Taking his knowledge on the road

Brett Dvorak grew up watching Jeopardy. The junior watches new shows and old shows; it doesn't matter to him. He watches the show so much he actually stayed up-to-date on Alex Trebeck's famous mustache, which Dvorak reaffirms is now noticeably missing. It is only fitting that a true fanatic like Dvorak can fulfill his dream and compete on his favorite show.\nDvorak was selected as one of 15 collegiates to take part in Jeopardy's annual College Championships, Oct. 6 to 7 at the University of California at Los Angeles.\nDvorak admits he fell into the decision to apply in July for the tournament somewhat haphazardly.\n"I watch Jeopardy a little too much," he said. "I was just watching the show and I saw an advertisement about the college championship and just applied online. I never expected them to call me back."\nBut the very next day Dvorak found Jeopardy wanted him to audition in Orlando, Fla. the following month. \nThe plan had only one problem -- auditions were a day before classes were to begin.\n"It was a little bit of a bummer that I had to leave before school started, but I bought my ticket and went to the tryouts anyway," Dvorak said.\nDvorak found himself in Orlando surrounded by 80 other Jeopardy hopefuls and speculated there were about 1,500 college students who applied around the country. After successfully taking a 50 question test, Dvorak was chosen with 11 others to participate in the next round of try-outs.\n"After being chosen to be one of the 12, we played a mock-game, three-at-a-time," said Dvorak, a history and political science major. "It wasn't very long, we only got time to answer a few questions each and then we had a small interview."\nAfter the interview, Dvorak was free to leave. He was not given any information on his performance. Despite the ambiguity, he said he left feeling good.\n"I took off from Orlando feeling pretty confident because I got through the first cut," said Dvorak with a small laugh. "But then I realized there were probably 200 other kids who made that first cut also so I wasn't really thinking of getting picked."\nA few weeks later, Dvorak got the letter of his life when Jeopardy wrote him and said he was one of the 15 chosen for the two-week event. Dvorak plans to leave next Thusday to make it to Los Angeles for the taping that will be aired Nov. 7. Although the event takes place on television for two weeks, in actuality, the whole tournament is done in two days.\nThe 15 contestants play one game and the winners go on to the second round along with four losers who accumulated the most money. Then the remaining nine contestants play, leaving the three winners to compete in the final championship. The three finalists play two games to determine the champion.\n"Time is really crunched," Dvorak said, "so I will just have to do my best."\nThe contestant's best are rewarded very generously by Jeopardy, who awards the winner $50,000 in cash, a specially designed trophy and a brand new Volvo. The winner also will be guaranteed a position in next year's Tournament of Champions. In addition, the earnings of the first, second and third place contestants will be matched by Volvo for student scholarships at their respective schools.\n"We think it is wonderful," said IU Spokeswoman Susan Dillman. "Brett is an example of the students we have here at IU."\nWith the whole school around him, Dvorak is beginning to feel the pressure in representing his school.\n"I definitely feel pressure because I know when I watch the show I am the first person to yell at the screen when a person messes up an answer I know," Dvorak said. "I know 40,000 students here will know all of the answers I am asked."\nDespite the pressure that builds, friends of Dvorak said he will give a fine performance.\n"I think he might underestimate how he will do," senior Andy Nicolini said. "He constantly watches it, so at least the show now has a purpose."\nReferring to himself as a Jeopardy "fiend," Dvorak wants to take the show for what it is -- a dream come true.\n"I hope I will make some money and be able to pay my rent and bills," he said. "But now one of my life goals are knocked off the list. Now all I have to worry about are Mount Everest and the presidency"