Mr. Irrelevant Grant Stuard rides waves in Newport

Irrelevant Week festivities were continued on Saturday in Newport Beach.

Grant Stuard, a linebacker out of the University of Houston, is the newest member of football’s celebrated underdog fraternity.

Stuard had a chance to get acquainted with the water before he sets sail with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for training camp. He did so with a surf lesson at the beach at 50th Street off the Balboa Peninsula.

Josie Stuard holds up a score for her husband Grant, Mr. Irrelevant, after he wiped out during surfing lessons, as part of the Irrelevant Week festivities.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

The waves were strong on this occasion, but Stuard managed to get up on the board anyway.

How deep was the water and for how long was he able to stay upright during his surfing debut? That is all irrelevant!

Irrelevant Week continues through Monday, when Stuard will participate in a Grit Cycle session in the morning and make his highly anticipated appearance at the All-Star Lowsman Banquet in the evening.

The Lowsman Banquet will be held at the Cannery Restaurant beginning at 6 p.m. John Ireland is the scheduled host for the event.

Melanie Salata-Fitch, right, takes a photo of Mr. Irrelevant Grant Stuard, center, with world surf champion Peter “PT” Townend.

(Kevin Chang / Staff Photographer)

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