How inspirational was Franklin-Pierce quarterback Willie Patterson? “It was like having another coach on the teamm” his coach remembers, “It was so impres-sive to see him communicate with the other players.” No wonder Willie has been named the winner of the Tom Names Inspirational Award and its $5,000 TAC college scholarship.
What about Willie’s sta-tistics? Do they measure-up to his inspirational qualities? Start with the 59 touchdowns he scored as a Cardinal. Yes, 59! He com-pleted 128 of 214 passes for 2,473 yards and 35 TDs and ran for 1,673 yards and another 21 touchdowns.
He was first team All-State, first-team All-Area and the South Puget Sound League’s MVP. He led the offense which led the entire state in scoring. He led F.P. to the SPSL League Championship and the state’s #6 ranking. The scoring title was best for all classifications and Willie “ran the show.” No other 11-man team in the state scored more points than Franklin Pierce.
Patterson also played basketball and ran track at school. He was a two-time starter at point guard for the F.P. hoopsters and he qualified twice for the state track meet in the 400 meters. He carried a 3.1 grade point average and volunteered at the Champion Center church. Where is he headed for college football? He will play in the Big Sky Conference at Montana State.
Will he be a quarterback? Willie is 5-9 and 170 and many schools have recruited him as a slot receiver or a kick and punt returner. Don’t be surprised if he quarterbacks the Bobcats instead.
Why didn’t more coaches talk about that possibility? Willie’s answer was this: “That’s probably a question you should ask all of those other coaches. I think what separates me from other guys my size is my work ethic. The way I fight for everything I do. I’ve always had to fight to prove people wrong. You get what you put in and that’s what I did.”
Willie has been most inspirational by example. When his coaches have asked for three sets of 10 in the weight room, he has done three sets of 11 or three sets of 12. Look for him to inspire in college as well.
Every accomplishment on his record speaks for inspirational!
What about Willie’s sta-tistics? Do they measure-up to his inspirational qualities? Start with the 59 touchdowns he scored as a Cardinal. Yes, 59! He com-pleted 128 of 214 passes for 2,473 yards and 35 TDs and ran for 1,673 yards and another 21 touchdowns.
He was first team All-State, first-team All-Area and the South Puget Sound League’s MVP. He led the offense which led the entire state in scoring. He led F.P. to the SPSL League Championship and the state’s #6 ranking. The scoring title was best for all classifications and Willie “ran the show.” No other 11-man team in the state scored more points than Franklin Pierce.
Patterson also played basketball and ran track at school. He was a two-time starter at point guard for the F.P. hoopsters and he qualified twice for the state track meet in the 400 meters. He carried a 3.1 grade point average and volunteered at the Champion Center church. Where is he headed for college football? He will play in the Big Sky Conference at Montana State.
Will he be a quarterback? Willie is 5-9 and 170 and many schools have recruited him as a slot receiver or a kick and punt returner. Don’t be surprised if he quarterbacks the Bobcats instead.
Why didn’t more coaches talk about that possibility? Willie’s answer was this: “That’s probably a question you should ask all of those other coaches. I think what separates me from other guys my size is my work ethic. The way I fight for everything I do. I’ve always had to fight to prove people wrong. You get what you put in and that’s what I did.”
Willie has been most inspirational by example. When his coaches have asked for three sets of 10 in the weight room, he has done three sets of 11 or three sets of 12. Look for him to inspire in college as well.
Every accomplishment on his record speaks for inspirational!