UW’s DuRocher has slight chance to play again
Speaking to reporters for the first time since his surgery to remove a noncancerous brain tumor, University of Washington backup quarterback Johnny DuRocher said he has been informed by his doctors that there is a slight chance he might play football again.
Before the delicate surgery, performed by neurosurgeon Dr. Richard Ellenbogen, DuRocher was told there was no chance the junior quarterback would see the field again for Washington. According to DuRocher, that’s now changed.
“We’ll have to wait and see until it heals up completely, and if my parents sign off on the idea, maybe I can come back and play,” DuRocher said.
“When I talked to them before the surgery, they said there was no chance, and then after the surgery he said there is a chance.”
DuRocher’s intent is to play baseball for Washington in the spring and then, with the advice of his family, decide whether to pursue playing football again. DuRocher would love to suit up for the Huskies during his senior year, but right after the surgery, his father was against his son playing again.
“I wouldn’t like to see him play again just because he’s got a plate in his head with screws,” John DuRocher Sr., said on Dec. 1. “It’s probably a totally different process if your son is the starter and has a chance to go pro. But why risk it?”
Smith’s emotional return
Troy Smith had spent days keeping it all together.
Through the whirlwind trip to New York, the nerve-racking Heisman Trophy ceremony, the endless photo sessions and interviews, Ohio State’s quarterback had remained poised and polished, as unflappable off the field as on it.
But standing in front of the people who helped raise him, love him and know him best, Smith could no longer hold back his tears.
Presented with the No. 7 jersey he wore as a senior at Glenville High School in Cleveland, Smith broke down and wept.
A proud community cried along with him.
Smith came home to a hero’s welcome as the city celebrated one of its sons winning the Heisman with an emotional celebration.
Texas calls on walk-on
While Texas waits to find out if Colt McCoy will be healthy enough to play in the Alamo Bowl, walk-on Matt McCoy is the Longhorns’ No. 1 quarterback.
“We still don’t know about Colt,” coach Mack Brown said. “It’s a long way till game time and they have not told us yet if he’ll play.”
Peterson excites Sooners
Simply by returning to practice, Adrian Peterson has lifted the spirits of his Oklahoma teammates.
The junior tailback resumed practicing with the Sooners on Friday but hasn’t spoken with reporters yet – so the Sooners spoke about him.
“He’s getting more and more snaps in there,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. “The players are excited to see him back in there. He’s always been a great and strong team guy. The players have always appreciated how he’s worked and he’ll get more and more snaps leading up to it. It can only be positive.”
BC takes look at Gilbride
Boston College has received permission to speak with New York Giants quarterbacks coach Kevin Gilbride about its head coaching job.
Mountaineers full of stars
No wonder Appalachian State is set to play for its second consecutive I-AA national championship. The Mountaineers have a roster dotted with All-Americans.
Appalachian State placed four players on the Associated Press I-AA All-America team and had two more players make the third team.