Ricky and Recruiting

by Navin R. Johnson on May 13, 2007 5:39 PM CDT

There has been a fair amount of chatter about the recruiting of high-character but potentially less talented players like Fitzhenry, Gideon and Dodge. Given the situations surrounding Romance and T. Brown over the last couple of years this seems to be a wise move.

This week brought us news of Ricky Williams' fifth failed drug test and the possible end of his football career. I think most would agree that it is naive to think that Ricky took his first puff after being drafted. Assuming that he began using marijuana in high school and it was common knowledge to recruiters, would Mack pursue a 17 or 18 year old Ricky Williams today? Would he pass up Heisman Trophy talent because of his character issues? Or is there a level of talent where he will take the risk that he can keep the problem out of the public eye?

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Fascinating question

It's a damn good question, though I'm not sure Ricky would have had the same red flags that some of the kids Mack's been avoiding have.

For one thing, Ricky didn't have any grade issues. For another, he didn't have any prior track record of trouble with the law. That means for Mack to pass on Williams, he'd have to have some special knowledge of Ricky's dope smoking habits. Would that kind of thing be something coaches knew?

It's hard to say, but if Williams were a well-known pot smoker, I'd guess that Mack would think long and hard before offering that scholarship. Remember, Brown recently passed on a guy that some believe is the state's top tailback prospect. The issue was grades - not pot - but it proved that Mack isn't just paying lip service to his policy.

Again, though - fascinating topic. I've been applauding Mack for making the wise decision to pass on trouble kids, but it's damn hard to imagine applauding your coach passing up Ricky Williams.

--PB--

by Peter Bean on May 13, 2007 6:27 PM CDT reply actions

Wasn't Ricky tech a "walk-on" because of baseball

(8th rd., Phillies)?

by ged3 on May 14, 2007 7:39 AM CDT up reply actions

I've been trying to stay out of it,

so I'll avoid the whole poitical issue and legal issues surrounded by the NFL and their testing methods.

However, as PB noted, this is where it really heats up for Longhorns - how will Ricky's issues affect the 40 acres.

To start with, Mack did not bring Ricky to Texas, he kept him here for his senior year. Mack was trying to win fans back to the program and that was clearly a fast way to do it in his first year. He is clearly not in the same position today.

However, to PB's point, Ricky was not a character-problem player. If anything, Ricky was the kind of player Mack loves at the collegiate level... he was a hard worker with a strong passion for Texas, Football and Life. He's a friendly guy who had desires to be an elementary school teacher in his post-football career. He was well liked by teammates and oh by the way, was a heck of a football player.

Thus, I tend to say Mack would still want Ricky on his team. While I haven't seen (but haven't been looking) any formal response from Mack on Ricky's latest setback, I would also guess that Mack will continue to stand behind him with the old, "He's so important to us and we hope he gets his issues resolved."

Regardless, Ricky goes down as one of my favorite Horns with one of the most spectacular plays, seasons and careers of a Longhorn I have ever witnessed. Hook 'em.

by the usual suspects on May 13, 2007 7:05 PM CDT reply actions

Agree with everything you said, but...

...The question is what would happen if Ricky were 18 years old, we couldn't know for sure how great he'd be, and we did know he had pot issues in high school.

Would Mack still recruit him?

It's so interesting because Ricky is a good guy. But he's a good guy who smokes pot. One wonders whether Mack would recruit a similar player these days.

--PB--

by Peter Bean on May 13, 2007 8:28 PM CDT up reply actions

I don't know the NCAA or Texas testing programs

Does either the NCAA or Texas test student athletes for pot (or any other drug)? I hate to admit that I truly don't know the testing programs that are in place. Given our "history" of players that are arrested while in possession, I'm not sure Mack would have a problem with it, unless he has to deal with it publicly (eg, they get arrested or tested).

As for Ricky specifically, coming out of high school he was certainly a prized recruit. As I noted above, he had a lot going for him (even before his Heisman run). I remember watching his freshman debut on tv (at Hawaii) where I believe he gained around 90 yards with a TD - and my friends and I knew right away that he was something special.

Thus, given all the good things going for him (grades, charisma, attitude, desire to be in Texas, and his potential), I think there's a likelihood that Mack would still want him to be a part of the Burnt Orange family.

by the usual suspects on May 13, 2007 9:37 PM CDT up reply actions

pretty sure Texas tests

I remember reading about the NFL timing days and Mack telling the NFL scouts that they test for things just like the NFL does.

by the other Andrew on May 13, 2007 11:16 PM CDT up reply actions

that must be a new development

I know for a fact that Cedric Benson and Will Matthews smoked like chimneys in their days on the 40. They never would have passed a test.

...til Gabriel blows his horn

by BigTexBD on May 14, 2007 1:33 PM CDT up reply actions

If they test like the NFL

then they could probably get away with it.

Looking at the NFL drug policy, all you have to do is get testing in the preseason, and then on a random basis only if the player's contract allows it and the team has a reasonable reason for the request or they have been caught before.

http://www.nflpa.org/pdfs/RulesAndRe...

So if Ced and Will took a month off their chimney like habits before the preseason and then did not give the team reason over the year to request a random drug test, they could have made it through.

by Wells on May 14, 2007 1:56 PM CDT up reply actions

Ricky Williams

I know a guy who is related to one of the UT coaches who was there when Ricky was. Last year I asked him how the UT coaches were able to keep Ricky out of trouble. He said they just kept Ricky supplied with videogames and he was perfectly content and no trouble whatsoever. So I suspect what went wrong with Ricky happened mainly after he left UT, perhaps from the combination of too much money, too much free time, and being much farther from home and his mother's influence.

"Only angry people win football games." --DKR

by OBdoc on May 14, 2007 7:57 AM CDT reply actions

Just curious

How did it become known that he had pot issues in HS? An arrest? Failed drug test for his HS team? I've been following recruiting for 3 or 4 years now and I can't recall hearing of a single recruit who was a known smoker. It's obvious that there are probably quite a few D1 prospects who do smoke, but it seems like something that would be fairly easy to keep under wraps.

by Old Tex29 on May 14, 2007 8:00 AM CDT reply actions

why just the white palyers

why are the white players just being brought in bc of good behavior?
A) Gideon can ball. I'm not sure if you've seen any of his highlites.
B) Dodge aside from being a two time state champ is the son of a former longhorn QB.
C) There are two black athletes coming out of small private schools in the same class who in my opinion fit your description of less athletically gifted but of high-character.

by Rusty Shackleford on May 14, 2007 8:53 PM CDT reply actions

Good point

Nothing further to add.

--PB--

by Peter Bean on May 14, 2007 9:12 PM CDT up reply actions

Not my opinion

These players were not chosen because I feel that they deserve questioning more so than other players. It just seems to me that they have generated the most discussion on the issue.

"If USC doesn't do sumthin they're gunna lose" - Keith Jackson

by Navin R. Johnson on May 15, 2007 4:24 PM CDT up reply actions