At the end of Werner's freshman year I was serving on board of directors of the Gator Tip-off Club. At the Annual Basketball Awards Banquet board members get to request a player and their families to sit at our table. Paula and I chose Werner. We've never been disappointed in that choice.
He is absolutely solid as a player and a Gator. We will be there tonight cheering the Gators and him on. I've asked Paula to drive the new Nissan Frontier pickup. I wouldn't want to miss it. Werner's been there for us for four years; we'll be there for him tonight. A. Leon Polhill, Gator "I was gratified to be able to answer promptly, and I did. I said I didn't know." - Mark Twain ________________________________ From: Shane Ford <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Tue, March 2, 2010 9:34:13 AM Subject: [gatornews] [SUN]: Werner says last home game will be tough [Brockway] Werner says last home game will be tough By Kevin Brockway Gainesville SUN Staff writer Published: Monday, March 1, 2010 at 11:34 p.m. Last Modified: Monday, March 1, 2010 at 11:34 p.m. Floridasenior Dan Werner said his national championship ring is locked away, safely, at his family’s home in Middletown, N.J. “My mom has it stored away,” Werner said. “I don’t let my brother get to it. Two years ago it was Halloween and he wanted to wear my jersey and my ring out to a Halloween party.” The Gators will honor Werner before tonight’s game against Vanderbilt as their lone senior during Senior Day festivities. Werner will be escorted to center court with his parents, Ronald and JoAnna Werner, his brother, Ronald and his sister, Jennifer. Dozens of more family and friends have made the trip down from New Jersey for tonight’s game. “It’s going to be tough,” Werner said of taking the O’Connell Center floor for his last regular-season game. “But hopefully it will be a little bit easier with a win.” As the last link to Florida’s national title teams of 2006 and 2007, Werner had the joy of celebrating on the court at the Georgia Dome when the Gators clinched the second of back-to-back national titles. And Werner has dealt with the frustration of not being able to make it back to the NCAA Tournament since. “I thought coming here I would always be in the tournament,” Werner said. “Obviously, my freshman year we got to win the national championship and I thought, ‘Oh this is easy.’ The last two years have been a struggle. We definitely want to get (back) there.” Werner has been the target of the fans’ angst during the back-to-back NIT years. In recruiting, Werner drew comparisons to former UF star Matt Bonner because of his ability to pass and shoot 3-pointers from the high post. But Werner’s shooting ability in high school didn’t carry over to college. Werner enters tonight a career 30.4 percent shooter (123-404) from 3-point range. With the missed shots came boos from the O’Connell Center student section. When Werner had a string of 70 straight starts snapped last January when teammate Chandler Parsons replaced him in the lineup, Florida coach Billy Donovan recommended he talk to a sports psychologist. “I was all for it because I was struggling,” Werner said. “I wasn’t playing well. So, personally, I put my pride aside. I just wanted to play better and help the team.” Werner said he still talks twice a week on the phone with Dr. Jim Burrell, a Miconopy-based psychologist. The message — focus on the positives and block out the negatives. “The people around you, it doesn’t matter what they think or say,” Werner said of Burrell’s message. “In the end it’s just a game, just to go out and have fun.” Werner said he thinks the sessions have helped restore some of his lost confidence. “At a point there I was really down on myself,” Werner said. “Shooting the ball and not even thinking it’s going to go in, it’s tough. Talking to people it’s helped me. Right now when I’m shooting I feel like it’s going to go in.” And while Werner hasn’t provided the offense some expected, he’s delivered some intangibles. For example, Werner has drawn 26 charges in his career, most of anyone on UF’s current roster. Donovan has praised Werner’s intelligence and ability as a help defender in zone defense schemes. “The guy has played his heart out and he’s given me, as a coach, everything I could want,” Donovan said. “He has been a guy that maybe hasn’t been the most athletic or talented guy, but he’s one of the smarter guys I’ve coached. “For that, I’m very, very proud and I’m hoping the people that support us would also be very proud. Sometimes Dan is a guy who is very hard on himself. People can look onto the court and see his body language and get the wrong impression of him.” Werner is the only remaining member of Florida’s 2006 recruiting left on the roster. Center Marreese Speights left after his sophomore year and is playing with the Philadelphia 76ers after the Sixers took him in the first round of the 2008 NBA draft. Jonathan Mitchell transferred after his sophomore season to Rutgers and is averaging 11.8 points per game this season with the Scarlet Knights. And guard Brandon Powell transferred to Marshall after his freshman season. Powell has since left Marshall and is currently playing overseas. Werner said he would like to play professional basketball overseas and pursue a career in real estate when his playing days are over. Asked how he would like to be remembered, Werner responded: “I’d like to think I’m all about doing the right things and giving 100 percent. I definitely didn’t make every shot I took, or maybe right pass or whatever, right play. But at least I played hard.” -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us -- GATORS: ONE VOICE ON SATURDAY - NO VOICE ON SUNDAY! 1996 National Football Champions | 2006 National Basketball Champions 2006 National Football Champions | 2007 National Basketball Champions 2008 National Football Champions | Three Heisman Trophy winners: Steve Spurrier (1966), Danny Wuerffel (1996), Tim Tebow (2007) - Visit our website at www.gatornet.us
