COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NATION : Wuerffel to Start as Florida Quarterback

Florida Coach Steve Spurrier said Danny Wuerffel will start at quarterback ahead of Terry Dean, a Heisman Trophy hopeful only two weeks ago.

“I’ve done a lousy job coaching Terry Dean,” Spurrier said, ending speculation that began after the senior was benched during the second half of the fifth-ranked Gators’ 36-33 loss to Auburn.

Spurrier, 44-11 at Florida, was criticized after the loss to Auburn for poor play-calling as well as his handling of Dean the week before the game, which cost the Gators (5-1) the No. 1 ranking.

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The Cotton and Holiday bowls announced a six-year partnership that gives them access to teams from the Big 12, Pacific-10 and Western Athletic conferences, as well as options on Notre Dame. . . . The Copper Bowl announced a two-year agreement that will pit this season’s third choice from the WAC against the Big Eight’s fourth-place team in the sixth Copper Bowl Dec. 29 at Arizona Stadium in Tucson.