DMN: Willis Puts Mistakes Behind Him
Posted: Sun Oct 15, 2006 1:01 amBy KATE HAIROPOULOS / The Dallas Morning News
UNIVERSITY PARK – Just a week earlier, Justin Willis had followed his team's progress on the Internet at his parents' Denton home, 640 miles from SMU's loss at UT-El Paso.
After a tumultuous week resulting from his suspension for an incident with another SMU student at an off-campus gathering, Willis made the most of his reinstatement in Saturday's 31-21 win over Marshall.
Willis (20-of-23 for 208 yards and four touchdowns) was cheered loudly when he entered the game.
"I'm just ready to move on," Willis said. "I made a mistake, everybody knows that, but I'm back playing football, and I can concentrate on that now. ... It felt good being out there."
Willis has passed for 16 touchdowns in six games, an SMU freshman record, which also ranks fourth by an SMU player in a season.
Willis also had his third game of four or more touchdown passes, a school record.
Backup Corey Slater started for SMU, as expected. Willis didn't practice with the team this week until he was reinstated Thursday.
Slater moved SMU into scoring position on its first drive, but Thomas Morstead missed a 44-yard field-goal attempt. On Slater's second drive, he didn't complete a pass and was sacked for a loss. He finished 3-of-6 for 23 yards.
When Willis entered in the second quarter, he sparked SMU to 7-0 lead on his first drive, which included two passes to Zack Sledge. They teamed up for a 26-yard connection to set up a Sledge's 7-yard touchdown reception.
"It's obvious Justin's a playmaker, and we needed him," SMU coach Phil Bennett said.
Willis fumbled before halftime, and Marshall took advantage of the short field to take the lead. But Willis came back and threw for touchdown passes of 3, 7 and 17 yards in the second half.
Willis studied tape and playbooks to prepare for Marshall during his suspension, though he said it was hard to concentrate on football.
Bennett said he felt SMU was fair to everyone involved. He said Willis, who received unspecified sanctions after a university investigation, will also draw some punishment from the coach. A penalty that will make Willis "slimmer," Bennett said.
"I think people supported me," Willis said. "People make mistakes. The crowd reaction – I loved the support they gave me, [and] the coaches and the administration through the whole thing. That's what I'm really thankful for. Some people might turn their backs on you."
UNIVERSITY PARK – Just a week earlier, Justin Willis had followed his team's progress on the Internet at his parents' Denton home, 640 miles from SMU's loss at UT-El Paso.
After a tumultuous week resulting from his suspension for an incident with another SMU student at an off-campus gathering, Willis made the most of his reinstatement in Saturday's 31-21 win over Marshall.
Willis (20-of-23 for 208 yards and four touchdowns) was cheered loudly when he entered the game.
"I'm just ready to move on," Willis said. "I made a mistake, everybody knows that, but I'm back playing football, and I can concentrate on that now. ... It felt good being out there."
Willis has passed for 16 touchdowns in six games, an SMU freshman record, which also ranks fourth by an SMU player in a season.
Willis also had his third game of four or more touchdown passes, a school record.
Backup Corey Slater started for SMU, as expected. Willis didn't practice with the team this week until he was reinstated Thursday.
Slater moved SMU into scoring position on its first drive, but Thomas Morstead missed a 44-yard field-goal attempt. On Slater's second drive, he didn't complete a pass and was sacked for a loss. He finished 3-of-6 for 23 yards.
When Willis entered in the second quarter, he sparked SMU to 7-0 lead on his first drive, which included two passes to Zack Sledge. They teamed up for a 26-yard connection to set up a Sledge's 7-yard touchdown reception.
"It's obvious Justin's a playmaker, and we needed him," SMU coach Phil Bennett said.
Willis fumbled before halftime, and Marshall took advantage of the short field to take the lead. But Willis came back and threw for touchdown passes of 3, 7 and 17 yards in the second half.
Willis studied tape and playbooks to prepare for Marshall during his suspension, though he said it was hard to concentrate on football.
Bennett said he felt SMU was fair to everyone involved. He said Willis, who received unspecified sanctions after a university investigation, will also draw some punishment from the coach. A penalty that will make Willis "slimmer," Bennett said.
"I think people supported me," Willis said. "People make mistakes. The crowd reaction – I loved the support they gave me, [and] the coaches and the administration through the whole thing. That's what I'm really thankful for. Some people might turn their backs on you."