Thursday, October 22, 1998
Farmer cultivates priorities
FOOTBALL: This multitalented athlete juggles between
football and volleyball with the changing seasons
By Vytas Mazeika
Daily Bruin Staff
At least Danny Farmer has most of his priorities straightened
out.
During the fall quarter he’s a person first, then a football
player and finally a volleyball player. In the winter and spring
quarters he’s still a person first, then a volleyball player and
third, a football player.
Since this is October and therefore fall quarter, Farmer acts as
a person and is a junior wide receiver for the No. 2 UCLA football
team.
This is his story.
The Athlete
At 6 feet, 4 inches and 210 pounds, Farmer has developed into
one of the best all-around athletes at UCLA.
He already has two national championship rings with the
volleyball team (’96 and ’98) and at the moment is looking for his
third with the football team.
Farmer’s continued improvement landed him the starting split end
job for the 1997 football season and the starting flanker position
this season. This year will also be the first time Farmer will come
in to the volleyball team as one of two starting middle
blockers.
The success and accolades earned in both sports are largely
because of his commitment to each sport during their respective
season.
"I’m just an athlete playing football and volleyball," Farmer
said. "I don’t consider myself either one because I think if you
limit yourself to just a football player playing volleyball, then I
think you have some stereotypes about you. And the same thing the
other way. I want to be recognized as a complete athlete."
In 1996 Farmer forced himself onto the football team as a
walk-on. He led the team with 31 catches. Then in 1997 he increased
his production by 10 catches and 125 yards.
This season Farmer has become a go-to guy, and UCLA quarterback
Cade McNown has a lot of confidence in him  as shown by last
Saturday’s 41-38 overtime victory over Oregon. Farmer set career
highs with seven catches and 161 yards (the ninth-highest yardage
total ever by a UCLA player). He also scored two touchdowns.
With his size and deceiving speed plus his jumping ability,
Farmer has a big play dimension that accounts for his 24.0 yards
per catch.
His knowledge of the offense and ability to run proper routes
make Farmer the most reliable receiver in the 1998 squad. UCLA
offensive coordinator Al Borges finds himself calling plays
designed to make Farmer the No. 1 option.
And he’s still improving.
"I think he’s now getting the respect," Borges said. "I think
there was a time when (he received no respect). But I think Danny
has gained the respect of the entire conference, if not the
country."
There is one person Farmer never had to worry about impressing
 his father.
George Farmer was also a multi-sport superstar, lettering in
track and football at UCLA while also being a member of John
Wooden’s 1970 NCAA championship basketball team.
George never pushed Danny into sports. Danny said his father
always wanted Danny to be himself. Farmer has always wanted to be
an athlete.So far, the mission has been accomplished
The connection between the two UCLA stars now goes beyond blood
ties. Both have touchdowns against USC, the school where Danny’s
grandfather lettered in basketball. Both have NCAA championship
rings. And both have a friendly competition when comparing career
statistics.
"He has accomplished things that I haven’t accomplished, and I
have accomplished things that he hasn’t accomplished," the younger
Farmer said. "It’s fun because we can joke about it … We play
around with stats, but overall I’m just trying to be successful
here as he was."
Part of being successful is succeeding at more than one sport.
This year’s opportunity to start on the team is something Farmer
looks forward to.
Since the Bruin men’s volleyball team plays in the Mountain
Pacific Sports Federation (the most competitive conference in the
nation), most of the tallest and most talented players in the
nation come to the West Coast. And since middle blockers like
Farmer are usually about 4 to 6 inches taller, Farmer will probably
be the smallest starting middle blocker in the league. Farmer will
also be the smallest starting middle blocker at UCLA since the
’70s.
Ironically, his height aids him in football while it hinders him
in volleyball. No problem. Just more motivation to excel.
Just don’t ask Farmer about volleyball right now. He has more
important things to worry about. Like football.
"Obviously, I’m looking forward to it, but right now I’m
concentrating on football," Farmer said. "I’m not worried too much
about volleyball right now. I’m just trying to help my team in
football win a national championship."
The championship experience that Farmer brings to the football
squad is indispensable.
While playing with a partially detached tendon in his thumb last
season for the volleyball team, Farmer had to deal with the pain
every block gave him. But according to UCLA men’s volleyball head
coach Al Scates, Farmer did what few players do. He improved his
blocking while dealing with his injury.
This sort of commitment is emblematic of what Farmer stands for.
But the true depiction of Farmer’s skills are these two words which
Scates often uses: instant offense.
Not only has Farmer caught more and more passes each football
season, he has consistently increased his offensive production for
the volleyball team.
Against Lewis University in the NCAA semifinals in Hawaii this
past season, the Bruins were down a game and 8-11. Scates
substituted team captain Tom Stillwell with Farmer, and the
offensive contribution was immediate. Farmer made six consecutive
kills while adding a stuff block as the Bruins won Game 2 by a
score of 15-11.
"We ran off 19 straight points from the time he came in in Game
2 until they scored a point," Scates said. "He stayed in the whole
time and had a great match. If I kept him on the bench that game we
would’ve lost and we would’ve not been NCAA champions. That was a
phenomenal performance."
It was just another day in the office for this dual-sport
star.
The Person
Music is a large part of Farmer’s everyday life.
He considers it weird, but Farmer has a great memory for music.
He loves music, and it greatly affects his life. A song can change
his mood, and he often identifies with the lyrics.
"He can’t keep quiet," McNown said. "Honestly, ask him to give
you any lyrics to any song ever, and he’ll do it … he’s really
strange like that."
Before a game Farmer doesn’t listen to music because he always
finds himself thinking about the music instead of football or
volleyball.
But when he doesn’t have to concentrate on sports, Farmer finds
himself under the influence of every type of music.
"I don’t have a favorite kind of music, I love all kind of
music," Farmer said. "But if I had to guess, it’s kind of weird,
but my favorite group is The Indigo Girls. People would never guess
that out of me. I can just relate to them."
According to volleyball teammates Fred Robins (his roommate) and
Brand Taliaferro, Farmer will sing every and any song on the radio
for two hours straight during a trip to a game at Santa Barbara or
San Diego.
Robins said Farmer loves to sing and loves music. But Farmer’s
love of music doesn’t necessarily translate into great reviews from
his audience.
"He tries to sing, but he needs to shut up," Taliaferro joked.
"Especially on road trips when you’re stuck with him for a couple
of hours and he starts singing a bunch of songs. When he gets a
hold of the tape deck in the car, it’s all over for us."
The best friend anybody could ever have is Farmer. Stating that
he knows half the campus might be an understatement.
According to McNown, Farmer is up to do anything, and he can get
along with anyone. People just don’t seem to have any conflicts
when they are around Farmer.
The only problem Farmer might have is keeping in touch with all
the people he knows.
"He’s kind of a funny individual because during football season
he’s still usually living with volleyball players," McNown said.
"That’s his group of guys. But he’s broadened himself a little bit
and he’s starting to hang out with some football players now."
Robins still considers Farmer one of the beachgoing people. But
while he is part of a different crowd, first and foremost, Farmer
is a person.
"I see him as a roommate and a friend first," Robins said. "It’s
great to see him playing two sports out there. He’s a great
athlete. Actually, not a great athlete. He’s a superb athlete. He’s
helping the football team really well right now, and he plays well
in big games and under pressure."
If all goes well, Farmer will find himself sporting a National
Football League uniform after the 1999 season  just like his
father did with the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions.
But his mother always told him, "You get more with honey than
you get with vinegar." Therefore, his relationship with those
around him will always be a top priority.
"I know a lot of people because I have a good memory and
remember people’s faces," Farmer said. "The most important thing to
me is not being a good football player or not being a good
volleyball player. The most important thing to me is being a good
person. That’s something you carry with you for your whole
life.
"Football could last four years or three years or it could end
tomorrow. You don’t get anywhere if you’re not a good person. I
think that’s the most important thing to me."
Then comes football or volleyball, then comes music and then
comes sleep. Maybe sleep should be a new priority, though.MARY
CIECEK
Danny Farmer manages to balance football and volleyball duties,
as well as his academic obligations.
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