Stokes receives gifts and advice

Rick Devereux

While Monday’s arrival party at the Newport Dunes Resort and the

proclamation given by Newport Beach city hall officially kicked off

the 30th edition of Irrelevant Week, the events actually started

taking place Sunday.

Andy Stokes, the tight end from William Penn University chosen

with the 255th and final pick in the NFL Draft by the New England

Patriots, was given a surf lesson between 30th and 32nd streets.

“That was a lot of fun,” Stokes said. “I didn’t think I was going

to be good at it and I wasn’t. But I was able to stand up.”

Stokes wasn’t the only Mr. Irrelevant to receive the surf lesson

Sunday. Ryan Hoag, who was the 262nd pick by the Oakland Raiders in

2003, also went in the water and was given instructions by

professional surfer Mike Mednick.

Hoag was in town with three other past Mr. Irrelevants to honor

Stokes.

“It’s great to be out here again,” Hoag said. “I was sitting up

there [in the honorary lifeguard chair] two years ago, and I know how

special a feeling it is.”

Cam Quayle, who was the 241st pick by the Baltimore Ravens in

1998, said other draft picks are jealous of what Stokes is going

through this week.

“It is a common secret in the NFL that the two best spots to be

picked [in the draft] are the very first and the very last,” he said.

Jim Kelleher, who was the second Mr. Irrelevant when the Minnesota

Vikings drafted him with the 335th pick in 1977, said Newport Beach

always makes him feel welcome.

“Everybody is so kind,” the former University of Colorado wide

receiver said. “[Stokes] just joined a family, whether he wanted to

be adopted or not.”

Andre Sommersell, last year’s Mr. Irrelevant after the Raiders

chose the outside linebacker with the 255th pick, had words of advice

for Stokes for the upcoming training camp.

“Once you get into camp, you’re just as good as anybody else,” he

said. “People will try to get in your head, but you got drafted for a

reason.”

Jim Mora, who had a 125-106 record during his 15-year career as a

head coach in the NFL, said Stokes needs to shine in camp in order to

make the team.

“You need to get yourself in fantastic condition, the best

condition of your life, and you need to work your butt off in camp,”

he said. “You’ve got to work so hard they’ve got to notice you.”

Because Stokes will leave tonight at 9:30 in order to make it to

Patriots’ practice Wednesday morning, Monday’s gift-giving ceremony

was sped up, despite receiving more than 200 presents, including a

pug dog dressed like the cartoon character “Underdog,” hats from

every NFL organization, a set of golf clubs and a gold watch.

“I thought it was going to be a big party,” Stokes said. “I wasn’t

expecting so many gifts.”

Andy wasn’t the only member of the Stokes family to receive

presents. His mother Mitzi received a pearl necklace -- appropriate

considering pearl is the gem for 30th anniversaries.

“We didn’t know what to expect when we got here,” Mitzi said.

“Everyone has been so friendly and helpful, it has been great.”

Amazingly enough, Stokes wasn’t the only person at Newport Dunes

Resort who attended William Penn University in Oskaloosa, Iowa. Amber

Blake and Greg Peniston are also both Statesmen.

Blake, a Huntington Beach resident and currently a senior at

William Penn, said all of the attention directed at Stokes is

strange.

“It’s just weird because he’s just Andy,” Blake said. “I knew he

was good [at football] and I thought he could go far if he tried

hard.”

The Lowsman Trophy Banquet is tonight at 5:30 at the Irvine

Marriot.

Irrelevant Week founder Paul Salata and Corona del Mar High

graduate John Ireland will be the co-hosts for the event.