starting lineups after spring ball

by **jtstang** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 1:38 pm

My problem is you are talking as if you think we have somebody who could step in and do more to help this team win and we don't. I'm not saying he doesn't have faults, including holding the ball like a loaf of bread, but come on, if he's available (and I don't know if he will be), he's got to be the guy.

by **StallionsModelT** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 1:41 pm

Uhhh how can you say he's "got" to be the guy? He was the quarterback of a one win team and turned the ball over far too much last season. Justin Willis is not clearly our best anything. If he comes back in the fall and wins the job outright then fantastic. The job is his. But to assume he's going to get the job based on his performance his two years here under a different coaching staff is beyond stupid.

by **pony warrior** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:05 pm

That's my point...there is no guarantee he has to be the guy, even if he comes back. I think he will have some serious competition.

by **jtstang** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:07 pm

To think that we've got somebody riding the pine that's better is beyond stupid, but then you're beyond stupid. Who's better? Name the guy, sunshine.

by **cusa'06champs** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:21 pm

I am not sure that we can blame Justin for the amount of wins (7) over the last two seasons.

424-684/61%/51TD/24INT is not the line of a normal 7-17 quarterback. If he gets his act together and can learn the system in time he should thrive under a good coach.

by **Bergermeister** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:22 pm

Argyle Pony wrote:I like JW...but he must get his house in order and also learn to hang on to the ball.

Hang on to the ball AND his helmet - wonder what JJ's response will be the first time he stomps off the field and throws his helmet - the previous coach, evidently, thought that was acceptable behavior - I think he'll have to prove he is not a wus when the pressure is on. Good luck with that.

by **StallionsModelT** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:34 pm

jtstang,

With the excellent comeback of "you're stupid" I'm not really sure how to respond! Is it a heavy flow day or something? As others have already indicated, no one in their right mind can say Justin Willis has GOT to be the guy. All he's done since June Jones arrived on campus is act like a selfish punk that let his team down when he should have been going to class and not flushing a 35K a year scholarship down the f'ing drain. It was a mistake. I'm willing to give him a second chance and redeem himself but c'mon dude. I can't tell you who we have on campus that would be better b/c thanks to Justin's actions we don't know where he is in terms of timing with receivers, grasping the new system, and most importantly his standing in the eyes of the new coaches. That good enough big guy?

by **ponyboy** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:45 pm

T, I like your stuff but I disagree strongly on this one. I don't care if Willis throws his helmet into the stands and knocks out three Tri Delts. Other than possibly Ramon Flanigan in his heydey, Willis is clearly the best QB we've had here in twenty years. I see no sense in just dropping him in favor of one freshman and one redshirt freshman Rivals two star guys. This isn't a game of let's start the nicest fella.

by **pony warrior** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:58 pm

ponyboy wrote:T, I like your stuff but I disagree strongly on this one. I don't care if Willis throws his helmet into the stands and knocks out three Tri Delts. Other than possibly Ramon Flanigan in his heydey, Willis is clearly the best QB we've had here in twenty years. I see no sense in just dropping him in favor of one freshman and one redshirt freshman Rivals two star guys. This isn't a game of let's start the nicest fella.

Watch out for those two star rival freshmen. You may be thanking God this fall they are here.

by **StallionsModelT** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:00 pm

I'm not saying it has to be a situation of playing the nicest guy. I'm in favor of playing the best player at every position on the field. However, the quarterback position is more than just a guy out there. He's who everyone on the team looks to for leadership and inspiration. I do not contest that Justin is a talented quarterback. He clearly has shown to be capable at this level. However, he is very reckless with the football and basically gave the finger to his new coaches and teammates by being a punk. As I said before, young people make mistakes all the time and I'm more than willing to give Justin a second chance. But just b/c he performed well (at times) in his two seasons thus far I do not feel comfortable just handing over the team to him. He needs to prove to the coaches and his teammates that he's learned his lesson and is ready to take on the responsibility of being the starting quarterback of this team.

In other words, I want Justin Willis to be the first guy at practice and the last to leave. I want him to have his [deleted] in a damn classroom and not screwing off playing NCAA 08 this summer. I want every free minute he thinks he has to be spent with the receivers trying to get his timing down. I want to see any time other than that in the film room breaking down tape of next year's opponents. Justin Willis needs to go above and beyond the call of duty. If he does all those things and is clearly the best man for the job, give me a Willis jersey and I'll pull for him just like I'll pull for anyone that puts on a Mustang uniform. Oh yeah, and try not to [deleted] off our $2mil a year head coach while he's at it.

by **ponyboy** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:08 pm

You clearly know more about Justin than I do. I've met him once and he was humble, happy -- a good kid. I've seen him play a lot of course and I see an extremely talented guy who appeared to take the weight of the team's losses upon himself. When he threw his helmet, I as a fan was doing the same thing in my head. I admire his passion. And there's no denying his enormous talent.

I'll guess when it comes down to it, I'll just have to take your word for it that he's a "screw off."

by **ponyboy** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:09 pm

pony warrior wrote: Watch out for those two star rival freshmen. You may be thanking God this fall they are here.

Here's hoping they have very productive careers here at SMU and beyond.

by **StallionsModelT** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:22 pm

I'm not calling him a "screw off". I had a class with Justin when I was a senior and he was a freshman and he was an OK guy. Slept through most of class (understandable for our athletes who have to be up at 5AM) when he did show up but all in all wasn't a bad guy. For his sake and the sake of our team (because I do believe Justin Willis can help us) I hope he's learned his lesson. In my book actions speak louder than words. His actions hurt not only himself, but more importantly, his team. What have we heard JJ talk about constantly since he's been here? The TEAM factor, the WE factor. Justin screwed up big time. However, like I said, he has and deserves a chance to redeem himself. I want Justin Willis to be here and be our starting QB, but I want what is best for this team. That means I want the other guys in that locker room to have complete faith that Justin isn't going to let them down again by being a punk. He needs to prove beyond any doubt that he is a changed man and ready to work harder than all the other QB's to get the starting job back. If he does all that then strap it up and sling it around.

by **ponyboy** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:26 pm

Nice wrap up. Is it Miller Time yet?

by **StallionsModelT** » Fri Apr 11, 2008 3:27 pm

Dude you ain't kiddin. Still an hour and a half of work left. Thank God Al Gore invented the internet.

starting lineups after spring ball

Who is online