By Steve Lansdale
Senior writer / editor
DALLAS, Texas — The hardware that identify former Texas running back Ricky Williams as one of the greatest players in program history will be available to fans everywhere in Heritage Auctions’ Fall Sports Memorabilia Sports Collectibles Auction Oct. 17-18 on HA.com.
The world’s largest collectibles auctioneer is offering five [s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]lots from the Longhorn legend:
• His 1998 Heisman Memorial Trophy (estimate: $500,000+)
• The 1998 Doak Walker Award (estimate: $20,000+)
• His 1998 Walter Camp Award (estimate: $20,000+)
• His 2002 Dan Marino Most Valuable Player Award (estimate: $15,000+)
• The 2000 Ricky Williams Jersey Retirement Presentational Game Football (estimate: $2,000+)
Of the five lots from the former UT star, the most prized is the Heisman Trophy he won in 1998 as the nation’s top collegiate player, a bronze statue that is expected to bring a half a million dollars or more. If it brings that kind of return, it will break the record of $435,763 that was paid last December for the Heisman won by former Notre Dame receiver Tim Brown. The award is not coming directly from Williams; instead, it is being consigned by Brian Hobbs, who bought it in 2014.
Williams’ Heisman Trophy is particularly notable because it is the last one a winner could sell to the public. Starting the following year (1999), each player who wins the award must sign a waiver forfeiting the right to sell his Heisman, which is widely considered the most prestigious individual honor in college sports. Because of the agreement prohibiting the sale of the iconic bronze award, Williams’ trophy officially caps the number of Heisman Trophies that ever could be offered … and they rarely get offered at auction. The 37-pound trophy is offered with a letter of provenance from Williams.
The Doak Walker Award is awarded each year to the nation’s premier college running back. Williams and the former SMU star (and 1948 Heisman Trophy winner) after whom the trophy is named are among the most legendary players in the history of college football in the state of Texas. The award was founded in 1990, and Williams won it after his junior and senior seasons, but this one, from his senior season, is in higher demand because of its link to his senior season, during which he also won the Heisman Trophy and the Walter Camp Award and set the NCAA record for career rushing yards (a standard that was surpassed the following year by Wisconsin’s Ron Dayne). After he won the award as a junior, Williams developed a friendship with the legendary Walker; after Walker died during Williams’ senior season, the UT star received permission to honor Walker by wearing the No. 37 that Walker wore at SMU. Williams wore No. 37 in 1998 against Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl, the famed stadium in Dallas that is known as “the House that Doak built.”
While the Heisman recognizes “the most outstanding player” of a college season, the Walter Camp Award honors “the best player.” The difference is minute, and not coincidentally, it is not uncommon for the same player to win both awards in a season. In his senior campaign in Austin, Williams swept the awards for which he was eligible, including the Walter Camp, which was created in 1967. The award’s namesake, Camp often was called the “Father of American Football.” The former Yale halfback (from 1876-81) coached his alma mater to the national championship in 1888, 1891 and 1892, and is credited with coming up with the line of scrimmage and the system of downs used to measure progress moving the ball. At 18.5 pounds, the Walter Camp Award weighs exactly half as much as the Heisman Trophy.
The Heisman Trophy, Doak Walker Award and Walter Camp Award all are offered with a letter of authenticity from Williams.
The Dan Marino Most Valuable Player Award was given to Williams after his finest professional season, in which he rushed for an NFL-high 1,853 yards and 16 touchdowns, each of which was the best total in his career. His statistical eruption earned the team’s award honoring its best player for Williams, who signed the trophy.
Williams received more than one game ball while playing in Austin, and the one offered in this auction likely is the his last, a memento he received the day his jersey No. 34 was retired. Texas beat Oklahoma State that day, Sept. 30, 2000.
The most prolific runner in UT history, and one of the best in the history of college football, Williams was a two-time All-America at Texas who played 12 seasons in the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints, Dolphins and Baltimore Ravens, and one for the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts.
Two other Heisman Trophies have been sold at auction. Former Yale halfback Clint Frank’s 1937 trophy brought $312,000, and former Colorado running back Rashaan Salaam’s 1994 award yielded $399,000. Other Heismans that have been sold at auction include Yale end Larry Kelley’s 1936 award ($328,1000), the 1968 trophy won by O.J. Simpson ($255,000), Minnesota running back Bruce Smith’s 1941 award ($394,240) and USC tailback Charles White’s 1979 Heisman, which brought $293,750.
To see images and to learn more about the 1,204 lots in the sale, visit HA.com/50019.
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