http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y167/Taesian/Ricky_Dorsett_a.jpgBack in the late 90’s it was common place to hear fans chant “Run Ricky Run†on a Saturday afternoon. They were screaming because running back Ricky Williams was one of the most electrifying and dynamic players in the game at the time. He could easily turn an easy 3 yard gain into an amazing 25 yard run. Ricky Williams was one of the last true great running backs in college football.
Sure, there are good running backs in the game today, and there have been since Ricky, but the difference between then and now is simple; the Texas Longhorns of those days relied on Ricky to carry the brunt of the offense. Those weren’t the days of short passes and read option quarterbacks. Ricky Williams would strap the Longhorns offense on his back and carry them for the day. He was very similar to another great and revered Texas running back, the “Tyler Roseâ€, Earl Campbell.
Ricky Williams was so good he won the Heisman Trophy his senior season. All this did was validate him as the best player in the entire country.
While he didn’t pan out the way most thought he would in the NFL – he still lives in “Longhorn Lore†as one of the last great running backs to ever set foot on the 40 acres. This is why The University of Texasand head coach Mack Brown were happy to announce recently they will honor him with a bronze statue.
The statue is a fitting tribute to a great running back. Those were fun times and he brought so much joy to the Longhorn faithful on Saturdays.
I don’t know which was first, the chicken or the egg, but when people chanted “Run Ricky Run!†he took the game over and ran wild.
Looking back, you can easily say he was one of the best running backs to ever carry the ball at Darrell K. Royal – Texas Memorial Stadium. This will be a great tribute to a great player. During his time Ricky Williams was the best. Now he has earned the ultimate compliment and will be memorialized properly for his accomplishments.
Run Ricky Run!
