Texas Tech RB Out For Season

September 29, 1999 / 3:55 PM EDT / AP

Texas Tech star running back Ricky Williams aggravated his sprained left knee during practice this week and will not return to the field this season, coach Spike Dykes said today.

Williams had missed the team's last two games after injuring the knee in the season opener against Arizona State and Dykes had listed the running back as a "maybe" for Saturday's contest against No. 5 Texas A&M. But in practice Tuesday, Williams aggravated the injury while running in a no-contact exercise.

Tech doctors said surgery would be scheduled for Williams, a running back from Ducanville, later this week. Team personnel would not say whether the knee sprain will end his career.

"It's gut wrenching, no doubt," Dykes said. "The worst thing about athletics is injuries, because these kids put their whole life into it and it can be taken away in an instant. It breaks my heart to see something like that happen to good people."

Before the initial injury, Williams had played every game at Tech (2-1) the past two seasons, rushing for 1,582 yards and 13 touchdowns last year. He also was on pace to eclipse the all-time rushing record held by Texas' former running back of the same name.

Williams injured his knee when the ASU defense collapsed the Tech offensive line on top of him during the Red Raider's game on Sept. 6. He simply bandaged his left knee and returned to play minutes later.

In the second half, he told trainers he felt the knee give out and was helped off the field.

He did not play in Tech's 38-17 victory over Louisiana-Lafayette, or the team's stunning 21-14 loss to North Texas last weekend.

Dykes has said that even if Williams were to miss several games this season, the running back could still stay on track to take the all-time rushing title from Texas' Williams.

"He can always be given a medical redshirt if he is out more than a few games," Dykes said after William's missed his first game. "He'll still retain the same amount of eligibility, so if he wants to pursue an all-time rushing title or whatever, he can do that."