The day after the Rose Bowl he went back to his hometown of Mesa, Ariz., with his family. They were greeted by well-wishers when they pulled into the driveway in their borrowed camper. Pats on the back ensued.

Since returning to OSU for the start of winter quarter classes two weeks ago, Germaine said calls from family and friends have continued.

"There have been a few more calls, and family members coming out of the woodwork," he said. "Mostly just cousins, people I haven't seen for a while. It's nice to see them again."

What they noticed is little has changed about Germaine. He's still as sober and unaffected as he was before he led a 65-yard drive to the Rose Bowl victory, capping it with a 5-yard touchdown toss to David Boston.

His polite, "yes sir, no sir" demeanor remains, as does his waste-no-words conversation style.

"I'm a private person; I guess I'm quiet, and I like to be by myself," Germaine said. "I don't talk much. That's just kind of the way I was brought up and the way I am."

He seems more interested in getting on with preparations for the '97 season than in rehashing his drive to fame. One reason is because, despite his heroics in the Rose Bowl, he faces a battle for the starting job in the spring with 11-game starter Stanley Jackson and junior college transfer Mark Garcia, who had to sit out the '96 season because of a knee injury.

All three will be trying to impress new quarterbacks coach Tim Salem, recently hired to take the place of Walt Harris, now head coach at Pittsburgh. Germaine's new focus is on proving himself to a new coach.