2009.11.01
Tech's Ryan Williams now moving on after costly fumble
BLACKSBURG -- Nobody's perfect. Just ask Virginia Tech standout tailback Ryan Williams.
Williams, who was beating himself up severely after losing a late-game fumble that led to UNC's 20-17 upset of Virginia Tech last Thursday at Lane Stadium, said Sunday that he's moving forward in the wake of the miscue.
Speaking following the Hokies' practice Sunday, Williams said he's OK now.
"I finally came to terms with what happened and I've finally been able to cope with it," said Williams, speaking after the Hokies' practice Sunday.
"I can't be perfect. That's one thing you've got to understand."
Williams' fumble on Tech's 24-yard line led to Casey Barth's 21-yard field goal that beat the Hokies as time expired.
"It would be lovely to have whole football career with no fumbles or no turnovers, but I can't name one guy who's probably ever done that," Williams said.
Walter Payton, the late Chicago Bears' star who has been Williams' idol since his childhood, said even the greatest running back ever -- in his mind -- fumbled, too.
"I say it was 26 times ... but it was a lot of fumbles," Williams said. "So it happens.
"If anything, I take pride in securing the ball when I get hit and I secure the ball perfectly. I had it tucked, it wasn't loose or anything, the guy [Tar Heels defensive end Tydreke Powell] who hit me just did a great job of finding the ball with his hand and was able to get it loose.
Williams, who hadn't lost a fumble in his first 162 carries at Tech, said he couldn't get the miscue off his mind after leaving Lane.
"It was a restless night," he said. "I didn't get to sleep until about 8 in the morning. I stayed up all night, couldn't sleep, just stayed in my room, in the dark, and that play just ran through my head over and over. And I say over and over again, I mean until about 8 o'clock. And if I wasn't tired, I would probably still be up thinking about the play."
Williams, whose has rushed for an ACC-leading 930 yards and 11 touchdowns in the Hokies' first eight games, said he's ready to get back to business. Tech (5-3) resumes play Thursday night at East Carolina.
"I've got to be over it," he said. "I'm not a guy who liked dwelling on things in the past. And if I keep dwelling on it, then my future, the future for this team and for me to help this team wouldn't probably be that good. I can't have something negative sitting there lingering on my mind."
-- RANDY KING
Learn from it Ryan and move on. That is all you can do...and is all we ask of you on this subject.
Comment by David — November 2, 2009 @ 2:07 am
His comments were great, he will be OK, I just wish our coaches would also learn from their mistakes !! Our coaches owe it to the players to look in the mirror and admit their mistakes instead of saying " it just does not fit " , what is that ????????????
Comment by Tony in Roanoke — November 2, 2009 @ 10:22 am
Tony makes a great point. There are Hokie coaches, sadly including Beamer, that hide behind the players' mistakes and imperfections. This season it has not been the players, it is the coaches costing us the game. I have never seen a team of players that put out such a complete and consistant effort. In practice and in the games, they are doing their part, their best. A bad play call can not be executed well. The coaches have really failed this season. There is a 12 year problem that is not being fixed. VT will never go to the Big Dance until there is a coaching shake up. Beamer is being paid enough to make the tough decisions. Let's get it done and over with!!
Comment by Edgar — November 2, 2009 @ 1:56 pm
Well said Edgar. Beamer made the hire and he should take it upon himself to make a change at OC. Unfortunately, 8 to 10 wins each year is enough for Beamer. I completely respect where Beamer has taken the program, essentially from the cellar to some great seasons, top 10 rankings, etc. However, Beamer is stuck in a rut with his "Aw shucks we didn't execute, one more block and we pop one, give them credit, ball didn't bounce our way, oh well we still can have a good season, etc" We've heard it all before. It's frustrating as a fan because I know somewhere in that playbook we have plays that can be effective. From time to time we have seen them. It seems as though Beamer, Stinespring, and yes on occasion Foster can't seem to recognize what is and isn't working and make appropriate adjustments. I think back two years to the Orange Bowl vs. KU. We were dynamite running the ball between the tackles with Branden Ore and in the second half with plenty of time to spare all we did was try to throw it down field and hit the "big one". Three clock consuming drives of running the ball with the occasional pass mixed in and we win that contest easily. It was the same story of inability to adjust in the first half against GT & UNC. Hopefully we will come out firing on all cylinders against ECU, because if not we won't be able to make adjustments to will ourselves to victory. Go Hokies.
Comment by bird_dog07 — November 2, 2009 @ 4:46 pm
Totally agree with all of the above comments! The last time Coach Beamer made Coaching changes, I think the Administration flat out told him make certain changes or it you that's out! Loyalty is to be admired, but not at the expense of the Players! TOO MUCH TALENT ON THIS TEAM TO BE 5 and
3. From 4th ranked to 23rd in two games! The kids deserve better! In the GT game their Offensive Coordinator took Coach Foster to the "WOODSHED" in the second half with his adjustments and we were unable to counter adjust! Making a "Stink" about Chop Blocks is High School - S--T happens and you just have to suck it up and admit you WERE OUT COACHED! Look at the record of the last 5 or 6 years and see how many times we loss due to COACHING -Coach Beamer ask yourself why the 5 Star Virginia Recruits like
Percy H, Simms, ETC go out of State - Tech has not motivation to be a High Scoring Team with a Killer Instinct - Coaching, Coaching, Coaching!
We need another QB Coach like Rogers and another Offensive Lime like Coach Grimes. Why is it we sign so many 4 star offensive linemen that wind up transferring out after several years Alverez, Brown, ETC. As of late - Sad, Sad, Sad - Such a promising season - Great Running Backs, Great Wide Receivers, Great Tight Ends, and struggle inside the 40 yd line! OH Well as Coach says, "We can still be a good Football Team and win 10 games!" - Hey Coach the season is 67% over and we should have peaked by now! My feelings now, we will be hard pressed to win two out of the next 4. Take a look, ECU has a winning record and Virginia is laying for our A--! Enough is enough! Have to vent the frustration somewhere!
To the Players "Keep your heads up. You are truly a great bunch of young men. Help is on the way!" Go Hokies - We will always give you a glad returning! Win or Lose You are the Pride of VPI!"
"Little Sweetness" hang in there, you are the MAN!
Comment by Bob — November 2, 2009 @ 6:33 pm
how do you "coach" a fumble that was well executed by the defense? If Tech wins last week, half of you would not want to comment. Next week it will be: "the coaches only coach, the players play the game". Have you not seen God humble a team and coaching staff or exalt the same. GET A GRIP armchair coaches. As fans you really should be replaced. Maybe the Tech Admin will demand better fans next year than you bunch of armchair wimps. Cut me and I bleed Hokie orange and maroon but I think your comments are counterproductive to the joy of the UVA fans. May I suggest that you get a brown paper bag and take deep breaths.
Comment by Paul — November 3, 2009 @ 5:27 pm
You guys are right - Beamer loves sitting at ten wins a year an no more?! WTF - ten years ago the south end zone was a set of wooden green bleachers. If you don't think Beamer wants a national title more than any of your arses you have fallen off the wagon. To think VT can even consider such a goal is a credit to the administration and coaches, and the great players they have been able to attract and build with year after year. Stuff happens (just ask Pete Carol) and cycles come and go, but Beamer has put this program in position to be considered one of the greats. Once they stamp it with an national title you all can quite sucking eggs and whining about what you don't have. Until then, enjoy the ride.
Comment by The Realist — November 3, 2009 @ 8:07 pm
Agreed, Bob & _bird, I wonder why the media, e.g. RTs, won't directly address the issue. They seem happy with "10 wins" also. They don't have to take a stand, if they are afraid, [which is why they are at the RT and not SI] but they could give a voice to those of us who know something is not right. It is hard to find fault with C. Foster. W/o him we would be a Wake or Duke. He has carried Stine's water and polished Beamer's boots for over 12 years. I'm no coach, as Foster rightly says, but I do wonder why late in the 4th qtr, the opponent is driving having to pass, and our front 4 is exhausted from being on the field too long in the game can't get pressure on the QB; why not set a DB or safety on the corner and send him directly to the QB. (rush 3 big guys, one fast back; they are not going to run, and give the QB less time ) That would give the QB about 1.5 sec instead of 4 sec, or more. How many games have we lost from lack of QB pressure in the final minutes. Nothing wrong with prevent defense, but 7 or 8 backs can't cover receivers for 4+ sec.
Beamer is making money for himself and Tech with 10 wins, so he is happy with that. Our coaches are not top ten, so neither is the team.
Gooo Hokies !!!
(yes, no where else to rant! )
Comment by Edgar — November 5, 2009 @ 11:55 am
Wow,This sounds like Uva fans after the Shawn & Herman Moore days.Still dreaming of something better,trying to fix something thats not broken.Hokie fans,Bandwagon hokies,until you've coached the game.You'll figure out that You cant go out there and play for them..What team are you seeing to say this is the hardest working team they ever had I'm a hikie fan been going to the games since the fall of 86(last thing i want to be is a bandwagon hokie) Yes a lot has changed.If you havent noticed or seen the light.. Let me brighten your weekend..This coaching staff has always played with hard working kids with less talent ,kids noone else except 1 or 2 Div 1AA teams but they always had 4 to 6 superstars to compliment these hard working players.Look at the team that went to the Nat'l Championship game that was talent up and down that team with Fr& Soph complementing upper classmen on that team. Looking @ it now we will never get to that talent level again or how abuot Bryan Randall's Sr year That team was the hardest working team Vt has ever had
They always got their kids from the tidewater area..Competition got gotten a bit stiffer in recruiting that area.I'll be the 1st to say we're lucky to be 5&3
we have one Superstar on the team (Williams)of course Tyrod has his moments of greatness then he has his moments of locking in a one reciever as soon as the ball is snapped with out going thru his progression for you (his 2nd & 3rd read)
So,dont be sick & tired of being sick & tired. It good to be Fat and Happy when you're a fan but when you decide to cross the line and put you spin on what Beamer should be doing on coaching decisions you more than welcome to
go to Charlottesville where you belong because we dont need you in BLACKSBURG
Comment by Mark — November 5, 2009 @ 1:26 pm