Vikings give Wofford shot at NFL

Steve Guiremand

Friday, April 27, 2001 | 9:54 a.m.

James Wofford said all he wanted was a chance to play in the NFL. Thursday morning, he got it.

Wofford, UNLV's leading rusher in 1998, signed a free agent contract with the Minnesota Vikings, where he will try to make the team as a special teams performer and backup running back.

Although Minnesota lost All-Pro running back Robert Smith to retirement, the Vikings used their first-round pick to select Wisconsin speedster Michael Bennett.

"I'm pretty much an underdog going in," Wofford, who started at fullback for the Rebels last season, said. "But even if I don't make it, I feel blessed just to get this chance."

Wofford was not listed in most pre-draft ratings, so his signing with the Vikings was somewhat of a surprise.

"I didn't even watch the NFL draft because I knew I wasn't going to get picked," Wofford said. "Then around the seventh round the Vikings called to talk to me."

The two sides finally worked out a deal early Thursday morning.

"I got a phone call around 5:45 this morning," Wofford said. "They woke me up. But it was worth it. It's a great way to end a great season."

Wofford will be reunited with former Rebel teammate Talance Sawyer when he reports to Minnesota's mini-camp next weekend. Sawyer is now a starting defensive end for the Vikes.

* BAYOU BOUND? The Mountain West Conference's joint council, which consists of athletic directors, senior women administrators and faculty representatives, agreed this week to send the conference's third-place football team to a new bowl game to played in New Orleans on Dec. 18.

The contest will pit the Mountain West squad against a team from the Sun Belt Conference.

The MWC champ will once again go to the Liberty Bowl to play the Conference USA winner. The Las Vegas Bowl then gets it choice of remaining MWC teams.

The conference is still exploring its options to send a fourth team to either the Silicon Valley Classic in San Jose or the Humanitarian Bowl in Boise.

Among the celebrities expected are Marcus Allen, Keyshawn Johnson, Ronnie Lott, Bill Russell, Reggie Theus and Spud Webb.

A "Celebrity Shoot Out" will be held at 3 p.m. on Sunday at Revere and is open to the public.

Monday's 18-hole tournament is scheduled to start at 12:30 p.m. at Anthem and will be followed by a Pigskin Roast Awards.

For further information, contact Joli Hatch at 895-2458.

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