SMU quarterback took different path
By Stephen Tsai
Advertiser Staff Writer
Tate Wallis has had a long, strange journey to becoming Southern Methodist's starting quarterback.
The New York Yankees drafted Wallis in the 39th round of the 2001 major league baseball draft. But Wallis, a right-handed pitcher from Ennis High in Texas, turned down the Yankees' offer, opting to pursue a football career.
SMU was the only Division I-A team to offer Wallis a football scholarship. Wallis joined the Mustangs as a tight end, and he ended up redshirting as a freshman last season.
Phil Bennett, who was hired as SMU's coach this year, was counting on four quarterbacks. But David Page, who played high school football in South Korea, accepted a job with an accounting firm; Ashton Nixon moved to wide receiver, and Kelan Luker quit to pursue a musical career. Second-year freshman Richard Bartel is listed as SMU's No. 2 quarterback.
At the start of spring practice, Wallis begged Bennett for an opportunity to try out at quarterback. The audition went well, and Bennett said, "We feel, at this point, he's the best for us."
Bennett, whose team plays Hawai'i tomorrow at Aloha Stadium, has simplified the offense this year, with the air game mostly limited to play-action passes.
Bennett is expected to open up the offense next season. The Mustangs already have received six verbal commitments for the 2003 recruiting class, including one from a prospect rated as the third-best high school quarterback in Texas.
• UH update: Concerns about middle linebacker Chris Brown's availability were eased during yesterday's two-hour practice.
Brown worked with the first-team defense, despite suffering from a subluxed left shoulder. The injury, which he incurred last season, has not kept Brown from aggressively wrapping up ballcarriers. Yesterday afternoon, UH defensive coordinator Kevin Lempa said Brown will play against SMU.
Sean Butts, who started the first two games at free safety before suffering an ankle injury, worked out at right cornerback yesterday. Butts, who was on the second team, was assigned to defend the player portraying Cody Cardwell, SMU's leading receiver.
The Warriors also experimented by flip-flopping cornerbacks Kelvin Millhouse and Kenny Patton. Millhouse, who usually is aligned on the left side, was used on the right.
Patton will be the first true freshman to start in the UH secondary since Doe Henderson in 1992. Henderson now is a rap performer and producer living in Las Vegas. His second album — co-produced with former UH wideout Gerald Lacey — is scheduled for release early next year.
Patton is replacing Abraham Elimimian, who suffered a pulled right hamstring in last Saturday's 31-6 victory over Texas-El Paso. UH coach June Jones yesterday said Elimimian will not play against SMU.
