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Texas 26, #6 Texas A&M 24 Friday, November 27, 1998 DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium (Austin, Texas)
Needing only 11 yards to break Tony Dorsett’s 22-year old NCAA rushing yardage record, Ricky Williams surpassed the mark in dramatic fashion, breaking three tackles and sprinting 60 yards for a touchdown on a run that was voted The College Football Play of The Year. With 1:13 remaining in the first quarter, the Longhorns lined up for a first-and-10 from their own 40-yard-line. With Dorsett among a star-studded cast of sideline witnesses and a then-UT record crowd of 83,687 looking on, Williams displayed all of the traits that established him as one of the greatest players in college football history as he rushed to NCAA history. Offensive coordinator Greg Davis called the play, ‘L King Zin 53'. Williams took the handoff on the isolation play over left guard, slipped past lunging Aggies linebacker Warrick Holdman and darted through the hole formed by left tackle Leonard Davis and left guard Roger Roesler. Following the lead block of fullback Ricky Brown, Williams charged toward the left sideline and broke through the tackle of A&M strong safety Rich Coady. “I had a smile after I broke that one tackle,” Williams said. “I knew I had broken the record.” The future Heisman Trophy winner then sprinted down the sideline, and at the 12-yard-line, set up the block of wide receiver Wane McGarity and overpowered cornerback Jason Webster’s tackle attempt at the goal line as he plunged into the end zone. “I was standing on the sideline saying, ‘Go, go, go!’” Dorsett said. “What a way to break a record that has been standing for so many years. Before the game I thought ‘Wouldn’t it be great if he broke it on a long run’ and he did.” After being mobbed by his teammates and receiving Dorsett’s handshake, the action was halted to present Williams with the historic game ball. “He got it the right way,” head coach Mack Brown said. “That’s a run that I will remember for the rest of my life.” “I’ve just seen something that people will be talking about for a long time,” said five-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens, who was on the sidelines. “What a way to end it.” Later Williams surpassed another major record as he racked up 295 all-purpose yards to break Napolean McCallum’s NCAA career all-purpose yardage mark. He did that, astonishingly, without returning a kick. Williams, who finished his career with 21 NCAA marks and 46 UT records, was honored with a video tribute and a presentation on the field following the game. “It has been a special year because of Ricky Williams,” Brown said. “He’s the greatest player that I have ever seen. I think he’s one of the best, if not the best, college football player ever.” “I hope I’m considered one of the best,” Williams said. “I’m just happy that I can make people proud, but I never thought when I was a freshman that things would turn out this way.”
(Summary from MackBrown.com)
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