Willy’s dramatic pass grabs national attention
Bulls QB a contender for Unitas Award
As it turns out, Drew Willy’s pass for the ages Saturday traveled longer than 35 yards through the air. It went deep into the nation’s consciousness.
The University at Buffalo’s senior quarterback put his name alongside Missouri’s Chase Daniel, Arizona State’s Rudy Carpenter and Texas Tech’s Graham Harrell among the nation’s big-game quarterbacks who are all candidates for the Johnny Unitas Award.
Don’t believe it? Grab your remote and turn on the TV. Geico commercials don’t get as much air time as Willy’s last-second, Hail Mary touchdown pass to Naaman Roosevelt that beat Temple on Saturday, 30-28.
Now it’s not so crazy to believe that Willy has a shot at winning the Unitas award, which is handed out annually
to the top senior quarterback in the nation.
“You’re talking about a veteran quarterback over there and a veteran receiver who made a play,” Temple coach Al Golden said. “That kid has started for four years at quarterback. He’s a good quarterback in this league. Very underrated. Makes good decisions. Tough. Competitor.”
But praise should be well spread. UB’s defense allowed just seven second- half points and after James Starks left the game with a bruised leg, the running game didn’t suffer behind Brandon Thermilus and Mario Henry.
“We have great, great playmakers on this team,” Willy said. “One guy goes down or he’s not having such a great day, another guy comes and makes a play. [Saturday] was a team effort across the board.”
It’s not just what Willy did but what he overcame. He could easily have folded after throwing his second interception of the season, a seemingly costly pick in the end zone to Temple cornerback Jamal Schulters at the start of the fourth quarter with the game tied at 21-21. This is a different, more mature Willy.
“That’s something I have to learn from,” Willy said. “I’ve always been told by certain quarterbacks, ‘It’s the next play. Keep a good head on you.’ When I was younger, I would have been really upset with that play but I knew that with the offense we have and the playmakers we have I was going to get another shot.”
Three series later, Willy launched “The Pass.”
“This one play is going to sum up our program for many years to come,” UB coach Turner Gill said.
Willy’s Unitas status isn’t based on one play, either. He has completed 60 of 92 passes (65.2 percent) for 792 yards with eight touchdowns and two interceptions.
The numbers are glowing but Willy may have to get in line behind Daniel, who he will see firsthand this week. The Bulls travel to face No. 5 Missouri on Saturday.
Daniel became Missouri’s career passing leader during Saturday’s blowout over Nevada on an 80-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Maclin. The Heisman Trophy candidate needed just 52 yards entering the game to break the record set by Brad Smith and finished with 405 yards and four touchdowns in the 69-17 victory. In just three seasons as a starter, Daniel has 9,153 yards for his career.
