DMN: SMU QB Willis Sticking with the Program

[Get_Some_Ponies]

Good for him. With a degree he'll still be a former QB which will take him places with the right attitude.

[The PonyGrad]

With a degree this year he could go anywhere and play next season, if I am not mistaken.

[expony18]

looks like he is stating to grow up....

[EastStang]

Remember Mike Ford who set all kinds of passing records his freshman and sophomore year, got injured, then came a new coach and a new offense, and he went to the bench. He finished at SMU.

I think Ford went to the bench in the middle of his senior year. What choice did he have other than to just quit? Willis has options.

I thought McIlhenny played midway in the 80-81 year (remember the Holiday Bowl) and then in 1981-82 season he started in the Cotton Bowl. I remember looking at the roster and seeing Ford's name on it in the Cotton Bowl program and thinking, "wow" he's still eligible. Of course back then, they didn't have the 1-AA drop down option for upperclassmen.

[jtstang]

Ford was drafted by Tampa Bay in 1981. Maybe he did sit quietly on the bench iat SMU n 1981. I thought he was a senior when McIlhenny was a freshman.

[Stallion]

No Ford's Class graduated in the Spring of 1981 and he never redshirted. I think he at least went to some pro camps.One of those years there was a TE named Scott Ford or something-maybe it was him.

[jtstang]

That makes sense. I had thought he'd taken a medical redshirt after he blew his knee out, but I guess not. Jim Bob Taylor started in his stead in 1979 after the injury.

See pick Tampa Bays selection in the 9th round:

http://www.nfl.com/draft/history/fulldr ... und=round1

[EastStang]

Hmm, maybe I was wrong, but I have this nagging feeling that it was Mike Ford. If he was a senior in 1981, but still had a year of eligibility due to a medical red-shirt, would he have still been eligible for the NFL draft? I think he would have. It appears that he might have participated in camp with TB in 1981 according to that draft schedule when you click on his name. That would have rendered him ineligible in 1982. If he didn't participate in camp, he of course could have been eligible in 1982.

[Mustangs35SMU]

Give the kid credit, he handled that interview like a true gentleman.

Second that.

[Charleston Pony]

given the timing of this development, it would be tough for Justin to catch on with a "quality" FCS program and earn a starting nod right away. Sounds like he may have already thought this through and I give him a lot of credit if he stays and earns an undergraduate degree.

He will still have a year of elibility and potentially an opportunity to transfer to some FCS school that offers a graduate program he might be interested in. I've seen a lot of FCS schools in this part of the country pick up a 1 yr QB who rode the pine at some SEC or ACC school but earned an undergrad degeee before moving on.

[Stallion]

Mike Ford left after the 1980 season. There was a Scott Ford on the 1981 team.