Heisman winners to return to Austin, this time with Ricky Williams

Williams, the ’98 winner, to be honored by Heisman Winners Association

By John Maher
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Thursday, February 07, 2008

The Heisman Trophy winners are returning to Austin June 26-28, and there should be a new face at their second annual get-together: 1998 Heisman winner and former University of Texas star Ricky Williams.

When the Heisman Winners Association held its first gathering/golf outing last year, 21 winners attended, but Williams was a very noticeable no-show.

At the time, Williams was in the midst of an 18-month suspension for violating the NFL’s drug policy. Earl Campbell, the 1977 Heisman winner, was one of the honorees last year as was Texas A&M’s John David Crow, the 1957 winner.

Although he hadn’t spotted Williams earlier at the festivities, Campbell figured that Williams would show up for the dinner.

When he didn’t, Campbell said he was angry.

Later, while he was on a business trip in Ohio, Campbell met with Williams and explained to him that the other winners wanted to include, not exclude, him. Campbell said, “Ricky, we all face problems. Don’t run from them. We want you to come back and be around your brothers.”
Williams will be one of the honorees this year. The others are Pete Dawkins, the 1958 winner while at Army, and Mike Rozier, the former Nebraska star and 1983 winner.

Kurt Barton, the president and CEO of the event’s title sponsor, Triton Financial, said there would be more opportunities this year for the general public to interact with the Heisman winners.

Campbell, who said he heard many favorable comments about Austin last year from his peers, proposed an expanded role for the city.

“When you go to New York, you’re stuck. It’s December. All you can do is eat yourself to death or shop,” Campbell said. “I think the Heisman Trophy should be presented in Austin.”

jmaher@statesman.com; 445-3956