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Olympic Finalist Marquise Goodwin Returns to Football

Updated: Thursday, August 9 2012, 09:42 PM CDT

After finishing 10th place in the Olympic finals of the long jump, Texas wide receiver Marquise Goodwin was back on the football practice field Thursday.

The senior told the media he returned to Austin at 11:30 p.m. Wednesday night and was a spectator at UT's practice Thursday. Goodwin must wait a couple of days before donning the pads and returning to full-contact football drills. He sat out spring practice to focus on track and field.

Goodwin called his Olympic journey a "once in a lifetime experience," and one that he would never forget. The U.S. long jump champion was extremely disappointed in his 10th place finish, but said he will not play the "coulda, woulda, shoulda" game. 

"This will motivate me for the upcoming football season," said Goodwin. "This is my senior year. I need to go out with a bang. I learned over there (London) that you can't take anything for granted, so I'm going to take that onto the football field. You never know when a play will be your last, just look at Fozzy Whittaker."

Marquise says he realizes opposing teams will be gunning for the Olympic finalist this fall. "I like having the target on my back," said Goodwin. "There's going to be a lot of people talking out there this year. I say, bring it on."

UT Head Football Coach Mack Brown released this statement Thursday regarding Goodwin's return:

"We're so excited to have Marquise back. Here's a guy who won the last two USA titles and two NCAA Championships in the long jump. He's a guy who competed in the Olympics and had a chance to win a gold, he was our most valuable player in the bowl game last year and he's always on the honor roll. There can't be a better two-sport athlete in football and track & field in America than Marquise Goodwin.

He had it worked out where they were going to bring him back on the 10th (of August), but he wanted to get back on the 9th and rejoin this football team. When we finished practice today, it was about 1:30 a.m. where he was in London, and he's still out there with a positive attitude jumping up and down. We'll work him back in slowly, he's got to have his four days of orientation (per NCAA rules). Obviously he didn't get in this heat all summer, so we're going to take care of him, work him in slowly and make sure he's ready for the first game because he's a valuable leader and player on this football team."

By Adam Winkler.Olympic Finalist Marquise Goodwin Returns to Football