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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 29, 1999)
•s Ivy lickenbottom Aaron Wills finds his way back from the edge On Oct. 24, 1997, Aaron Wills saw his life flash before him. He didn’t like what he saw. It wasn’t a near-death experience that caused him to make this realization, but at the time death might have felt better. It was Aaron’s 21st birthday, and he had just been suspended from the Nebraska football team for two months after failing his third drug test. He would be forced to pay for school, his parents told him, if he were dis missed from the football team. Furthermore he didn’t have a solid relationship with his girlfriend, Julia Russell. He also had few friends who he felt would stand by his side. Most importantly, he was setting a bad example for his younger brother, Colin, whom he loved very much. “My life pretty much came to a crossroads,” said Aaron, the starting senior left rush end. “I had nothing. God pretty much took everything out of my life and showed me that there was nothing in my life.” Rather than let his life deteriorate any further, Aaron dedicated himself to God and decided to change his ways. Aaron hurt many people, but through it all, Colin and Russell stuck with him and defended his public image. Colin, now 20, had looked up to his brother from the time he was little. He followed in Aaron’s footsteps at Omaha Burke and now at Nebraska. But Colin didn’t completely follow Aaron’s ways. Wrong road At Omaha Burke High School, Aaron was a 4.0 student, a standout swim mer and star football player. He was a captain of the football team, and his high school coach, Larry Jacobsen, called him “one of the best offensive and defensive players to ever play at Burke.” Aaron seemea HKe me meat roie mouei lor younger student athletes. But there was a darker side - one that found him drinking alcohol and smoking marijuana. It was a side Colin didn’t know much about until Aaron’s first failed drug test at Nebraska in 1995. just didn’t know where that It led Aaron to the verge of ing important in m Aaron would work hard vfootball, bigt he i aged to stay eligible by ,, .bo^lhe When he was drunk or ^ player got into fights and oL ge jjjMjfejaLMHM “When I have gotten past fhave hufpeopte “People could hit me, < I would end worse. 1 broke a i ^ n His temper carried over to the football field, where he would pick up penal ties for fighting back and trying to get even. “I was out of control” Aaron said. “If something went wrong' pushed me wrong, I would try to get in a fight.” ^ mm He described himself at that time as selfish, self-centered and interested in his own welfare. Because oftlus attitude, he wouldn’t admit he had a problem or listen to peo ple who wanted to help him. Turning down help Aaron’s reputation as a party animal and drug user got back to Omaha Burke, where Colin was still in school. The criticism brother was hard on Colin, his mother, Linda Wills, said. “He never talked about it too much, but it reflected upon him, too, at school,” she said “He never blamed his brother.” Colin wanted tp help his brother, but he was still in high school and didn’t knowhow - “Either (Aaron) wouldhave said ‘it was all under control’ or ‘mind your business,”’ C$lin said^Back then, I guess he wouldn’t have listened or my opinion much to heart like I feel he would now.” The one person Aaron did listen to was Russell. Even before Aaron was suspended Oct. 24,1997, Russell had been to change his ways. “Things weren’t working out the best,” said Russell, from South Africa. “He lied a lot, and I totally knew, n’t doing drugs and be high as a kite. My concern was ‘If you don’t do something, you will battle this you||* He listened to a point but even on his last fat marijuana. *J| It wasn’t until he received the results Oct. 24, at rock bottom. to show him the ropes, but not Aaron said. “Now I pray every day that he things I did. I look back on my life now, there are a lot of things I wish 1 or do differently. All I can do now is pray that he follows in