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Matt Williams (American football)

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Matt Williams
CollegeTexas Tech
ConferenceBig 12
SportFootball
PositionPK
Class2008-2010
MajorEducation[1]
NicknameLynnwood[2]
Career2008–2010
Height5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
Weight180 lb (82 kg)
NationalityAmerican
BornDecember 14th
Weatherford
High schoolWeatherford High School

Matt Williams (born in Weatherford, Texas) is a former walk-on place kicker for the Texas Tech Red Raiders football team. Williams was offered the position, two other players having failed to succeed for the team at that point, after winning a year's worth of free rent in a place-kicking contest at one of the Red Raiders games.[3][4]

Early years

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Williams attended Weatherford High School in Weatherford, Texas, where he played soccer and football. In football, he played both wide receiver and kicker. His signature moment as a kicker occurred when he kicked a 49-yard field goal through the uprights to defeat rival Mineral Wells High School in overtime. He graduated from Weatherford in 2006.[1]

College career

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Tarleton State

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Williams walked on to the Tarleton State Texans football team, though was only on the team for a month and never played a game.[1]

Texas Tech

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After two years at Tarleton State, Williams transferred to Texas Tech. During halftime of Tech's September 20, 2008, football game against the University of Massachusetts, Williams entered a promotional contest in which he made a 30-yard field goal. He caught the attention of head coach Mike Leach, who liked the fundamentals he used on the kick. Leach wanted him on the team, and although it was initially thought he would not be immediately eligible, the NCAA granted a one-time exception based on the specific circumstances.[5] He was allowed to play immediately as he had not been recruited by Tarleton State and also because he was never a scholarship player. However, the season he played on Tarleton State's squad counted toward his eligibility, making him a sophomore during his first year at Tech. He also had to reject the free rent he won in the contest in order to remain eligible.[1]

Williams made his debut in a 63–21 win over Kansas where he was a perfect 9 for 9 on PATs.[6] Following the game, Williams was recognized as the AT&T ESPN All-America Player of the Week.[7]

The following week, in Texas Tech's 39–33 victory over Texas, Williams was also asked to kick field goals, making two and having one blocked.[8]

In 2009, Williams made a career long 43-yard Field Goal against Baylor University in a 20-13 victory. [citation needed]

Williams finished his career 149-150 on extra points and 22-28 (78.6%) on field goals. He is currently[when?] tied for sixth on the Red Raiders kickers scoring list with 215 career points. He graduated in 2010.[citation needed]

Post-football career

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Williams works as a teacher and football coach at a Mineral Wells High School - the one he notably defeated while he was in school.[9][10]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Hairopoulos, Kate (November 22, 2008). "Texas Tech kicker taking an unlikely road to stardom". Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on December 8, 2008. Retrieved November 22, 2008.
  2. ^ Carlton, Chuck (October 25, 2008). "Tech's walk-on kicker perfect on nine PATs". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on October 30, 2008. Retrieved November 11, 2008.
  3. ^ "Sweetwater Reporter - Student who won contest might kick for Texas Tech". Sweetwaterreporter.com. October 25, 2008. Retrieved December 2, 2008. [dead link‍]
  4. ^ Pelley, Scott (December 31, 2008). "Mike Leach: The Mad Scientist of Football". 60 Minutes. Archived from the original on December 9, 2015.
  5. ^ "No headline - FOX Sports - Article". Sports.mobile.msn.com. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved December 2, 2008.
  6. ^ Hairopoulos, Kate; Carlton, Chuck (October 29, 2008). "Walk-on Texas Tech kicker's role might expand". The Dallas Morning News. Retrieved November 11, 2008.[dead link‍]
  7. ^ Williams, Don; Walker, Jeff (October 31, 2008). "Red Raiders Football Notebook 10-31-2008". Archived from the original on January 25, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2008.
  8. ^ "Same drill on choosing the Texas Tech kicker, Leach says | Texas Tech Red Raiders News | Sports News | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News". Dallasnews.com. November 5, 2008. Retrieved December 2, 2008.[dead link‍]
  9. ^ Eierdam, Tony (July 19, 2012). "Diving In". Mineral Wells Index. Archived from the original on January 31, 2020.
  10. ^ Huffman, Russell (May 4, 2020). "A KICK TO GLORY: The story of how Matt Williams became a legend". Weatherford Democrat.
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