The University of Florida quarterback did say the right shoulder he injured in the Sugar Bowl is still sore, but he and the American Football Coaches Association told Hula Bowl officials last night that he will play in the nationally televised college all-star game.

"We lost Abu Wilson of Utah State and Cory Gilliard of Ball State to injuries in the East-West Shrine game, but Wuerffel is not only coming, he is committed to playing," Hula Bowl chief executive officer Lenny Klompus said. "We wouldn't have brought him out here if he wasn't going to play.

"His comment was to us that if this were the Southeastern Conference championship game that he would play the entire game. But because it isn't, he doesn't want to play four quarters.

"We told him there were two other quarterbacks on his team, so he was comfortable with that. Meanwhile, he's flying on a private plane from Tennessee to San Francisco, and will then come over with the rest of the team."

Wuerffel was among the NCAA's Top Eight award winners at last night's dinner at the NCAA Convention in Nashville. Wuerffel, however, told the Associated Press that there is a chance he won't play in Sunday's game because of his shoulder.

"It's still sore," Wuerffel said. "I saw a doctor and I'll have an MRI when I get back from the game."

Wuerffel, sacked five times and knocked to the ground about a dozen more in the Sugar Bowl, hurt the shoulder in the second quarter. But he warmed up on the sideline and returned to finish a three-TD, 306-yard performance to lead Florida to a win over rival Florida State to capture the national championship.

Klompus said about 17,000 tickets have been sold for the 51st annual Hula Bowl that will kickoff at 11 a.m. on Sunday.

For more information, call the Hula Bowl office at 947-4141.