Pose Is Fitting for Williams

Ricky Williams closed out his collegiate career in impressive style, punctuating it by striking a Heisman Trophy pose.

Williams, this season’s Heisman Trophy winner, rushed 30 times for 203 yards and two touchdowns as No. 20 Texas beat No. 25 Mississippi State, 38-11, in the Cotton Bowl before a sellout crowd of 72,611 on Friday. It was the first victory for Texas (9-3) in the Cotton Bowl since 1982.

Williams had a 37-yard touchdown run in the third quarter and upon reaching the end zone, he froze into the Heisman Trophy’s famous stiff-armed pose.

“It was something the guys were trying to get me to do all year but I wanted to win the Heisman first,” said Williams, who set 16 NCAA records in his career. “We had a big lead and I knew the penalty [for excessive celebration] wouldn’t hurt us.”

Williams scored another touchdown in the third quarter on a two-yard run and finished with the third-most rushing yardage in the Cotton Bowl. He got some running room after quarterback Major Applewhite, noting that Mississippi State (8-5) was jamming the line of scrimmage, passed to Wane McGarity for Texas’ first two touchdowns on plays covering 59 and 52 yards. Applewhite completed 15 of 26 passes for 225 yards and three touchdowns.

“State had a tough defense but we had a size advantage on them,” Williams said. “The offensive line did a good job of handling the crazy blitzes and Major and Wane kept them honest with the passing game.”

The game was dedicated to the late Doak Walker--the 1948 Heisman Trophy winner from Southern Methodist--and Williams noted “my first touchdown run was his old number, No. 37. That run was for him.”