From the Stands to the Field: Matt Williams’ Texas Tech Story

Since the inception of Texas football, many unforgettable moments have happened over the years.  Moments that fans who witnessed them will never forget.

Matt Williams had one of those moments and is one of the most unexpected stars in Texas Tech history.

He gained recognition as the kicker who walked onto the team after winning a field-goal contest during halftime of a real game.

This man started the game in the stands and ended it impressing the coaches so much that they discussed the possibility of officially joining the team.

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The Football Game that Changed Matt Williams' Life

The turning point occurred on September 20, 2008, during the Texas Tech vs. UMass game.

Williams participated in a promotional contest held at halftime, where participants were invited to attempt a 30-yard field goal. He successfully made the attempt.

Mike Leach, then head coach of Texas Tech, happened to be watching and was impressed by Williams’ kicking fundamentals.

Though Williams had never been specifically recruited and had not played as a scholarship athlete, Leach offered him a spot on the team.

Prior to that, he served as a walk-on at Tarleton State University. So Williams was not entirerly new to the sport.

However, because of certain NCAA rules and the fact that Williams was not a recruited scholarship kicker at Tarleton State, he was granted an exception to play immediately.

Matt Williams Texas Tech Career

Williams made his debut in the season opener against Kansas, successfully converting all nine of his extra point attempts in that game.

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Throughout his time with the Red Raiders, Williams demonstrated his reliability by successfully converting 149 out of 150 extra points and hitting 22 of 28 field goal attempts. He finished his career with a total of 215 points, which ties him for sixth place on Texas Tech’s all-time scoring list at the time of his graduation in 2010.

@fumblefun1 #tiktokcollegefootballcontest The guy who made a 30-yard free kick and was instantly recruited by Mike Leach—what's he up to now?#nfl #football #mikeleach #texastech ♬ original sound - Fumble Fun