Texas’ Williams a Man of Many Seasons

Texas running back Ricky Williams was eager for a change when he reported to Austin in August after his first full season in professional baseball.

“I think I hit .188 or .190,” he said. “I was definitely ready for football.”

Williams, from San Diego, signed with the Philadelphia Phillies for a $50,000 bonus after finishing high school in 1995 and spent a summer in Martinsville, Va., in the Appalachian League, being converted from a high school shortstop to a professional outfielder.

After a freshman season at Texas, in which he had become an instant starter and rushed for 990 yards and eight touchdowns, he reported to the Phillies’ training camp at Clearwater, Fla., and played last season at Class-A Piedmont, in the South Atlantic League, where he struggled.

He had less trouble at Texas, where he rushed for 1,272 yards and 12 touchdowns as a sophomore.

Though Philadelphia pays for his education, it will be his last spring in baseball for a while because NCAA rules regarding academic progress will require he spend more time in Austin.

Ahead lies a decision: baseball or football?

“It’s one I’d like to put off as long as possible,” he said.

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Penn State cornerback Brian Miller will not play because of a hamstring pull, and that puts Shino Prater in the starting lineup and frequently matched up against his Arlington-Sam Houston High teammate Mike Adams. Texas lists Adams, its top receiver, as questionable because of his own hamstring problems, but he said he would play. Prater is godfather to Adams’ 4-year-old son, Jordan.

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The Longhorns also have questions about noseguard Chris Akins, who has practiced only three times in the 11 days Texas has been in Tempe, Ariz., because of floating cartilage in his knee. Akins, who has been playing with the injury since the season’s fifth game, also says he will play tonight, but if he can’t--or if his time is limited--he will be spelled by freshman Cedric Woodard.

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Penn State defensive end Brandon Noble knows the Nittany Lions are going to get an earful tonight from the Longhorns, though he might not hear them. “Most of that comes from the defensive backs and receivers, the so-called ‘skill’ position players,” he said. “They’ve all got attitudes. They’re always squawking.”

Though Penn State prefers the strong-but-silent type of player, the Longhorns are boisterous, particularly quarterback James Brown and cornerback Bryant Westbrook.

“You’re going to be out there 60 minutes,” reasoned Brown. “Why not get to know them?”

It’s nothing new, Noble said. It’s been going on all season. “Southern Cal was the worst,” he said. “They were talking the whole game.”

Penn State had the last say in a 24-7 victory over the Trojans in the Kickoff Classic.

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Penn State linebacker Aaron Collins is one of 19 children, 18 of whom received college scholarships. The 19th is 18-year-old sister Christine, in high school in Cinnaminson, N.J. Collins is the youngest of six brothers, five of whom played football at Penn State. Older brother Jason is also on the roster and appealing for a sixth season of college eligibility after suffering a broken leg during the season.