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I really don't like writing up stuff right after the game, and I'm going to be very careful about what I write because:

1.) I really hesitate to bring up an individuals acts in a negative way at all.
2.) I don't want to come off as some high-horse judgmental jack-ass who hasn't/couldn't walk a mile in their shoes.

The announcers brought up Justin Willis' reaction to I believe another drive ending in frustration. They said along the lines of I know he's disappointed, but he threw his helmet earlier, and now he's throwing the football, and he shouldn't be doing that. But I might be off on that.

Everyone is responsible for their own actions, but honestly, I'm wondering why the coaching staff has not done anything noticeable to channel players frustration into a more positive display, or put a stop to any unnecessary actions. Maybe they have, and it's just something that I haven't noticed.

As the coach, leader, and mentor of the team, it seems that Phil Bennett has the responsibility to guide, coach, and set an example for the players. And I believe that he does an excellent job of this. However, also it seems to be a head scratcher that Willis, or any other player for that matter, would not have been lead aside and talked to in private. In the least, to just remind the individual that this is a team, we live and die together, and everybody needs to do their job on every play and not show others anything but our game face. This is extremely important because you are an important member of this team, and a lot of people look to you for leadership and support. But again maybe this has been done and I'm bringing up old news.

I'm really not trying to throw someone under the bus here or rip someone a new one at all. I'm just confused that in several instances we have seen unfortunate negative displays of frustration, and I believe that perhaps something should have been done to make sure things are handled professionally and positively.

I can say that as a fan it is frustrating to see, but I haven't been a college football player or football coach. I know that they're all quite frustrated by now.

This coaching staff has lacked leadership in this area for years. From off season fighting incidents at social events to not listening to Willis' complaints last year, pre-knock out, Bennett has failed here. But on the field, what can we expect? As hard as it is for us to watch, would you enjoy actually being out there play in and play out? Getting beat up week after week takes its toll.

Sure, I could say he shouldnt throw his helmet and be a better sport, but I like the emotion. He hates losing as much as we do. And he deserves our respect for caring. The easy way out would be to switch schools, but he's a mustang and I give Willis a pass on this one for his desire to be better.

He has the fire in him that we need everyone else to have. THen, maybe, some changes would be made to allow us to turn this thing around. Fast.

Its just really sad when your qb is getting called out by the announcers for his behavior!

It's sad that it has come to this...

firephil wrote:Sure, I could say he shouldnt throw his helmet and be a better sport, but I like the emotion. He hates losing as much as we do. And he deserves our respect for caring.

No, he does not deserve respect for caring. Caring is expected. Nor does he deserve respect for throwing his helmet and acting like a baby. That kind of "emotion" does squat for me.

Well said!

You two are a joke. Week in and week out he gets more and more fed up with the play calling, the poor execution, getting beat up more than he should, etc. Unless we back up their efforts, why would the players stay at this point? I wonder how we recruit ANYONE at this point.

Why dont you guys get out there and show us what you've got. Every decent player on our team feels lied to and misled and is PISSED they decided to take a chance on being part of our "rebuilding." The day JW throws in the towell is the day we sign up for 10 more years of losing, minimum. So yeah, I respect him for continuing to show up, continuing to give what everything he has, and for showing his emotion out there.

Everything is NOT all good on the hilltop pals. But maybe if you didnt hear me calling for a change last year you do now...hopefully before we let PB & Co ruin any shot we have at moving forward any time soon.

First, I am entirely too old to get out there and show you what I've got. Second, I repeat, I do not respect Willis for continuing to "show up." And this "emotion" you speak of is not emotion, but theatrics, its for the crowd's benefit. Emotion is inside. I played HS ball with a LB who, whenever he got hurt, (which was at least once a game) would take his helmet off, so people could see his pained expressions, and roll around like a soccer player. He would then walk off the field, usually under his own power. Theatrics.

I have no issues with Willis' play, or his will to win, OR HIS TOUGHNESS, other than I'd like to see more zip on his passes, and I'd like to see him please, please protect the ball more. But throwing a tantrum and throwing your helmet has nothing to do with football. Why do you respect that?

Ok do you remember last year when Willis cried that he would transfer if phil was fired? So he cant use the excuse of being fed up with the play calls there! Yeah he is on a bad team but he isnt the only good player on this team that is tired of getting murdered every week but he is the only one throwing fits like a middle school girl! So yes i am disappointed that the face of the team cant control his temper!!!!

KnuckleStang wrote:But throwing a tantrum and throwing your helmet has nothing to do with football. Why do you respect that?

Once again well said!

After firing phil we need to also bring in another qb coach to get willis to understand that the qb needs to be the leader and set the example for the rest of the team. His actions throwing the helmet last night do nothing positive for a team. He needs to learn to control his emotions a qb cannot be successful until he learns how to do that.

I am glad that they showed them eating ribs instead of the incident, but I disagree with some of what you say. I dont care if you played high school ball back in the 70s, or if some DB line backer who got hurt once a game. Sometimes, in competitive games (not sure that your team played real football), players get heated and these things happen.

Unfortunately, JW did say that nonsense last year but he has changed his tune now, and, yeah, I am scared that we are about to lose much more than 6 more games this year at this point. JW is the leader, and I want him to get fired up about bad football - from the coaches, his teammates, and himself.

Note on my new rankings post where I listed SMU and JW last night. I recognized that we dont need it but, in the end, I am glad someone out there hasn't given up. I absolutely agree that we won't win until we can play with controlled emotion, but at least we know they still have emotion