Fans got Memphis back to return

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- DeAngelo Williams swears he didn't know if he would go the NFL or return for his senior season at Memphis until he walked to the podium for his news conference last January.

"Some days I wanted to go; some days I wanted to stay," he said.

Williams ran for 1,948 yards and scored 22 touchdowns in 2004 and looked like a lock to be selected in the first two rounds of the NFL draft. But something pulled him back to Memphis.

"When I walked up to the podium, and I saw all the screaming Memphis fans, saw all the supporters -- it was hands down," he said.

Memphis coach Tommy West isn't quite sure he believes that." That's a good story. I hope that's not true. I hope we didn't go through 75 hours of talks, and he made his decision over how many fans were there. I could've done that for him in a short period of time,"

It made headlines around the country when Southern California quarterback Matt Leinart decided to return for his senior season instead of being the top pick in the NFL draft. Relatively speaking, though, Williams' decision was as big deal around Graceland. With Williams still in the lineup, the Tigers can consider themselves contenders in Conference USA.

Those who know Williams always expected him to choose college and his teammates over money, even though back in his hometown of Wynne, Ark., his mother has been fighting breast cancer.

"He has fun out there," said fullback Robert Douglas, now with the NFL's Tennessee Titans. "It's fun for him because he dominates the sport on that level. I think one more year, come back and finish up school, it's not going to hurt him."

When he came to Memphis, Williams was thinking less about being in the NFL and more about becoming a CPA -- certified public accountant. Even now, he's aware of a study that suggests NFL players have a life-span up to 15 years shorter than average.

"I'm thinking I could be a professional pen-pusher and live way longer than that and make up for the money that I possibly lost by not going to the NFL," Williams said.

By now, Williams has gotten used to the idea of making millions in the NFL, but he's still planning to graduate on time with an accounting degree.

The future CPA took an analytical approach to his decision to stay in Memphis. He figured he would go high in the second round of the last draft behind senior running backs Ronnie Brown, Carnell Williams and Cedric Benson. Some agents told him to take the money. Former Tigers in the NFL urged him to enjoy one more season with football as a game instead of a business. He also looked hard at the roster of a Memphis team that lost four offensive linemen and quarterback Danny Wimprine.

"I was very confident that he had the facts and that he would make a rational decision," West said.

In the end, it was easy.

"I just put faith in God's hands that everything will be OK," Williams said. "If it's meant for me, then it's meant for me regardless."

Receiver Maurice Avery never doubted that his roommate would be back.

"He was having too much fun with us. I knew he wasn't ready to go up there and be businesslike," Avery said.

The decision should pay off eventually.

Williams -- who has 5,498 all-purpose yards in his college career -- is considered the top running back available for the NFL draft in 2006, which could mean millions more in guaranteed money.

An insurance policy that covered him through the bowl game and the offseason is being renewed to offer him financial protection.

Williams is trying to help the Tigers to a third straight winning season and a third consecutive bowl appearance, which would be a first for the school. Memphis has mailed out 900 die-cast collectible cars to Heisman Trophy voters to publicize his senior season. Just landing an invitation to the ceremony in New York would be a big victory for the school.

But even if his senior season falls flat, or the NFL doesn't work out, Williams will be happy with his backup plan.

"I'll have accounting to fall back on," he said.

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