Tuesday, April 1, 1997
Danny Farmer strives for more on the football field and the
volleyball courtBy Vytas Mazeika
Daily Bruin Contributor
No one ever told Danny Farmer that juggling two of UCLA’s
premier sports was going to be easy.
Although Farmer is not a two-sport star with the fame of Deion
Sanders or Bo Jackson, with hard work he has been able to have an
impact on both the volleyball court and the football field.
Farmer plays as a quick hitter for the men’s volleyball team
during the winter and spring and as a wide receiver for the
football team during the fall. In fact during the 1996 season,
Farmer was the first freshman to ever lead the Bruins in receiving
with 31 catches, 524 yards and four touchdowns.
But the stress of playing two sports, going to class and
sleeping an average of five hours every night can sometimes be too
much. Farmer has little time for rest because as soon as one season
ends the other begins.
"I have to do both, and it is such a time commitment and it is
hard work," Farmer said. "I just want to get better. My main goal
is getting better. I do not want to lose anything. So I just stick
with it even though it is really hard for me right now.
"I am struggling to keep my head up. It is almost too much. I
also realize that when I have so much to do, when I am so busy,
that is the time I get to business and I am more successful because
no time can be wasted."
This persistency encompasses his will to succeed no matter if he
is playing football or volleyball. He enjoys playing both sports
and refuses to express whether one is his favorite over the
other.
"There are some things I like about football that I like more
than volleyball and there are some things about volleyball that I
like more than football," Farmer said.
"Football has national television, big crowds, big games. All of
the emotion and excitement  100,000 people. And volleyball is
a test of ability  quickness, jumping, timing  all
that. … You have to concentrate more."
When Farmer came to UCLA in 1995, he had been recruited to play
only volleyball. But he was not under scholarship so he tried out
for the football team and redshirted his first year of football
eligibility. It was not until the 1996 season when Bruin football
coach Bob Toledo began to know what to expect from his
6-foot-4-inch, 200-pound wide receiver.
"We knew that Danny had a lot of talent," Toledo said. "He came
on as a walk-on and was involved with football and volleyball. …
Then in the fall he did some nice things and made some catches and
I awarded him with a scholarship."
After spending his redshirt year with the scouting team, Farmer
slowly made his presence felt and eventually became a starter. His
freshman season will probably be most remembered by two important
catches.
His breakthrough 88-yard touchdown reception in the season
opener at Tennessee ranks fifth all-time for UCLA. Then his 52-yard
touchdown scamper played a big part in the Bruins’ 48-41 overtime
victory over USC.
"I will probably remember (the USC game) more than the Tennessee
game because it is such a big rivalry," Farmer said. "I will never
forget it because my dad had a touchdown against ‘SC too, and he
remembers his since he scored his. So I have always had a dream
there to score against ‘SC."
However, in volleyball Farmer does not receive as much playing
time as in football. UCLA men’s volleyball coach Al Scates sees
Farmer as an important role player on a team capable of winning the
national championship for the third straight year.
"He is not a two-sport superstar," Scates said. "He does not
start for us. For us he is a role player. He comes in and gives us
some instant hitting power. He has got a great float serve, he
fires everybody else, he can dig the ball. We use him a lot, there
is no question about it."
But no matter how much Farmer is used, the continuing process of
improving in different areas of both football and volleyball will
not end any time soon. The fact that Farmer spends spring playing
volleyball instead of practicing with the football team makes it
hard for him to progress more quickly.
"He needs to learn a lot of things yet to make him a polished
receiver, but he definitely has the tools to be an outstanding
player at this level," Toledo explained. "I think (he needs to
learn) running routes, adjusting routes depending on the coverage,
blocking … just being more involved with what is going on."
In football, Farmer’s 6-foot-4-inch frame allows him to dominate
some of the smaller cornerbacks. But in volleyball, he suffers from
a disadvantage because quick hitters are usually 6 feet 7 inches or
taller. Since he often faces opponents that are taller than him,
Farmer must recognize the other team’s tendencies and have a more
intimate knowledge of the game.
"He has to analyze the situation so perfectly because he needs
to be about six inches taller to play the position he is playing
(quick hitter)," Scates said.
"So he has to be right in his estimate of where the set is going
and where the hitter is going to be. In other words, he has to have
the book on opposing players and know what their favorite shots are
and be able to force them to do something else. Otherwise he is not
going to be a good blocker."
But Scates uses Farmer as an offensive weapon. His quickness and
offensive skills open up more opportunities for the outside
hitter.
"I guess something that is to my benefit is my quickness,"
Farmer said. "That is probably the only thing that is keeping me as
a middle blocker right now."
Farmer’s defensive effort equals that of his hitting. He never
gives up on any balls, knowing that the only way to overcome the
impossible is to try.
"That is what separates good athletes from great athletes,"
Farmer said. "Those that put the extra effort into accomplishing a
goal."
Although Farmer may not be a starter for the Bruins, his efforts
in practice allow him to play a role in the development of the
volleyball team this season.
"He is a great competitor," Scates said. "He loves practice. He
practices hard. He runs balls down. He just has a lot of enthusiasm
for the sport. I love to watch him practice. He competes for every
point like great players do."
Last season’s national championship allowed Farmer to achieve a
life-long dream of following his family’s longstanding tradition of
athletic excellence. With UCLA in his blood (both his mother and
father went to UCLA), winning last year’s volleyball national
championship was something special. But he wants more.
"That was great for me," Farmer said. "My dad has a ring. He got
one for basketball (1970). That is something I have always wanted
to get. That was a high for me. But that was a year ago and I am
looking for more of those. I am waiting for another one this year,
and I am going to do all I can."
One ring, just like one sport, will never be enough for him.
Farmer will always want more.
GENEVIEVE LIANG/Daily Bruin
Danny Farmer fulfills the role of quick hitter for UCLA’s
volleyball team in the winter and spring and wide receiver for the
football team in the fall. Last season, Farmer helped the
volleyball team win the national championship, but he’s still
aiming for more.