Monday, April 20, 1998
Kroeger decides to
give up football
The UH senior will focus
By Paul Arnett
on playing basketball instead of
chasing his childhood dreams
Star-BulletinMicah Kroeger's high school dream of playing football at the Division I level was moved to the back burner yesterday afternoon.
It was recently determined by University of Hawaii officials that he would have to give up his basketball scholarship and either receive one from the football team, or walk-on and pay his own way this fall.
After meeting with Fred vonAppen before yesterday's practice, Kroeger and the UH head coach decided it was best for him to put aside football for now because of the scholarship issue and the fact Kroeger has a chance of playing professional basketball in a European league this summer.
''I told him there was no point practicing and risking an injury that might keep him from earning a living,'' vonAppen said.
"He has spent a good portion of his life trying to be a basketball player. What he can accomplish the last few days of spring practice isn't worth the risk of injury that might keep him from playing overseas.''
VonAppen kept open the door for Kroeger's return, but that would seem unlikely because the UH football team can't afford to use a scholarship on an unproven player, who has only one year of eligibility. While Kroeger has displayed some ability at receiver, he would have to spend the entire summer getting up to speed before vonAppen would consider giving him a full ride.
The sad thing is, Kroeger made a good impression on the players and coaches during his two weeks at wide receiver. Granted, he wasn't all that fast, but he has good hands and was willing to catch a football in a crowd.
''He did everything we asked of him,'' vonAppen said. ''He has good hands and was beginning to learn his routes. But the risk of injury, at this point anyway, doesn't seem worth it.
''He needs to explore some options in basketball. If he exhausts those avenues and he would like to return, we'd welcome him back. He has a lot of class. You can see why he was a successful basketball player.''
Kroeger played three seasons with the UH basketball team. His residence is still California, so it would cost him about $7,500 to pay his own way next fall.
''I told him if he were my son, I would recommend him trying to play basketball professionally because of his investment to that sport,'' vonAppen said. ''He'll know by June whether he has any shot at playing professionally. If that doesn't work out, then we'll see what he wants to do and where that takes us.''
http://uhathletics.hawaii.edu
