The Return of #38, Part 1
Many of you who have gone to RoyWilliams31.com recently will no doubt have noticed that the site was no longer there. Please accept our humblest apologies for our temporary absence. We had planned to make the transition from RoyWilliams31.com to RW38.com a smooth one, but unfortunately we did not do so.

For all of you forum members, the Fan Forum is back up and operational, and we think that everything has been restored to the way it was before we so rudely left you. We invite you to get back in there to resume enjoying your conversations with one another.

The Return of #38, Part 2
Most of you know that Roy wore #38 during his college playing days at the University of Oklahoma, and by now many of you probably know the reason why he has never worn the number during his pro career. For those of you who don't know, below is an excerpt from the DallasCowboys.com web site to give you a little bit of an explanation:

IRVING, Texas - Eight is great for Cowboys safety Roy Williams. Well, 38, to be exact.

Williams said Thursday he would change his uniform number back to the one he wore as a standout at the University of Oklahoma beginning next season. Williams wore a No. 38 practice jersey during Wednesday's workouts, prompting questions from the media on Thursday about why he wasn't wearing his usual No. 31 jersey.

"What number change?" Williams teased before admitting that the change had been a long time coming for him.

When Williams first arrived as a rookie at Valley Ranch in 2002 he had to take No. 31 because cornerback Duane Hawthorne had No. 38. Williams could have had the number if he paid Hawthorne $20,000 - a move Williams didn't want to make. Hawthorne left the team at the end of the 2002 season and safety Lynn Scott wore the number off and on through 2005. Since then, No. 38 has been available for any Cowboys player, allowing Williams to make the switch.

"I've always been wanting to change my number to that," Williams said.

The number change isn't just a throwback to Williams' college days. It's also rooted in the Bible, according to the safety.

"Eight in the bible is regarded as a new beginning, and I feel that after this season it's time to switch over," Williams said. "Switch to No. 38."

Williams said he had talked to his pastor Rickie G. Rush at the Inspiring Body of Christ, a nondenominational church located in Dallas, telling him what he wanted to do.

Another factor in delaying the number change to next year, according to Williams, is not wanting Cowboys owner Jerry Jones to lose money on the large inventory of No. 31 jerseys in the marketplace.

"It was kind of helping out Jerry, so he wouldn't lose money in the whole deal," Williams said.

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