Scholarship Just In Time For UW Player -- Weindl Almost Became Ex- Husky

Little more than a month after wondering what life would be like without Husky football, Washington linebacker Jaime Weindl is dreaming about possibly playing against Stanford, his second favorite team, when the Pac-10 rivals clash tomorrow.

"First and foremost, though, I really want to win because Stanford is a tough team," said Weindl, a second-year freshman who walked on at Washington a year ago. "But if I did happen to get in and be able to say `hi' to my friends on the camera, that would be fine with me."

Weindl, who grew up in Seattle before he and his mother moved to Palo Alto, Calif., with his stepfather, attended Palo Alto High School, which is across the street from the Stanford campus. While there, he worked in a grocery store and got to know many Stanford players, including Tommy Vardell, the fullback who now plays in the NFL.

"I used to bag his groceries," Weindl said.

Now Weindl bags Husky rivals as a third-string linebacker behind senior James Clifford and junior Hillary Butler and as a backup on special teams. With three more years of eligibility, his football future lies ahead of him.

That he has a football future at all is a credit to his determination and the fact Coach Don James thought enough of him to award him a scholarship just before fall quarter began late last month.

"It was the happiest day of my life, probably," Weindl said.

"I grew up wanting to be a Husky and then I finally was and it was a trip. But I was running out of money this year and I was about to have to quit for financial reasons. I was down to $100.

"So it was like a dream story. I was starting to think, `What am I going to do? I'm going to miss all the guys.' And then I'm told one day at a meeting, `Coach James wants to see you after practice.' "

It was then that he was told of the scholarship, which he said will allow him enough money to pay his bills.

"It was a good day," Weindl said.

Weindl has had a lot of good days at Washington.

"No. 1, he's extremely bright, so he picks up schemes and changes on the field," defensive coordinator Jim Lambright said. "He can call a huddle. He very easily steps into a leadership role despite the fact he's a walk-on."

Weindl credits his work habits for his success.

"I just tried to lift hard and run hard and I got stronger and faster," Weindl said. "And I'm more confident this year because I did all right last spring and in the fall. I know my position pretty well."

He got some playing time behind Clifford when Butler missed the first few games with a toe injury.

Weindl said living in Palo Alto and being around Stanford players never altered his thinking about returning to Seattle, where he had attended Meany Middle School, and being a Husky. Stanford, he said, never showed interest in him.

"It would have been nice to play down there, but I always wanted to play up here anyway," Weindl said.

Now, he practices hard and plays when he can, free of financial worries.

"His future is in the next couple of years," Lambright said. "This is his learning time, and he's doing a good job of it."

Weindl also thinks a little playing time against Stanford tomorrow sure would be fun.