When people use the word "brilliant" to describe Dave Wonderlick and Mike Bowman, they aren't just talking about their football skills. Wonderlick, a senior center at Susquehanna University, and Bowman, a sophomore quarterback at the school, have 4.000 grade-point averages -- and they are offensive starters who begin each play for Susquehanna.

A tri-captain and three-year starter, Wonderlick gave up just one sack in 358 pass plays this season -- also his lone sack in 643 passes over his last two years as center -- and he was one of the only players who was on the field for nearly all of Susquehanna's 775 offensive plays in 2000.

Wonderlick will make even bigger news as the lone player with a perfect grade-point average among the 16 players who will be honored by the National Football Foundation and College Football Hall of Fame in its 2000 class of National Scholar-Athletes in New York City December 12. Wonderlick is the top-ranked student in his class at Susquehanna as a public relations major with a minor in legal studies.

Wonderlick was the lone junior on last year's GTE Academic All-America College Division first team, and he was a Division III Preseason all-American pick by Preview Sports magazine.

And, while offensive linemen seldom find themselves in the spotlight, Wonderlick was the team's representative during the pregame dedication of Susquehanna's new multimillion-dollar stadium September 23.

Bowman, a mathematics major, ended his season with five single-season records and two career records as he established new Crusaders season standards of 184 completions, 354 passing attempts 2,563 passing yards and 20 passing touchdowns.

Bowman and Wonderlick's intelligence has been obvious to their coach.

"They're both extremely bright kids who are winners and have taken us where we are right now," said Steve Briggs, Susquehanna's 11-year coach.

Though he's just a sophomore, Bowman has been handed the offensive reins for the Crusaders.

"When teams are moving the front in and out of different looks, we're also changing calls on the line of scrimmage for just about all of our running plays, and Dave's making those calls," Briggs said.

Bowman and Wonderlick led the Crusaders to a 7-3 finish this season.