BY BILL WILSON
The Cincinnati Enquirer
University of Cincinnati basketball player Bobby Brannen has decided not play football for the Bearcats one week after walking onto the team, Brannen's father Robert said.
''He's got too much to handle right now, juggling academics and athletics,'' Robert Brannen said.
UC associate sports information director Brian McCann confirmed Brannen's
decision. Brannen and Bearcat football coach Rick Minter were unavailable for comment.
The 6-foot-7, 235-pounder
had been practicing with the team since last Thursday when spring practice started. He was bidding for playing time at tight end.
''He was pretty pleased with himself in the (time) he was out there,'' Robert Brannen said. ''It boils down to it was too much.''
The elder Brannen said his son wants to complete his college basketball career and then fully concentrate on football.
''He'll be able to go out (for
football) next spring with his fifth year of eligibility,'' Robert Brannen said.
''He just wanted to kind of expose himself back to the football world. Then next year, he'll put some weight on and probably walk on again. He'll take his best shot and maybe he'll get a look at the NFL.''
Brannen lettered twice in football at Moeller High School as a tight end but he the sport after his junior year to concentrate on basketball.
Postseason
KAMBALA PICKS UNLV OVE April 10, 1997
PREP STAR NARROWS LIST TO 3 April 7, 1997
WILLIAMS SAYS HE'S RETURNING April 5, 1997
BRANNEN WALKS ON FOOTBALL SQUAD April 4, 1997
FORTSON: 'I KNOW I CAN PLAY' April 2, 1997
RECRUITING TAKES ON URGENCY April 2, 1997
WOODEN SELECTORS SPURN FORTSON April 2, 1997
FORTSON LEAPS TO NBA April 1, 1997
BEST GUESS: FORTSON'S GONE, AND HUGGINS COULD GO, TOO March 17, 1997
NCAA Tournament stories
MARCH 16, 1997
IOWA STATE 67, UC 66
UC LOSS NOT ALL SURPRISING Daugherty column
BRANNEN BECOMES SCORER
MARCH 15, 1997
IDENTITY CHECK FOR UC
IOWA STATE GETS ASSISTS FROM HOLLOWAY
MARCH 14, 1997
UC 80, BUTLER 69
IOWA STATE IS TALL ORDER
20 MINUTES ENOUGH FOR UC THIS TIME Daugherty column
MARCH 13, 1997
UC'S FORTUNES HINGE ON FORTSON
NCAA LETTER LED TO WILLIAMS INQUIRY
WILLIAMS PUNISHED BEFORE TRIAL Daugherty column
HUGGINS TO OSU? A COMMON QUERY
MARCH 12,1997
GUARD PROBLEMS PLAGUE BEARCATS
HUGGINS QUOTES GILLEN ON OSU JOB
MARCH 11, 1997
FORTSON ALL-AMERICAN
WILLIAMS PREPARES TO START
MARSHALL HAS THE MUSCLE TO CHECK FORTSON
MARCH 10, 1997
UC, XU ON COLLISION COURSE IN SWEET 16
LET FORTSON PLAY, REFS - IT'S HIS TIME Daugherty column
OPPONENT DOESN'T MATTER TO BEARCATS
BUTLER ROSTER HAS LOCAL FLAVOR
