him the `Poster Boy' -- good grades, clean-cut, well-dressed, friendly, unassuming, approachable and a two-sport varsity athlete.

When the two sports referred to are basketball and football one might automatically think of an American, but the person in question is Bermudian Derek (Bobby) Hurdle.

"I guess I'd describe him as wholesome, the kind of guy a mother would want her daughter to bring home,'' said student Paul Meek, when speaking to reporter Steve Bezanson of The Chronicle-Herald, a local newspaper.

Meek knows the laid-back Hurdle better than most...he roomed with the six-foot-five, 225-pound Hurdle for two years. "He's a team player who's not really interested in the spotlight,'' said Meek.

A forward with the Huskies' basketball squad, Hurdle was also a wide receiver for the school's football team in the fall.

"He's just a naturally gifted athlete and with his laid-back personality a great ambassador for our school,'' Meek said.

Hurdle -- one-time member of national rugby team and son of veteran Teachers player Derek Hurdle -- arrived at Saint Mary's as a walk-on.

"And while he hasn't attained star status yet, the third-year Commerce student is probably the most improved player in the Atlantic Conference,'' the February 3 article mentioned.

"With football I just enjoyed myself,'' the recently turned 23-year-old was quoted as saying.

"I had never played before and everything was a learning experience. It was so much fun just to be a part of it. With basketball, because I played it in high school, I've probably been more goal-oriented.'' Basketball coach Ross Quackenbush assumes an amused demeanour when he talks about Hurdle. "He's so quiet I'm not sure exactly what he's like,'' said Quackenbush.

"But everything I see tells me he's a really good guy. I've never had a hassle with him...he's always on time and he never complains.

"As a player he's always brought a real strong, physical effort and he probably hits the floor more often in practice than he does in games.

"He works his tail off and just wants to do whatever is good for the team.'' While he has worked his way into the starting line-up, Hurdle began his career as the Huskies' odd man out.

"The year he arrived we were loaded,'' said Quackenbush. "We had been in the national final the year before and with the recruiting we had done the team was pretty well set.

"But we liked his attitude and his work ethic so we basically became our 13th man. Then, one day we decided to play him as a sixth man and the game after that he became a starter.'' And although he didn't get much playing time with the football team last season, coach Larry Uteck, a former pro in the Canadian Football League, felt Hurdle could be a real presence this fall in his senior year.

"Just the fact he dressed for every game in his first crack at the sport is a comment on his athletic ability,'' said Uteck.

"And he's not just big and fast. He also has fantastic hands, really goes after the ball.'' Hurdle seems unmoved by all the accolades as his reputation, both on campus and around the league, grows.

"Basically I chose SMU because of the commerce programme,'' said Hurdle. "I really hadn't planned on playing basketball when I came here.

"But once I got here I decided I might as well give it a try. I made it as a red shirt my first semester and then made the team the second semester.'' He may be quiet off the court but there remains a fierce determination when he is playing. "I'm laid-back off the court, easy to talk to,'' said Hurdle.

"I love to make friends, spend time with them and have fun. But on the court or the field I'm very competitive. I'm not chippy, but I'll do anything within the rules to win.'' Derek (Bobby) Hurdle