College football

Wuerffel safe with his family in Destin

By Times staff writers
Published September 2, 2005

Former Florida quarterback Danny Wuerffel was one of the thousands who fled New Orleans before Hurricane Katrina hit and is in Destin with his family.

Wuerffel had been working and mentoring at the Desire Street Academy, a school for African-American boys in grades seven through 10. It is part of the Desire Street Ministries, a Christian-based ministry founded by a Macon, Ga., missionary.

Friends had been unable to locate Wuerffel, but his mother, Lola , confirmed Thursday evening that Wuerffel and his family are in Florida. They left New Orleans Saturday night.

The Desire Street Ministry is located near a levee that broke and may have been destroyed.

- ANTONYA ENGLISH, Times staff writer

TALLAHASSEE - As he did as a player here in the early 1990s, Sean Jackson proudly wore a Florida State T-shirt and shorts as he left the practice field.

These days, that's about all he has.

Jackson, 34, a former running back (1990-93) and the Seminoles' top rusher during their first national championship season, fled from his home in New Orleans Sunday morning to escape Katrina and drove to Tallahassee.

"I'm glad I conducted myself the way I did when I was here to allow me to come back," he said.

Along with longtime friend Jonathan White, 35, he left behind his worldly possessions, including football trophies and championship rings, and packed three outfits and sandals. They are staying temporarily with the father of a former teammate, Forrest Conoly , while FSU officials are helping him find a job, scrounge up some basic necessities and start life anew.

"I already had plans of relocating," said Jackson, who was working as an insurance consultant and a loan originator. "It was between Florida and Texas. I guess God made that decision for me."

Some family remains in the New Orleans area. Most evacuated to Houston.

"It makes the game seem mighty insignificant," said coach Bobby Bowden, who has heard from several former players with family in New Orleans.

TOP PROSPECT COMMITS: Myron Rolle, a top recruit from Princeton (N.J.) The Hun School, announced on national television he is heading to FSU.

- BRIAN LANDMAN, Times staff writer

TAMPA - Jim Leavitt still won't say whether junior Pat Julmiste or sophomore Courtney Denson will start at quarterback for Saturday's opener at Penn State, but Julmiste has the experience of leading USF to victories last season at TCU and Alabama-Birmingham.

Julmiste was better on the road last year, throwing one interception and five touchdowns, to seven interceptions and two touchdowns at home.

"The quarterback has to be the calmest and coolest guy on the field," Julmiste said.

Denson is showing no effects of the sore hamstring that sidelined him from USF's last scrimmage, and while he never has attempted a pass in a college game, Leavitt might not decide until Saturday. One reason the two quarterbacks have handled the uncertainty so well is that they're friends and roommates.

And which quarterback is the messy one in the apartment?

"I'm a clean guy, but Courtney is too. I asked him before he moved in, "I hope you're not a messy guy,' but he's showed me he's not."

HURRICANE RELIEF: Freshman tight end Ben Busbee, who was not scheduled to travel with the team to Penn State, flew home to meet his family in Mobile, Ala., in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.

Busbee's immediate family is safe, but they have not found his grandmother, who lives in Biloxi, Miss., which was devastated by the storm and ensuing flooding. USF purchased a plane ticket to Pensacola for Busbee using a special assistance fund established by the NCAA for use in such emergencies. He's expected to rejoin the team Monday.

Former Bulls quarterback Ronnie Banks, who lives in New Orleans, made it through the hurricane, though his family's home was destroyed, according to former teammate Terry Lucas.

- GREG AUMAN, Times staff writer

[Last modified September 2, 2005, 02:15:35]