By CraigT. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
Danny Wuerffel, right, jokes with coach Bobby Bowden
as they arrive for practice at Aloha Stadium for the
Hooters Hula Bowl on Sunday.
Despite receiving every major award college football has to offer, the University of Florida quarterback remains an unassuming young man who says his prayers and counts his blessings after every touchdown.
Want an autograph? Wuerffel is glad to sign the night away.
Have time for an interview? Wuerffel patiently answers every question he already has been asked 1,000 times before.
In the South, they'd say Wuerffel is the GEN-U-INE article, a real deal of a fellow, who seems out of place in this me-first generation. He belongs in Mayberry, skipping stones with Opie Taylor. In his world, the Lord rules.
"The Lord has blessed me more than I will ever deserve," Wuerffel said of his recent national championship and individual accolades. "I spend more time working on my relationship with God than I do football.
"I try to grow more and more each day. I try to spend my time reading and praying. It really has changed the perspective of my life more and more. By doing these small things, my life seems to work out better.
"As I've said before, football is only one part of my life. Granted, it's the one everyone sees, but it doesn't come first. In the long run, the good and the bad things that happen on the football field won't take precedence in my life."
Pastor Jon Wuerffel has been the guiding influence for his son. His value system and strong belief in doing the right thing kept Danny from wandering down the primrose path.
Even if the National Football League isn't a major part of Wuerffel's future, the Academic All-America won't be a prisoner of his glory days. He will move on.
"If I have to leave football behind, then I will," Wuerffel said. "I know my faith will help me. "When I was young, I learned about religion before experiencing faith. I have to thank my father for giving me a strong foundation to build on.
"But the Lord has worked with me above and beyond that. I don't try to draw attention to my faith. It's just that God has always been a part of my life."
Those deep religious convictions are something Florida State head coach Bobby Bowden can appreciate. Like Wuerffel, Bowden is a firm believer in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
The head coach of the South in this Sunday's Hula Bowl still vividly remembers the day he sat in Wuerffel's living room, trying to convince the Fort Walton Beach, Fla., resident that Tallahassee was the place for him.
"I can remember very well sitting in Danny's home and talking with his dad," Bowden said. "I remember his mother had gone to choir practice. We wanted him, but he decided on Florida.
"I'm just glad Danny is finally on my side. We had to face him six times in our big rivalry game with Florida. He is one of the most dad-gum accurate passers I've ever faced in college.
"He is a fine person, who has a great sense of knowing who he is and what he wants to do."
What Wuerffel wants now is the opportunity to finish his college career at this Sunday's 51st annual Hula Bowl. His sore right shoulder didn't allow him to practice yesterday at Cooke Field, but he still hopes to play in the game.
"I've got to talk with my trainer and see if the inflammatory medicine I'm taking will help me get ready," Wuerffel said. "I want to play. I didn't know how much until I got out here at practice.
"It got my competitive juices flowing. I thought about throwing left-handed just to see how I would do. But I have to be careful. I don't want to do any damage."
Many NFL scouts attending yesterday's practice said they already know what Wuerffel can do. Just how well he throws at next month's combine could be the determining factor of his future.
One scout said that Wuerffel didn't have the strong arm NFL teams are looking for - particularly down the middle and deep sideline passes - but his accuracy on the fade routes is uncanny.
"Danny uses his head well," Bowden said. "He can take three steps and make a decision - boom - just like that. And he's usually right on the money."
Despite hearing all the praises, Wuerffel won't mortgage his future with the NFL.
"I think like everybody out here, I'm glad to have the opportunity to go to the combine and do everything I possibly can to be prepared for that moment," Wuerffel said. "Other than that, I can't control what people say."
When:Sunday
The talented South Carolina running back remembers his recruiting trip to the University of Hawaii four years ago quite well.
Staley liked it so much, the Gamecocks' running back, who will start for the South in Sunday's 51st annual Hula Bowl, committed to former UH offensive coordinator Paul Johnson before he left the islands.
There was only one problem. Staley couldn't get into school, forcing him to attend a junior college in Mississippi. By the time he got out in the spring of 1994, the Columbia, S.C., resident opted to stay close to home.
It proved a costly decision for Hawaii. Staley was a consensus first-team tailback in the Southeastern Conference, rushing for 1,116 yards and nine touchdowns.
Despite missing two games with an ankle injury, Staley still led the SEC in average rushing yards a game with 124. He had a career-high 193 yards against Kentucky and finished second in the SEC in all-purpose yards, averaging 165 a game.
"It's good to finally be here in Hawaii," Staley said after yesterday's workout. "I wanted to come here and was disappointed when I couldn't get into school.
"But it worked out for the best. I had a good career at South Carolina and hope to prove to the NFL scouts this week that I can play at the next level."
There's little doubt the 5-foot-11, 207-pounder can do just that. He finished with 1,852 yards in his two years with South Carolina. He also had 17 career touchdowns.
"I'm going to enjoy finally playing at Aloha Stadium," Staley said. "I know I could have helped Hawaii win some football games. I guess it just wasn't meant to be."
The University of Colorado standout didn't tell Buffaloes sports information director Dave Plati, who handles the Hula Bowl media, that he wasn't making the trip to Honolulu.
"I was told by his agent the reason he didn't come was because he was going to run in a track meet," Plati said. "He hasn't been in track in two years."
Despite his lack of size, Carruth is still considered among the best receivers in the upcoming draft.
The receivers on the North team are still a quality group. They are Wyoming's Marcus Harris, Colorado's James Kidd, Stanford's Brian Manning, Brigham Young's Kaipo McGuire and Dedric Ward of Northern Iowa.
Chief operating officer Lenny Klompus was disappointed by that number, especially after the East-West Shrine game drew 62,000 at Stanford Stadium this past weekend.
"We've got the best set of athletes we've had since we took over the game," Klompus said. "Last year we drew around 25,000. We're hoping to do better this time around."
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