Arizona Republic from Phoenix, Arizona • Page 48

C12 The Arizona Republic Saturday, December 30, 1995 FIESIa Lountnown to KicKoSx: ti amino Kskfo totes'. MO MdUS Wuer a Tl Tl TVOTITTTI Yl II sTf CT II TVTVTl Jamaican To heT excerpts from ine Gator i Chomp, call 1 i mm I -AT I I v'- 1 WUERFFEL from page CI when you wonder why aJ the conversations don't focus on you. For a while, he thought something was wrong with hhn." Ben is baby-sitting these days and learning to make his own decisions. Danny had a head start, baby-sitting Ben, and has made almost every turn in his life a good one. With God's blessing, father and son agree.

"I have a saying, 'Do your best and forget the Jon Wuerffel said. "The Lord is the ultimate person who decides if you're going to get up from that hit or if the ball is going to be caught. You have to finally turn things over to the Lord. "That's where Danny gets what I call his spiritual calm." Wuerffel's coach at Fort Walton Beach (Fla.) High and now Gators offensive line coach, Jimmy Ray Stephens, says, "There is no question his spiritual depth is the thing that gives him that poise and composure. He's very much like (former Florida running back) Emmitt Smith in makeup.

He has his priorities in line and is a class individual." Before a Fellowship of Christian Athletes breakfast for 700 on Thursday, Wuerffel took exception with Nebraska receivers coach Ron Brown, who compared God to a thrower. "I think of God like the offensive line. He keeps you safe and protected," Wuerffel said. Wuerffel has an inner peace that surpasses the maelstrom around him, from Coach Steve Spurrier on the sideline to the huddle to the rush that top-ranked Nebraska will deploy in an attempt to unnerve him in the Fiesta Bowl on Tuesday. Nothing flusters Wuerffel, not even a gaggle of reporters prying into his tiniest indiscretions.

"I had this to look forward to" after three final exams, he joked during media day two weeks ago in Gainesville, "It got me through." Silly season Then the silliness began. Have you ever been drunk? Or cursed? What about your roommate, wide receiver Chris Doering, recalling a time when he heard a graphic variation of shoot come from your mouth. "Don't believe that," Wuerffel said. "I don't partake in that 'like Chris does. He's mastered all aspects of that.

I've tossed a golf club here and there, but golf is exempt. "I hope there aren't any surprises, that I'm leading a double life." Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel showed leadership and poise in leading the championship with a 34-3 victory over Arkansas on Dec. 2 in Atlanta. The junior PressLine at 271-5656 and press 1149. To hear excerpts from The Year that Next Year Came, call PressLine at 271-5656 and press 1148.

But, in fact, he is. Every fall Saturday, the mild-mannered public-relations major with a 3.68 grade-point average (4.0 this semester) trades his Fellowship of Christian Athletes huddle leadership guide for Spurrier's complex playbook, becoming Super Gator. Spurrier, a preacher's son, wore the same cape, winning the Heisman Trophy as Florida quarterback in 1966. Wuerffel, a junior committed to returning next season, was third in the Heisman voting behind two seniors: Ohio State running back Eddie George and his Fiesta counterpart, Tommie Frazier. Wuerffel dishes a standard line when questioned about Spurrier: 'I'd rather play for someone who demands perfection than accepts mediocrity." He realizes the trigger man of the Fun Gun offense is only a blank or two away from being removed.

"If the right guard misses too many blocks, I'm going to yell at him," Spurrier said. "I may need to yell at him (Wuerffel). But I also yell encouragement." Terry Dean seemingly was on his way to a Heisman last season until a four-interception game against Auburn and comments about Spurrier telling him earlier that week his job was in jeopardy. Wuerffel finished the Auburn game; Dean never played for the Gators again. This season, Eric Kresser is the talent hoping to be the starter.

Spurrier tossed Kresser a bone in November, starting him against Northern Illinois, and the junior responded, with a school-record 458 yards and six touchdowns. "Coach (Spurrier) gets and it's stressful on the players," Jon Wuerffel said. "Danny does a good job handling stress, that's why he's able to deal with coach." The 6-foot-2, 211-pound Wuerffel can take a licking (28 sacks) for the sake of accuracy. His pass-efficiency rating (178.4) is the highest in Division I-A history, and no one in' the Southeastern Conference has FIESTA BOWL ONLINE Sign on to Arizona Central iBwwtna for a look at the latest and the greatest on the Fiesta Bowl. You'll find stories, a look at past games and you'll get a chance to talk about the teams online.

You can get to Arizona Central through America Online. Type in keyword Arizona Central and click on the Sports button. For more information about Arizona Central, see page B2. "We had 30,000 Nebraska fans here one year when we played Arizona State. Every time I come here to recruit, I meet many, many Nebraskans." Currently, Nebraska is recruiting Keith Brown, a running back at CARQUEST Wuerffel had a Scoring Explosion poster featuring Cornhuskers quarterback Turner Gill (now quarterback-coach) and I-back Mike Rozier.

He wrote scores on the poster, big scores for a 9-year-old. Nebraska averaged 52 points in a 12-0 replar season, then lost by a point to Miami in the Orange Bowl when Coach Tom Osborne opted for a two-point-conversion attempt instead of a point-after kick that would have clinched the national title. "You ask my dad about that," Wuerffel said. "He has strong sentiments." OK, chaplain, but keep it clean. "That's real easy," Jon said.

"You Qptor loved sgccer first By Jeff Metcalfe and Norm Frauenheim Staff-writers Florida defensive lineman Mark Campbell may be the world's biggest ex-soccer player. Aj feet 3, 289 pounds, this former soccersweeper from Jamaica loves to chasequarterbacks and ball carriers. Goalies around the globe probably are rooting for him to stick with American football. Campbell, who didn't start playing football until he was a high-school senior in Miami, retains his love of soccer. In fact, given a choice of watching the World Cup or the Super Bowl, he said he'd watch both on split-screen TV.

He got his first glimpse of football a decade ago, when the Chicago Bears won the Super Bowl. Asked if he wanted to play, he said, "Huh uh. Too violent." American football isn't played in Jartiaica, but there is a rough equivalent, the game of rugby. "That crazy game," Campbell said. "Never tried it, no, sir." Forget about it Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne can forget about 1984, thanks to the introduction of a tiebreaker.

Osborne decided to go for two in the '84 Orange Bowl after his Cornhuskers climbed to within one point, 31-30, of Miami. The attempt failed and the Cornhuskers, then No. 1, were denied what would have been the first national championship in the Osborne era. In Tuesday's night Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, Osborne would simply kick the extra point and then try to wrap up his second national title with the tiebreaker, which has been employed for years in Division 11 and III. Here's how the tiebreaker would worlCA coin toss would determine whicbrteam gets the ball first.

The winnw of the toss would open play at the opponent's 25-yard line and keep the until it scores, makes a turnover or is stopped on downs. Play would continue until one team was aheadU after an equal number of possessions. Osborne said he plans to speak with a former high-school coach about tiebreaker tactics. "I guess that's a terrible thing to admit," Osborne said. "Here you're playing for the national championship and you're going to talk to a high-school coach to figure out how to do it.

But that's how far I am along in my thinking about it." There's already a precedent. The tiebreaker decided Toledo's 40-37 victory over Nevada in the Las Vegas Bowl. Nevada got the ball first and kicked a field goal. Toledo followed with a touchdown to win. Snuggly Florida defensive coordinator Bob Pruett has an interesting turn of phrase for how his team may try to avoid getting worn down by Nebraska's big, bruising ground game.

Pruett's plan calls for his defensive players to "snug up" to the line of scrimmage. The idea seems to be to surround quarterback Tommie Fra-zier and tailback Lawrence Phillips with numbers of potential tacklers. The. plan 1 is not without perils, Pruetfsaid. "If you snug up too much on the run, they hit you with the play-action pass," he said.

Nebraska's bulk and power are a concern, but Pruett said the way to handle the Cornhuskers' offense is to keep it off the field as much as possible. The Gators may not have seen a line quite as big as Nebraska's, but Auburn's and Florida State's were close, according to Pruett. "We want to play a lot of people early and hope our conditioning helps us," he said. "Later in a game, it can affect your pass rush if you get tired." And how big is that? Nebraska secondary coach George Darlington, on Florida's dynamic passing attack: "We're going to have to prepare for just about anything. Their playbook is not like the Wahoo (Neb.) phone directory." NFL possibility brightens Some NFL scouts say the success of Pittsburgh Steelers rookie Kordell Stewart, Colorado's former option quarterback, could open the door for Nebraska's Tommie Frazier, whose NFL status has been called uncertain.

Option quarterbacks don't get But Stewart, still projected to be a quarterback, has filled a variety of positions for the Steelers. Scouts say Frazier has the same potential. Cornhuskers stalk for standout preps thrown for more career touchdowns (75). Spurrier says despite a throwing motion compared to a javelin toss, Wuerffel's passes are catchable. Combined with quick reads by quarterback and receivers, the Gators at their best are like synchronized lightning.

At their worst this season, they still win by double figures (1 1 points being the closest call). The Gators (44.5-point average) and Cornhuskers (52.4) are scoring machines akin to Wuerffel's childhood heroes, 1983 Cornhuskers. He lived in Lincoln then, while his father worked toward a doctorate in marriage counseling. Scoring Explosion poster Arizona Mountain Pointe High, Mesa Com-, munity College wide receiver Dan Jones and Casa Grande High linebacker Stephen Trejo. By happy coincidence for Nebraska, Mountain Pointe assistant coach Kurt Broer is a former Cornhuskers linebacker, and head Coach Karl Kiefer is an acquaintance of Nebraska Coach Tom Osborne.

Davis, a cornerback, attended Cor-tez High and Glendale Community College before transferring to Nebraska in 1985. He was a two-year starter and later played in the NFL. Nebraska assistant Dan Young, whom Brown said "opened the door," landed Byrd and three other prep players, none of whom lasted, in the same recruiting class. Byrd, a Chandler High graduate, was a four-year starter for Nebraska. He was selected All-Big Eight his senior season, 1992.

But one month before the NFL draft, he Suffered a broken neck in an automobile-accident in New Mexico while returning to school after spring vacation. TODAY'S BOWL GAMES BOWL a i i ik. A i Gators to the Southeastern is committed to returning next go for the percentage tie. But real-man kind of thing to go for the win. The people at the club I played at all agreed Osborne's decision).

I flat out disa greed and was amazed no one Nebraska had any regrets." lt' That Club is where Dannyki rr fourth grade, was old enough to play in his first racquetball tournament. He reached the final of his age division; -winning the first and third gamejtfj losing overall because of total rjoinWT "I got a bad call at 4-4 inertia second game," he said, becoming a frustrated he failed to score again tSat game. "There you go, lesson learned; Point, game and match have gone to Wuerffel ever since. We had those four kids initially tha late 80s, and then we kind of had aj little dry spell. "As we talked it over with the coaches we decided we ought to continue with this.

We have found the Arizona athletes to be very good players. Maybe they don't get a lot of national publicity, I don't know. But they've been very good players for us." Not so with Florida, however. Because of the talent in their home state and the South, the Gators' recruiting base is not nearly as expansive as Nebraska's. When it comes to recruiting, Arizona might as well be another country.

For that matter, so is California. oA "We've expanded our recruiting into the Southeast, but we havcaf spent a great deal of time injthi western part of the country," Florid4 assistant Jim Collins said. "We don't think it would be smart money spent. We don't want to spread ourselves too thin." vs GEORGIA (6-5) K-nt (97-63-3 in 14th year at Virginia) ancfRay lii-KJ A I CORNHUSKERS, from page CI Sometimes the Arizona-Nebraska pipeline has been reduced to a trickle, but there is little doubt the Cornhuskers perhaps- more than any program outside the West have established a recruiting presence here. "Arizona is one of the best kept secrets in the country," said Nebraska assistant coach Ron Brown, who recruits in the state.

"Playing in the Fiesta Bowl a number of years, Nebraska transplants, people that retired who have come here, the fact we're on national television so often all leads to a great open door for recruiting." The Nebraska influence in the Valley is such that for many years, Cornhuskers games were carried by the late, lamented Coolidge-based radio station KCKY. And, it hasn't hurt that Nebraska has played, and beaten, Arizona State five times since 1987, twice at Sun Devil Stadium. "So there's definitely some familiarity with us," Brown said. LIBERTY BOWL Wright, from Mesa Dobson High, was a two-year starter who returned two interceptions for touchdowns during the 1993 season. He was drafted in the second round by the then-Los Angeles Rams and starts for St.

Louis. The latest import from the Valley, Cheatham, is a South Mountain High product who was recruited by numerous schools for track and basketball, as well as football. As a redshirt freshman, he caught four passes but was used mainly as a return specialist. He will miss the Fiesta Bowl because of a separated shoulder. "He was a highly-recruited, three-sport athlete who signed with us very, very late," Brown said.

"He was a kid that was nationally recruited." Eric Johnson, a defensive back from Alhambra High, is sitting out the season because of Proposition 48 requirements. "The year before we recruited Toby Wright, we made a big decision," Brown said. "Do we want to stay with Arizona, or do we want to let it go? PEACH BOWL In Atlanta No. 18 VIRGINIA (8-4) 7, ESPN. Carolina) Favorite: Cavaliers by 7.

Coaches: George Welsh Goff (46-33-1 in seventh In Miami NORTH CAROLINA (6-5) vs. No. 24 ARKANSAS (8-4) 8:30, TBS. Favorite: Tar Heels by 1 Vi Coaches: Mack Brown (48-43-1 in eighth year at North and Danny Ford (21-16-1 in third). Series record: North Carolina leads, 31-27.

In Memphis, Tenn. EAST CAROLINA (8-3) v. STANFORD (7-3-1) 10 a.m., ESPN. Favorite: Cardinal by 4. Coaches: Steve Logan (22-23 in fourth season at East Carolina) and Tyrone Willingham (7-3-1 in first year).

Series record: First meeting. Bowl records: East Carolina is 2-1. Stanford is 8-7-1. and final year at Georgia). Series record: Georgia leads, 7-6-3.

Last meeting: Georgia won, 30-22, in 1987. i- dowi rocora: Virginia is o-h. ueurgia is la-io-o. y4 Payout Each school receives $1 Last meeting: North Carolina won, 31-27, In the 1981 Gator Bowl. Bowl records: North Carolina is 7-12.

Arkansas is 9-1 5-3. Payout Each school receives $1 million. Stats that matters: Both are in bowl slumps. Tar Heels are 1-4 in postseason JJL Payout Each school receives $750,000. Stat that matters: Excluding win over 8-3 Syracuse, Pirates' other seven victims combined for 28-49-1 record.

Game facts: Having lost, 30-0, to Illinois here last year, Pirates make first consecutive bowl trips. Also face Pac-10 foe for only second time. QB Marcus Crandell (2,952 total offense), RB Jeris McPhail (910 rushing) lead offense that averaged 31 points over current five-game winning streak. Stanford officials Stat that matters: Cavaliers' four losses (three decided on game's final play) came by combined 14 points. Game facts: Cavaliers' versatile offense is led by RB Tiki Barber (1,397 rushing, 16 TDs), QB Mike Groh (2,510 passing, 15 TDs).

Ball-hawking secondary (second in since 1983, losing by average of 27-17, while Razorbacks have 1-6 bowl mark since 1984 losing by average of 29-1 7. Game facts: Tar Heels' strong defense (sixth in nation in total defense, 267.3) has stars in DTs Marcus Jones (school-record 24 career sacks), Rick Terry (8 sacks), LB Brian Simmons (113 tackles). RB Leon Johnson (1,018 rushing, 12 TDs, 54 catches), WR Octavus Barnes (53 catches) are best of so-so offense. In season-ending losses to LSU and Florida, Razorbacks were out-scored, 62-3. Minus star RB Madre Hill (out, knee), QB Barry Lun-ney (2,181 passing, 12 TDs, 10 ints.) must play well.

Pesky WR J.J. Meadors (62 catches) is little guy who produces. nation with 25 Ints.) is anchored by Percy Ellsworth (6 12 passes broken up), Paul London (6 Rafael Garcia (20-of-27 on FGs) is big kicking edge. Forced out, Goff wants farewell win. Converted QB Hines Ward (872 passing, 3 TDs) is pass-run threat WRs Juan Daniels (46 catches), Chris McCranie are underrated.

But pass defense (10th in SEC, 19 TD passes) is mess. bought way into game, guaranteeing 17,000 tickets sold. Maybe that's because Cardinal was 5-1 on road, with only loss, 31-30, at USC. QB Mark Butterfield (2,533 passing, 19 TDs), WR Mark Harris (57 catches, 6 TDs), Eric Abrams (16 of 1 8 FGs) helped Willingham to Pac-1 0 Coach of Year honors. 'I II.

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