Pass it on

Sporting News, The, May 5, 1997 by Michael Bradley

"I think that about everybody only because of what happened to me," says Neuheisel, referring to the odd turn of events that propelled him from a deep backup to a Rose Bowl hero at UCLA. "My quarterbacks coach at UCLA said that you never know when your opportunity is coming. It's just coming. I believed him."

Now he believes in Hessler.

No pressure

So, how many yards did Heisman winner Danny Wuerffel throw for last year? Nine million? And what about those 700 touchdown passes? Yeah, stepping into his shoes should be real easy.

Good thing sophomore Doug Johnson has some confidence. Make that a lot of confidence. The man nicknamed "Slinger" by Florida coach Steve Spurrier plays football in the fall and baseball in the summer in the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' organization. After surviving an unexpected challenge from unheralded senior walk-on Noah Brindise, Johnson heads into the fall ready to take over the controls of college football's wildest offense, not to mention deal with the daily comparisons to Wuerffel.

Johnson (6-2, 195) was 12-of-27 for 171 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions in seven games last season, not exactly the kind of confidence-inspiring play a coach would like to see. But Spurrier has liked Johnson, a native of Gainesville, Fla., and his arm for a while now, and -- even though he has hinted that he might use two quarterbacks this year -- Johnson should begin the year atop the depth chart.

That isn't to say Brindise (6-3, 232) has no chance. He transformed himself from a doughy deep reserve who had transferred to Florida three years ago from Division II Wingate (N.C.) University into a real, live contender. Brindise possesses a greater understanding of the Florida attack than Johnson, who hasn't been at it as long, and gained enough confidence during the spring to consider the job still up for grabs come August. Although he didn't perform that well in the Florida spring game, Brindise did earn a scholarship. That's a good start -- and he's hoping for a better finish.

"I don't have an arm as strong as Doug Johnson, but I throw a nice, controllable pass," Brindise says. "I'm going to work on my quickness and my ability to throw the deep pass over the summer so that I can be the best I can be. Having the job be so close to me is a motivating factor."

Florida fans shouldn't expect either passer to duplicate Wuerffel's magical senior season (3,625 yards, 39 touchdowns), considering he accomplished that in his fourth year of operating the offense. But they should also remember that Spurrier went with two passers in 1993 (Wuerffel and Terry Dean) and wouldn't hesitate to do it again, if it helps the defending national champions win -- statistics be damned.

Showdown at Tontozona

When the Sun Devils seek refuge from the blistering August heat in the woods two hours north of Tempe during training camp, Snyder figures he'll have his quarterbacking problem whittled down to a pair of solutions. And one wild card.

Steve Campbell, a 6-8 redshirt junior who was 8-of-17 for 76 yards in four games last year, has a big arm and developed much-needed confidence during spring drills. He'll duel with redshirt freshman Ryan Kealy, a 6-2. 195-pound prep All-American at St. Mary's High in Phoenix who tore up his knee in the 1996 Arizona high school all-star game and spent last year in rehab.