2012-GameRelease-Divisional

2012 HIGHLIGHTS (CONTINUED)
• Was part of the defense that did not allow a TD in back-to-back
games vs. Sea. (10/18) and at Arz. (10/29), limiting Sea. to only 2 FGs.
and Arz. to 3 pts. It was part of a stretch where the 49ers defense
did not allow a TD in 4 of 5 games, a first in franchise history.
• Willis and the 49ers defense held Arz. (10/29) to just 7 yds. rushing,
tying the fewest rushing yds. the 49ers have allowed in a single
game in franchise history [7 at NO (10/1/72)], and the lowest rushing
output allowed in the 2012 NFL season at that point, surpassing TB,
who held Car. to 10 rushing yds. (9/9/12). Willis led the team with 12
tackles.
• Recorded 13 tackles vs. StL (11/11), reaching 100 tackles for the 6th
straight season to begin his career.
• Willis and the 49ers defense limited Chi. (11/19) to 143 yds. of total offense
(85 rushing; 58 passing). The 143 yds. of total offense allowed
was the 2nd lowest total in the NFL this season at that point, [Hou.
allowed 117 yds. at Jax. (9/16)] and fewest given up by the 49ers since
1/3/10 (109 yds. at StL). The 58 passing yds. allowed by the 49ers
defense are the fewest given up since 1/3/10 (22 yds. at StL).
• Notched 0.5 sack at NO (11/25), marking his first sack of the season
and 17.5 of his career.
• Led team in tackles at NE (12/16) with 14 (9 solo, 5 assists) and surpassed
1,000 career tackles.
// GOLDMINE
• In 2007 and 2009, Patrick was named the recipient of the 49ers Bill
Walsh Award. The Bill Walsh Award is voted on by the coaches and
awarded to the 49ers team MVP. Willis is one of three players in
franchise history to win the award twice (RB Frank Gore, DT Justin
Smith).
• Patrick and his siblings were separated from his biological father
when he was 16. He moved in with his guardians, the Finleys, who
were in their 20’s when they took in Patrick and his three other siblings.
Chris Finley was a math teacher and Patrick’s basketball coach
in high school. Julie Finley taught 5th grade. He refers to Chris and
Julie as mom and dad.
• One would think growing up in a small town of 1,500 people wouldn’t
provide much of a fan spotlight for young athletes. However, this
was not the case for Patrick during his childhood in Bruceton, TN.
“Growing up in such a small town, sports would turn into these big
events, whether it was football, baseball or basketball. Everybody
would come out to see you play.”
• Tragedy struck Patrick’s family right before his senior year at Ole
Miss. His brother, Detris, drowned in a swimming hole when he was
just 17 years old. Detris was a talented FB/LB who was heading into
his senior year at Central High School and was a Division I-A prospect.
In memory of his late brother, Patrick had the Superman shield
tattooed on his chest. “We both loved Superman growing up. We
were strong no matter what, but also had our weaknesses.” Below
Patrick’s Superman tattoo reads, “My brother shall rise again.” “I believe
someday when my time on earth is over, I’ll see him again.”
• Patrick was a standout basketball player at Central High School,
where he averaged close to 20 points and 10 rebounds per game
throughout his career. An all-district, all-region and All-West Tennessee
selection, Patrick played every position on the court and was
named the district’s Most Valuable Player. It wasn’t on the blacktop
where he crafted his game, but rather on the dirt in front of his
house. At the age of 7, Patrick, his brother and his dad constructed a
basketball hoop from cedar planks. For the next 10 years, one could
often find Patrick and his family playing toe-to-toe on that very
same hoop. “That’s what kept me busy. We didn’t have sport clubs,
malls or movie theatres nearby. All we had was each other.”
• Patrick believes several of the jobs he held as a youth have made
him into the hard-working person he is today. At the ripe age of 10,
Patrick worked in a cotton field to help financially support his family.
“My grandmother got me a job chopping cotton. I got $110 a week
for chopping the weeds around the cotton so it could grow.” Patrick’s
next job was in masonry, where he would mix mortar for the building
of structures. He then worked alongside his father, who was a
logger. “I would use a chainsaw and cut the limbs off. It was a pretty
crazy job, I would get cut up all over.” When Patrick was a sophomore
and junior in high school, he would perform general maintenance
around the school, which included waxing all the floors on the property.
• One of Patrick’s biggest influences growing up was his uncle, Arthur
Joe Willis, who was a professional light-heavyweight boxer from
1989-2000 and competed in 33 pro fights. Patrick looked up to his
uncle because he was able to make a name for himself as a successful
boxer. Arthur matched up against James “Lights Out” Toney in
1990, and Toney later went on to beat former heavyweight champion
Evander Holyfield in 2003.
• Since moving to the Bay Area, Patrick has been able to purchase a
house of his own. “Buying my house in the Bay Area was awesome,
truly a blessing. To grow up in a house like I grew up in and then now
to have my real, own home that I can call home feels amazing. I’m truly
grateful.” Having his own house has served to be a great place for
his family to come and visit, as they have their own wing. Pat, being
the leader he is both on the field and off, also uses his house to host
team get-togethers during the season and off-season in order to
bring the guys closer together. “I think having get-togethers at my
house, hanging out with teammates and getting to know them offthe-field
is big, because believe it or not, last season was the first
time I’ve felt I have truly had the opportunity to hang out with more
than just one guy on the team, but multiple guys on the team. At
the end of the day, one or two guys don’t win as a team, three guys
don’t win as a team, the whole group does. And I think we’ve built a
camaraderie hanging out like we did last year, having get-togethers,
nothing crazy, but just bonding time because it’s like family.”
• Patrick has a variety of tattoos, with each carrying its own special
meaning. One of his most inspirational tattoos is the word ‘Believe’
on his forearm. “When a person says ‘I think,’ I feel that leaves room
for doubt. If I want to do something, I want to ‘believe’ I can do it, not
just think.” Patrick has three tear drop tattoos, which signify three
significant people that have passed away in his life – his grandfather,
uncle and brother.
• Competition is what has driven Patrick throughout his life. “I love
to compete, no matter what sport it is. Basketball, baseball, football,
golf, bowling, fishing, whatever. Basketball was my first love…I
played everything, guard, forward, center. In baseball, I played everything
too, except for catcher.” Patrick set the record for most
home runs in Little League. He started playing golf with his dad,
Chris Finley, when he was 16. “Even though I’m not too good, I love to
compete.”
FILM STUDY
“For all you young guys out there that want to play linebacker, I
want you to watch Patrick Willis, his footwork, his position at impact.
I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anybody better over the last few years
playing that inside linebacker than Patrick Willis, who’s always in
perfect position.”
- Former Cowboys FB and Current FOX Analyst Daryl Johnston