BY TOM GROESCHEN
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Brian Uhl
|
Brian Uhl is the end of an era.
But the era nearly ended in Cincinnati's East end.
Uhl, a University of Cincinnati senior offensive tackle and NFL prospect, is the last man still playing from the old CAPE (Cincinnati Academy of Physical Education) prep football dynasty. CAPE won three Ohio titles before closing four years ago, and Uhl played on its final team.
After arriving at UC in August 1994, Uhl quit after one day.
"He said he was homesick," UC coach Rick Minter said. "I said, "Homesick? You live three miles from campus.' "
Minter and Uhl laugh about it now, but Uhl was in tears that day. He went home to his family on Eastern Avenue, a few minutes east of downtown.
"His mom and dad brought him back," Minter said. "And now he's one of my favorite stories on this team."
Uhl has come about as far as a college football player can. Minter tried him first as a long snapper, but Uhl couldn't hike without simultaneously kicking his right leg outward.
"It was a joke," Minter said. "But you could see he would work hard."
Three years later in 1997, Uhl made second team All-Conference USA as a center.
This year he moves to the critical left tackle position, replacing NFL draftee Jason Fabini as chief protector of the quarterbacks' blind side.
"Brian was kind of green, didn't have the self-esteem when he first got here," Minter said. "I use his name every time I recruit kids like him. He's an example of what you can do if you keep at it."
Uhl is 6-foot-5 and weighs 297 pounds, after entering UC at 6-4 and 240. He has gone from man-child to man since redshirting as a freshman in 1994, and is a big reason why UC is going for a fourth straight winning season.
"I know the CAPE fans keep track of me, because we had such a tradition there," he said. "That's one reason I want to keep doing well."
CAPE itself was a legend in its own time, a mid-sized school that dominated its level. It played football barely more than a decade, but sent halfback Carlos Snow and defensive backs Vinnie Clark and David Pool to the NFL. CAPE closed as a Cincinnati public school in 1994, in a cost-saving measure.
As a lineman Uhl was not one of CAPE's luminous stars, but he was all-state and played on the school's final state title team of 1992.
"Those were fun times," Uhl said. "And we had a great coach who made it all happen."
That was Steve Sheehan, now coach at Oak Hills High. Sheehan confirmed Uhl is the last CAPE player still active in college.
"Big feet, big hands, and he played basketball," Sheehan said of Uhl. "I always thought he'd be a heck of a tight end, because he's got great hands. He just dominated in high school, and we played him two ways because you just couldn't keep him off the field."
Sheehan vividly remembers Uhl's initial trip to UC.
"He called me and I said, "Brian, just give it one year,' " Sheehan said. "I'm so glad he went back."
Uhl, considered the best athlete among UC's offensive lineman, is rated by ESPN analyst Mel Kiper as a possible NFL prospect. But he needs to have a big senior year as did Fabini, who is slated to start as a rookie for the New York Jets.
"Fabini doing so well really helps me," Uhl said. "People know now that there are good offensive linemen at this school."
Uhl stuck it out that first year, but had second thoughts as UC went 2-8-1 in his redshirt season.
"That was like the dark ages," he said. "Now we're starting to see the light."
A friendly, sensitive guy, Uhl watched another batch of nervous freshmen go through their first UC practice Saturday afternoon. He said he can relate. And when he has the time, he will tell them to hang in there.
"Brian has just blossomed since he came here," Minter said. "The confidence, the technique, the way he carries himself. I'd love to have a piece of his future now."
UC on ESPN?
UC is still waiting to hear whether it will play an ESPN Thursday night game Nov. 5 vs. East Carolina, at UC. The game would be switched from Saturday, Nov. 7.
ESPN and FOX, which owns the national broadcast rights to all UC home games, are negotiating a deal which could move the UC game to ESPN.
Football story list
