Brian Rimpf doesn't have time for this stuff, OK? He takes a full load of classes at East Carolina University and he takes his education seriously, with a 3.32 GPA that has earned him a spot on the Dean's list. He also plays on the offensive line for the ECU football team, and he takes that seriously, too -- making all-league in 2001 and earning a spot on several preseason All-America teams this year.

Football is a commitment of 20 hours a week more or less -- usually more -- in the weight room or film room or practice field. On the team's off day, Monday, Rimpf goes to the football office and watches film on his own. That's what it takes to make the preseason watch lists for the Lombardi and Outland trophies, given to the country's best lineman.

Wake Forest's MacPherson Delivers

Almost a full year later, Wake Forest quarterback James MacPherson remembers everything about that Saturday. He remembers waking up with that nervous feeling in his stomach. Having his uniform already laid out and waiting. Putting on the padding around his midsection, the pants, the heavy shoes. He remembers the red hat with the white cotton ball. Santa's got to have the red hat with the white cotton ball. That was James MacPherson, quarterback of the Wake Forest football team, in December 2001. He was Santa Claus, delivering hundreds of gifts to some of the poorer families of Winston-Salem, N.C. -- gifts he had helped wrap the night before "Some of these places, they wouldn't be able to buy Christmas gifts," says MacPherson, a member of the 2002 AFCA Good Works Team. "Just to see how the kids react when they see you're Santa, it's pretty amazing. It's one of the best feelings to see a kid's face light up. To be able to give them that experience, it's very humbling." MacPherson is nothing if not humble. Ask him about his role with Santa's Helpers in Winston-Salem, how he helped recruit a record number of Wake Forest athletes to join him in the preparation and delivery of more than 2,000 gifts, and he starts sputtering. "They ... they ..." MacPherson says. "I didn't do it all myself, OK?" True enough, but with the quarterback of the football team behind the effort, tacking up flyers in locker rooms, more than 80 other Wake Forest athletes joined him. MacPherson isn't comfortable talking about his role with Santa's Helpers, not because he's embarrassed, but because he doesn't want to give away the ... you know ... the secret about Santa Claus. "You've got to be careful about leaking out the wrong kind of information," MacPherson says about this ESPN.com story. "Just say that Santa was there, delivering those presents, and that kids came running out of nowhere to see Santa and get a gift and a candy cane." -- Gregg Doyel

As a freshman and sophomore at ECU, Rimpf spent his precious few free hours on himself -- watching TV, napping, whatever he wanted to do. Now a junior, Rimpf continues to spend his rare spare time the way he wants.

Only now, he wants to spend it on others.

"If I get a free hour here or there, I'm happy to spend it in the community," Rimpf says. "I feel it's my responsibility to give back."

Rimpf gives it to anyone who asks, visiting with groups ranging from juvenile delinquents to local business leaders. His unselfish commitment to others earned him a spot on this year's 11-man Good Works Team sponsored by the American Football Coaches Association.

AFCA executive director Grant Teaff, once the football coach at Baylor, doesn't understand how a guy like Rimpf can give away what little free time he has. But Teaff is glad Rimpf does.

"With all the time demands on today's student-athlete, it really speaks to the dedication (Rimpf has) to the community," Teaff said. "(Rimpf) doesn't do community service for recognition."

Some days Rimpf plays the role of the rock-solid college football player, visiting an area juvenile detention center in his uniform to sign autographs, talk with the kids and in general be a role model.

Other days he goes to a community banquets, like the local chapter of the Boys and Girls Club or a meeting of Chamber of Commerce leaders, where he talks ECU football to some of the more influential members of the Pirates' passionate fan base.

Rimpf has even donned his ECU football jersey and hit the streets of Greenville, asking motorists to donate to the Wendy's Adopt-A-Child program.

"Different places call," Rimpf says. "I don't know how my name gets out there."

Because he won't say no, perhaps? Rimpf is available any time, if he has the time, and he doesn't have to play the part of the back-slapping, autograph-signing football player, either. Some days he's just Brian Rimpf, community servant, willing to provide whatever help is needed. That was the case in the spring, when he answered telephones for the local Cerebral Palsy Telethon. Most people didn't know they were talking to a football player, maybe even the same football player they cheer on Saturday afternoons at Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium. They were just talking to someone named Brian.

Rimpf's real passion, though, is the church, and he uses his platform as an ECU football player to spread the message. Last fall he began participating in Young Life, a mission community committed to reaching teenagers. Meetings were at held at a kid's house, and the first time Rimpf showed up, everyone sat on a few couches.

This year, the meeting can't start until the couches -- and television and lamps and anything else in the room -- are cleared out to make space for the 40 or 50 kids there to sing songs, play games and listen to the 300-pound football player preach.

"Part of the crowd has come because of the profile I have," Rimpf says. "In Greenville, ECU football is a big deal. Anything I can use to get them there to hear what I have to say, that's fine."

Sometimes, when there's an extra two or hours at his disposal, Rimpf does something truly radical.

He plays a football game on Saturday.

Gregg Doyel covers college football for The Charlotte Observer and can be reached at gdoyel@charlotteobserver.com.