Herron made several dishes, including fried catfish and his speciality, a six-layer baked spaghetti featuring three kinds of meats and sauces.

Herron, whose team plays Hawai'i tomorrow night at Aloha Stadium, said he learned to cook by watching his grandmother, Annie, and his father, Ron.

Noah said his grandmother, who was raised in Mississippi, had her own Southern style of preparing chicken and fish.

Ron said his mother had 10 children and "cooking was a big issue. She made a full-time job of it."

When it was time to cook for his own family, Ron took his mother's dishes and "tried to enhance them. Noah is doing the same thing. He takes my dishes and tries to enhance them, using his own style."

The most important thing, at least for a running back, Ron said, "is Noah feeds his linemen. It's important to keep them happy."

The Northwestern coaches also are pleased with Herron, who is second in the Big Ten in rushing (117.4 yards per game), scoring (8.2 points per game) and all-purpose yardage (146.1 yards).

As a reserve last season, Herron gained 739 rushing yards, averaging a team-high 6.2 yards per carry. Still, there were initial concerns about Herron's ability to succeed Jason Wright, who ran for 1,388 yards last season. Herron runs 40 yards in a pedestrian 4.6 seconds.

But Herron, who is 5 feet 11 and 230 pounds, compensates with his strength, elusiveness and, in football parlance, "football speed." His skills were displayed when he rushed for 197 yards against Indiana, 175 against Penn State, 156 against Michigan, 113 against Ohio State and 109 against Wisconsin.

"He stepped up," Northwestern coach Randy Walker said.

Assuming the headline role in the one-back offense, Herron said, "It was a challenge I welcomed. There were questions whether I could be the kind of running back Northwestern had in the past."

Herron said he spent extra time working out during the summer.

"Not anything different, just more," he said. "You always think you're doing enough. Then when it's your chance to shine, you have to take it a little bit more personal."

Ron said his son always had "something in his makeup of 'making the best of what you get.' We always believe if you do the right thing, then things will happen. You have to give it patience, say a lot of prayers. We believe in God. If He has the blessing for you, you'll get it."

The reward of a postseason bowl awaits if the Wildcats (6-5) can defeat UH to finish with a winning regular season. With Herron's family visiting Hawai'i since Sunday, this could be the perfect Thanksgiving weekend, except ...

"We always eat at Grandma's," Ron Herron said, "and Noah was thoroughly disappointed he would miss her Thanksgiving meal."

Annie Herron, who does not like to travel on airplanes, is visiting other relatives this weekend.

But Ron Herron, who is renting a condominium this weekend, decided to cook a turkey with his secret recipe for stuffing.

"Thanksgiving is not Thanksgiving without a turkey," Ron said. "That's one thing we don't like to miss."

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Shawndra Singletary, right, wife of UH defensive coach Vantz, made sure there was enough for a hungry group of Warriors at their home. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

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UH freshman QB receives excused leave

Freshman quarterback Brandon Satcher has received an excused leave of absence from the UH football team to tend to a personal matter, coach June Jones confirmed yesterday.

Asked if Satcher will resume practicing next week, Jones said, "I have no idea. Probably not."

Jones said Satcher is not leaving the team and is expected to participate in spring practice.