Hero, interrupted

Published 12:03 am Friday, August 17, 2007

SEATTLE – It took only seconds for Corey Williams to go from nervous freshman to Apple Cup legend on that November night four years ago.

The next transition, however, has taken longer than Williams or anyone else could have imagined.

For the University of Washington receiver from Las Vegas, making a name for himself took all of 21 yards and a dive into the end zone on Nov. 22, 2003. That was the night he caught the game-winning pass from Cody Pickett with 1:10 remaining to give the Huskies a thrilling 27-19 win over Washington State.

That night, Williams figured, was just the beginning. And in a way it was. Just not the beginning of what he was expecting.

Instead of blossoming into a star receiver, instead of becoming the heir apparent to Reggie Williams, Corey Williams began a college career filled with injuries and unfulfilled potential.

Only four games into his sophomore season, one that was looking at the time like the breakout campaign everyone was hoping for, Williams ran into a brick wall in the end zone of Notre Dame Stadium, sustaining a broken wrist that would require surgery end his season.

Williams returned for the 2005 season, but was not the same player.

“I think last year was really the first year that I could say my wrist didn’t bother me,” said Williams, who has scars on the front and back of his left wrist to remind him of the injury. “Definitely the year after I was a little tentative. It took a year to heal and it took probably another year to get 100 percent.”

In the two seasons since returning from the injury, Williams played in 20 games, but caught just 16 passes for 174 yards. He has not scored a touchdown since the ‘03 Apple Cup.

“I was definitely expecting some bigger things quicker,” he said. “But when the injury happened, and everything panned out, I just felt like everything was happening for a reason. I didn’t really look at it as a negative. I looked at it as a positive. I looked at it as a chance to stay here, get an education and work on my football skills a little more.”

Thanks to the medical redshirt that gave him a fifth year, Williams said he is on track to graduate with an art history degree this year.

Time has not only healed an injured wrist, it has also taught Williams to appreciate what one play from his past means to so many Husky fans. For a while, he didn’t want to talk about the catch that will ensure his place in Husky history.

“My freshman and sophomore year, I was like, ‘Man, I want to be known for something different,’” he said. “But now I realize it was a big catch and I understand why people want to bring it up. As a freshman, I knew it was a rival game, I knew that we didn’t like the other team, but I didn’t really realize how big it was until probably last year. Being here for four years, being a part of the rivalry and tradition, and being with the fans and seeing how big the game is, I didn’t really experience that my freshman year. Being here for five years, I think I realize now how big that catch was.”

Now, both Williams and his coaches hope he can live up to his freshman- and sophomore-year potential and make plenty more big catches. Williams has impressed coaches in practice. He earned a gold jersey [—] something Huskies coach Tyrone Willingham gives out for strong effort in practice [—] for four straight days this week.

“Corey has stepped up his game,” said Willingham. “It’s about performance, productivity and consistency and Corey has put together some pretty good days. He’s starting to step his game up, and that’s something we need.”

Offensive coordinator Tim Lappano has noticed the improvement as well.

“It’s really nice to see him hitting his stride right now,” said Lappano. “We’ve always talked about his potential and his talent. It’s been good. He’s stepping up.”

So maybe this is the year Williams can finally break out. Maybe this is his chance to create a new defining moment in his Washington career. Or maybe it isn’t. Maybe he struggles to find enough minutes and catches to meet the expectations that have followed him ever since he made that diving catch four years ago.

Either way, he’ll be fine so long as the Huskies are winning.

“The dream would be to go to the Rose Bowl,” he said. “Even if I don’t play a lot this year, if we go to the Rose Bowl and win it, I’ll still be happy.”

And no matter what happens this year, Williams is now happy with his place in Apple Cup lore.

“I’m happy to be remembered for that,” he said. “I can really see why people bring it up all the time, and I appreciate it now more than I ever did back then.”