have another year to come back. I thank him and Rick Dykes and all the other coaches for helping me out and talking to me about it and reassuring me that everything will be okay.
Q: Will you take a medical redshirt this season?
A: Well, I really don?t know right now, but in my mind I wouldn?t. I really don?t want to. I really would like next year to be my last year of football. I love Texas Tech and it?s done a lot for me but I would like next year to be my senior year and be able to graduate with the classmates I came in here with.
Q: Will that be your own decision?
A: I think the coaches would probably like me to play another year after this and have four years here, but I think it will be my decision. Coach Dykes will let me make my own choice.
Q: Obviously a difficult time, but especially when there was talk of the Heisman before the season. Can you elaborate on that?
A: I worked hard this summer to get faster and gain weight and the Heisman was one of my main goals. I?m pretty sure it would be for any running back. It?s down the drain now. But I still have next year and if I do decide to redshirt I have two years. I always knew that certain things could happen at any time and could change things.