Daily Mississippian

Oxford Mayor Richard Howorth presents the honorees with a proclamation declaring Saturday, April 12 Eli Manning-Patrick Willis Day.

(Right) Manning (left) and Willis (right) smile at the crowd during the Saturday ceremony, while holding up plaques designed to commemorate the occasion.

As the Ole Miss football team marched down the Walk of Champions, surrounded by a sea of Oxonians wearing red and blue Saturday morning, two very familiar alumni - Eli Manning and Patrick Willis - joined the Rebels.

On April 1 Mayor Richard Howorth and the Board of Aldermen declared Saturday Eli Manning-Patrick Willis Day, honoring the two men's accomplishments for the 2007 NFL season.

"There are no words to adequately express the way all of us feel about Patrick Willis and Eli Manning, but you can tell it right now," Chancellor Robert Khayat said, pointing to the crowd. "They've made wonderful contributions to the university, not only when they were here, but they continue to do that."

Manning, quarterback for the New York Giants and the 2007 Most Valuable Player for his win over the New England Patriots in Super Bowl XLII, played as the Rebel's quarterback from 2000 to 2003, Voice of the Rebels David Kellum said.

At the end of Manning's career as a Rebel, he set or tied 47 Ole Miss single game season career records, Kellum said.

Manning was selected No. 1 overall by the San Diego Chargers in the 2004 NFL draft. He was then traded to the Giants for Phillip Rivers. He was the highest pick in Ole Miss football history, he said.

Manning played nine games in his 2004 season and became the Giants starting quarterback in 2005. Since his first game in the 2004 season, he had a total of 11,385 passing yards and 77 touchdowns.

"Now we turn to a guy that just likes to hit ya," Kellum said, turning from Manning to Willis.

As the winner of the 2006 Dick Butkus award for the nation's top linebacker, Willis left the Rebels to be drafted as the 11th overall pick by the San Francisco 49ers in 2007.

He ended his 2007 season leading the NFL with 174 tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles and five deflected passes.

"In result, he was selected to this years Pro Bowl," Kellum said. "He received the 2007 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and First-Team All-Pro by The Associated Press. He was the only rookie in the NFL to make The AP All-Pro squad and the first rookie of the 49ers to make the Pro Bowl since Ronnie Lott in 1981."

In honor of their accomplishments, Howorth presented Manning and Willis each with a key to the city of Oxford and a framed copy of the proclamation the city passed.

"(The proclamations) refer to their successes as athletes and students, but I think moreover for the young men of character that they've shown and chose to be and in the connections and relations that they maintain with their classmates, teammates, friends, family and respective communities," Howorth said.

Manning and Willis were also presented framed resolutions by Mississippi Sens. Grey Tollison, Michael Watson, Walter Michele, Eric Powell and Mississippi Rep. Noal Akins. R-District 12.

"Not only are they sons of Ole Miss to us, they're sons of Mississippi, and we're so proud of them," Tollison said.

After the presentations were made, Kellum sat down with the two men, interviewing them about each other's accomplishments and life in the NFL.

Manning said he regrets that he was not able to play with Willis longer at Ole Miss. The two played together for Manning's senior season and Willis' freshman season.

"He came in as a freshmen and just took charge and he made our whole team better," Manning said. "We saw the way he worked, and he made all the linebackers and all the defense say 'Hey we better keep up with this freshman or he might take all of our jobs.'"

Manning also said Willis' speed makes him a good defensive player.

However, aside from Willis' athletic ability, Manning said Willis' character and personality mean more than anything, they said.

"He's a great person, such a great player, but a better person than anything and that's what means the most to me," Manning said.

Commenting on Manning, Willis said he also regrets that he could not play with Manning for more than one year.

"The best year I had at Ole Miss was that first year when I had the privilege to play with him," Willis said. "He kind of paved the way for me and the kind of example I want to set for my teammates," Willis said.

Willis said Manning's ability to "get out there and get the job done" is what makes him a great quarterback.

Willis and Manning both said their careers in the NFL have been an amazing opportunity, but they also enjoy coming back to Oxford - especially walking through the Grove.

"It's been fun. I missed (the Grove) a little bit," Manning said. "To come through the Walk of Champions and walk through the Grove is great. It's been fun to be back here and see all the fans that supported me at my time at Ole Miss when I was here and continued on with the Giants."

Willis echoed Manning's sentiments and said he misses walking through the Grove because there is no experience similar to that in the NFL.

"You don't get to see your fans," Willis said. "They don't get to yell for you, they don't get to slap your hand and just scream your name. You miss it. I know I miss it. I wish I could have suited up today."

When asked about winning the Super Bowl, Manning said it was an experience like none other.

"To finally get a championship is rewarding," Manning said. "From a professional standpoint it's one of the greatest feelings I've had in my life. You don't know whether to scream or cry or laugh or yell."

Being accepted to play in the Pro Bowl was an "unbelievable" honor, especially playing with some of the NFL's most talented athletes, Willis said.

The ceremony ended when athletic director Pete Boone presented them with the framed posters made that were made for Eli Manning-Patrick Willis Day.

"It's a great time to be an Ole Miss Rebel," Boone said. "The many thousands of people here, this is what Ole Miss is all about. Patrick and Eli are what Ole Miss is all about."

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