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Sporting News, The, Dec 19, 1994 by Andy Boogaard

When Brigham Young lines up against Oklahoma in the Copper Bowl, the Cougars' victory hopes could rest on the broad shoulders of an Oklahoman who had no interest in playing in the state where he was born.

"Somewhere I wouldn't want to live or play," says tailback Jamal Willis, who lived his first five years in Lawton, Okla. I just don't like it there too much."

But Willis has to be careful about what he says, not only for fear of giving the Sooners added motivation, but also because he still has family living in his home state.

Willis, the only double 1,000-yard rusher in BYU history, faces a stiff assignment. The Sooners held Nebraska to its lowest point total and 222 yards below its rushing average in a 13-3 loss.

While BYU's spotlight generally shines on quarterback John Walsh, who ranks fifth nationally in total offense (289.4 yards per game), the Cougars function best with a balanced attack. Their highest-scoring games were against Air Force (a 45-21 victory) when they rushed for NO yards and passed for 324, and against New Mexico (a 49-47 victory) when they totaled 295 and 228.

Willis has rushed for 1,042 yards and 12 touchdowns this season, increasing his career rushing total to a school-record 2,970. He will play in the East-West Shrine Game at Stanford in January, but he first must keep a more important date.

"Oklahoma is a good team, better than its record (6-5) indicates," Willis says. "They have a good defense, but I go into every game saying to myself that no one can stop our run if our blocker's block - and our line hasn't blocked better in years."