DuRocher leaves C. Washington program

Aug 18, 2009 - 3:23 AM ELLENSBURG, Wash.(AP) -- Former Washington quarterback Johnny DuRocher, trying to make a football comeback after seeing his career derailed by a benign brain tumor, has left the program at Division II Central Washington.

School spokesman Jonathan Gordon told The Associated Press on Monday that DuRocher said he left because of groin and elbow injuries.

DuRocher was competing for the starting quarterback job.

In a statement released through the university, DuRocher said he was grateful for the Central Washington opportunity.

DuRocher started his college career at Oregon, but redshirted and transferred to Washington. He played in two games for the Huskies in 2006, and suffered a concussion in one game. A CT scan following the concussion revealed a non-cancerous brain tumor, which DuRocher had surgery to remove.

His playing career was considered over at that point, but he said last spring that doctors had cleared him to play again.