GETTING A NEW READ ON LIFE COLLINS HAS EXCELLED SINCE STARTING OVER AT OXY.

Byline: IVAN OROZCO Staff Writer

Andy Collins found his future in a box of old letters.

Collins already had left the University of Oregon and walked away from Eastern Washington University, a Division I-AA school.

Collins then started sifting through recruiting letters he received while playing high school football in Zillah, Wash. He found a letter from Occidental College, a Division III school, which was looking for a quarterback.

``I needed to be in a situation where I could play right away,'' Collins said. ``I needed that. I needed to be in games or else lose my drive.''

Collins thought Oregon would be the place for him. He was going to get his opportunity to play quarterback in 2002 under then-offensive coordinator Jeff Tedford.

But Tedford left to take over as head coach at the University of California.

Oregon coaches moved Collins from free safety to outside linebacker to middle linebacker, never giving him the chance to play quarterback.

``I was fine with playing defense but quarterback is my position,'' Collins said. ``I never got a chance to prove myself. I felt I wasn't given the opportunity.''

Collins transferred to Eastern Washington in the fall of 2003 but sat out a year. He concentrated on general studies at Yakima (Wash.) Valley Community College. Three weeks into the next season, he went looking for another place to play.

Collins wanted a place to play quarterback at a school that had a solid academic reputation. He found both at Occidental.

For the Tigers, the 6-foot-2, 212-pound senior has done more than establish himself at the position.

Collins has led Oxy to back-to-back Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships. His 174.5 passing efficiency rating is sixth nationally in Division III.

A two-time SCIAC Offensive Player of the Year (2004-2005), Collins has completed 113 of 165 passes for 1,456 yards and 19 touchdowns with fiveinterceptions this season, helping the Tigers (6-0, 4-0) remain undefeated. The Tigers have won 23 straight regular-season games.

Collins will try to help keep that streak going as the Tigers visit long-time conference rival Cal Lutheran at 1 p.m. Saturday.

The Kingsmen (5-1, 2-1) will be looking to avenge last season's 41-9 loss, which kept them out of the playoffs.

Occidental went on to win the conference with a 9-0 record, but was eliminated in the firstround of the Division III playoffs by Linfield (Ore.)

Cal Lu might have a difficult task containing Collins and the Tigers' offense, which is ranked 21st in the country.

When the Tigers' quarterback is not passing to wide receivers Jordan Inabnit and Daniel Rucker, veteran coach Dale Widolff uses Collins' athleticism and mobility in the rushing game.

``He (Collins) is imposing,'' said Widolff, who is in his 25th season at the school. ``He can start anywhere on the defense and be an all-conference player.

``I and most coaches in the conference might agree that he's a player that has caused the most impact. You take him off our team and we're a good team. You take him to another team, the sky is the limit.''

With Collins' consistent play and leadership, the Tigers have continued to win despite losing 21 seniors to graduation, including fourstarting offensive linemen. Oxy also replaced offensive coordinator Tyler Fenwick with his father, Jim Fenwick.

``In respect to Andy (Collins),'' said Tom Gonzalez, the only returning Tigers offensive lineman, ``I don't think the O-line change affected him. He has gained a lot of confidence from it.''

Collins is confident he can lead his team to another SCIAC championship and deep into the Division III playoffs, but he's not concerned with individual honors.

``I never look at being all-league,'' Collins said. ``That's not a goal in mind. My goals are just to improve every year.''

Collins is uncertain what he will do next season. He is majoring in sociology with a minor in kinesiology and considering physical therapy or law school as career possibilities.

But Widolff said his quarterback might have a shot at going pro.

Widolff said at least 12 NFL scouts have indicated the quarterback would end up in a training camp somewhere, likely as an undrafted free agent.

Collins wouldn't be the first Tiger to make the NFL. Former Oxy running back Vance Mueller was selected by the Raiders in the fourthround of the 1986 NFL draft.

``I want to play football for as long as I can,'' Collins said. ``I don't make a big deal out of it.

``When I first came here, I didn't know what to expect. But to be a successful quarterback, I have to prove that whatever I do, my mentality is to achieve as much as I can. So far, it's paid off.''

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2 photos

Photo:

(1 -- color) Quarterback Andy Collins, center, has led Occidental College to back-to-back Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference championships.

(2 -- color) no caption (Andy Collins)

Hans Gutknecht/Staff Photographer