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Sports Watch
ITEM: If the rave reviews are true, University of Central Florida quarterback Daunte Culpepper's first appearance at Aloha Stadium this Saturday night will probably not be his last. Culpepper’s back
in town as predicted
THAT was the lead of sportswriter Paul Arnett's advance story for the University of Hawaii vs. Central Florida game that appeared in the Oct. 18, 1995, issue of the Star-Bulletin.
Talk about prophetic.
Culpepper is back -- as predicted -- at Aloha Stadium as the NFC's starting quarterback for Sunday's Pro Bowl.
"I hope it's the first of many," said Culpepper, the Minnesota Vikings' starting quarterback in his first full NFL season.
Surprised that you're back so soon, Daunte?
"Not really. I knew I'd be back one day, " said the 6-foot-4, 260-pound Culpepper, who could easily be mistaken for a lineman.
Size really matters.
Culpepper brings a new dimension to today's NFL quarterbacks. He can throw over you or run over you.
Viking safety Robert Griffith says he's glad that Culpepper's his teammate so that he doesn't have to tackle him.
And Griffith definitely doesn't have any empathy for fellow defensive backs around the league. "He's on my side, not theirs."
Even as a freshman at Central Florida, Culpepper had already drawn attention as an NFL prospect because of his talent and size.
Culpepper said he'd rather forget the 1995 game against the Rainbows, who won, 45-14.
"I had a good game but that's about all. They really gave it to us."
Culpepper earned the respect of the UH defense.
"We chased that man all over the field and he was still standing when the gun went off," said Hawaii linebacker George Noga after the game.
"Not only can he run and throw, he's strong. Man, he was bigger than all our linemen."
Though sacked five times, Culpepper completed 26 of 38 passes for 252 yards and one touchdown.
Culpepper played four years for Central Florida, passing for 10,000 yards and running for 1,000 more. He also broke Steve Young's NCAA completion percentage record.
HE was the Vikings' first-round draft pick in 1999, the fourth quarterback chosen after Tim Couch, Donovan McNabb and Akili Smith.
It's not Culpepper's fault that he didn't get back to Aloha Stadium sooner. He spent his NFL rookie season on the sidelines, listening and learning.
But, he's back, all right, and playing in the Pro Bowl at Aloha Stadium. As predicted.
And for many more to come, according to Viking teammate Cris Carter, playing in his eighth straight Pro Bowl.
"He's a tremendous athlete with a tremendous attitude and has shown a lot of leadership qualities," Carter said.
Having Carter and Randy Moss as big-play receivers helped make Culpepper's transition to stardom as a first-year starter a lot easier.
"It's never easy. Maybe we made it easier for him," Carter said. "But he's made good use of the talent he had to work with. He handled everything thrown at him. That says a lot about him."
"Daunte's going to have a phenomenal career," added the Vikings' Dennis Green, who's coaching the NFC team.
"I've always worked hard to get better, no matter what level I've played," said Culpepper, a former Florida prep star.
That's why he knew he'd make it to the Pro Bowl one day. Even when playing for an unheralded team in Florida, a state full of heralded teams.