AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Ricky Williams needs to run for 444 yards in his remaining four games to break Tony Dorsett’s NCAA Division I career rushing record.
“I don’t play for records,” the Texas running back said Monday. “I don’t think about them when I play. But if I have a big game and break records, that is something I can celebrate after the game.”
Dorsett ran for 6,082 yards while playing for Pittsburgh from 1973-1976, averaging 5.66 yards a carry.
Williams, a senior and leading Heisman Trophy candidate, has rushed for 5,639 yards, averaging 6.43 yards a carry.
He already has nine NCAA records, including career rushing touchdowns (69), career total TDs (71) and career points scored by nonkickers (428).
Williams has had 24 100-yard games, 10 200-yard games and two 300-yard games.
“The impressive thing about Ricky is that he has bettered the rushing average of every team we’ve played,” said Texas coach Mack Brown, whose Longhorns (5-2, 3-1 Big 12) play at No. 7 Nebraska (7-1, 3-1) on Saturday.
“The Heisman voters get their ballots this weekend, so they will have their ballot in front of them when we play,” Williams said.
“It will be a big game in the Heisman voters’ eyes because it is on national television. A lot of voters don’t get to see everyone play.”
O’Meara player of year
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Mark O’Meara, the Masters and British Open winner, easily won the PGA of America Player of the Year award.
O’Meara had 130 points in the race that ended Sunday with the National Car Rental Classic, 42 more than David Duval, a four-time winner this year who leads the money list with a record $2,470,498.
O’Meara earned 30 points for his Masters and British Open victories, plus a 50-point bonus for winning more than one major title. He also was sixth in both scoring average and earnings, worth 10 points each.
PGA champion Vijay Singh was third with 56 points, followed by Tiger Woods, last year’s winner, with 44.