Event Date: March 14th, 1985
Event Description: Kosar Going Pro
Source: UPI
Bernie Kosar, who established several school passing records and helped engineer a national championship, said Thursday he would make himself available for the April NFL draft, foregoing two more years of eligibility at the University of Miami.
"This has been a hot issue over the last couple of months," Kosar, 21, told a news conference in Niles. 'It's been kind of a curse on my life. The time is right for me to continue my growth as a quarterback and as a person in the NFL.'
Kosar, visiting his nearby Boardman, Ohio, home during spring break, had two years of college eligibility left, although he is scheduled to graduate in June with a degree in finance.
He decided to end his college career and enter the April 30 draft because "I think it's best for all concerned and (the decision) can let the University of Miami go on with their program."
Miami coach Jimmy Johnson has been “very supportive in helping me through this ordeal,” Kosar said. “He expected it (Kosar's decision) to a degree.”
The Cleveland Browns are Kosar's first choice, although he said no team has contacted him yet.
“I'm very home-oriented,” he said. “I'd like nothing better than to stay close to my family and play in Cleveland. The situation is so perfect to come home and play for Cleveland. That really excites me.”
Cleveland, however, would have to trade up for a higher first-round choice in order to get Kosar. The Buffalo Bills had the No. 1 draft choice, but signed defensive lineman Bruce Smith of Virginia Tech.
The Houston Oilers have the No. 2 choice, but are reportedly not interested in a quarterback. The Minnesota Vikings, who recently hired Hurricane quarterback coach Marc Trestman as an assistant coach, draft next.
“In the words of my dad, (Minnesota is) a “viable option,'' Kosar said.
The USFL might be an option if nothing works out in the NFL, he said, but added, “I'm taking this one step at a time. Too many variables can pop up.”
He said he was not interested in staying in college to try and top former Boston College quarterback Doug Flutie's records, but said he had been told by some agents he was worth at least as much as the highly-paid Flutie, now with the USFL's New Jersey Generals, in the pros.
Kosar finished fourth to Flutie in this year's Heisman Trophy balloting. He played two seasons for Miami after redshirting one year. He led the Hurricanes to a 12-1 record and the national championship two seasons ago, but the Hurricanes stumbled last season and finished 8-5.
Kosar completed his two-year career with Miami records for most yards passing at 5,971, touchdowns at 40 and completions with 483 in 743 attempts for a 62.3 percentage.
Story-(UPI)
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