THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 30, 1994 TAG: 9412300609
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C4 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY STEVE CARLSON, STAFF WRITER GATOR BOWL NOTES
DATELINE: JACKSONVILLE, FLA. LENGTH: Medium: 83 lines
Ryan Williams dealt with the challenge the best way he knows how - straight on.
Williams, the only straight-on placekicker in Division I-A the past three seasons, may be the last of a dying breed in college football. He will conclude his Virginia Tech career tonight in the Gator Bowl against Tennessee, the culmination of a satisfying final season for the senior from Suffolk.
Williams was named first-team All-Big East and was one of five finalist for the Groza Award as the nation's finest placekicker. He ranked second in the Big East and 20th nationally in scoring with 7.8 points per game, and was tied for fifth among Division I-A kickers with 1.7 field goals per game.
His career numbers are also noteworthy. He leaves as Tech's career scoring leader with 254 points, and his career 68.4 percent field-goal accuracy is second only to Mickey Thomas among Tech kickers with 15 attempts or more.
``Looking back on my career, I reckon it was satisfying,'' Williams said. ``I'm glad I was able to have the senior season I had, that made my whole career.''
What made it sweeter was that coach Frank Beamer made it clear after Williams' subpar junior season that his job was not secure coming into the fall. The Hokies offered a rare scholarship to a high school kicker, John Thomas, and brought in transfer Atle Larsen to challenge Williams.
``I think every one of us does better when we've got competition,'' Beamer said. ``Ryan was in more pressure situations in practice, and that helped him when he ran out onto the field during games.''
As a boy, Williams had half his kicking foot severed in a mowing accident on his family's Suffolk farm. Overcoming that handicap has earned him nationwide publicity, but what he'd like to be known for is kicking in the NFL. His mentor is former NFL straight-on kicker Mark Moseley, who has worked with Williams for several years.
``He seems to think I've got as good a shot as anybody,'' said Williams, who may return to work on a dairy farm if he can't catch on in the NFL.
THAT'S THE TICKET: Regardless of what happens on the field tonight, Virginia Tech already has won big this week in Jacksonville.
According to Gator Bowl executive director Rick Catlett, the Hokies' ticket office sold 17,500 tickets. At least another 1,500 Tech fans bought tickets directly from the Gator Bowl office.
Catlett said schools such as West Virginia, South Carolina and Tennessee are regarded by bowls as good travel teams, typically bringing about 20,000 fans to a bowl.
``Clearly, Virginia Tech after this game - because bowl directors do talk - will be one of the more attractive teams to bowls in America,'' Catlett said.
Tennessee brought about 14,000 fans, Catlett said. Adding in tickets sold locally, the Gator Bowl is projecting a crowd of 65,000 at Ben Hill Griffin Stadium in Gainesville.
COLQUITT WOES: Senior Jerry Colquitt opened the season as the Volunteers' starting quarterback, but he suffered a season-ending knee injury on the seventh play of the opening game. Although unavailable to play, Colquitt made the trip to the Gator Bowl but had to leave Thursday when he learned his father died. ``I can't imagine a season like he's gone through,'' Vols coach Phillip Fulmer said.
READY TO ROLL: For Tennessee, the only problem with the Gator Bowl is it didn't come soon enough. The Vols ended the season on a roll, winning six of their final seven and barely losing to then-undefeated Alabama. Fulmer said Tennessee would have liked to have played a bowl game the week after the season ended, not five weeks later.
``When you're playing well, you'd like to keep playing,'' Fulmer said.
BROWN UPDATE: All-Big East linebacker Ken Brown won't start for Tech, but Beamer indicated that Brown may test his injured hamstring and play in some run situations for the Hokies. Freshman Tony Morrison from Chesapeake will start in place of the senior.
KICK IT: Kick returners could play a significant role in the game. Tech's Antonio Freeman is sixth nationally in punt returns with an average of 12 yards per attempt, while kickoff-return man Bryan Still ranks 11th with 26 yards per return. Tech is tied for third nationally as a team in punt returns with an average of 13.4. Tennessee is the team the Hokies are tied with. The Vols' top punt-return man, Nilo Silvan, is second in the nation with an 18.1 average. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
``I'm glad I was able to have the senior season I had. That made my
whole career,'' Ryan Williams said.
by CNB