Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Brandon Bruner makes a comeback with Saluki Football
08/15/2006 | 12:00:00 | Football
Aug. 15, 2006
By Beth Miller
www.SIUSalukis.com
CARBONDALE, Ill. - A familiar face has returned to the Saluki Football team. It's an older, wiser face.
Brandon Bruner, who missed the 2005 football season for disciplinary reasons, is excited to be back with the Salukis.
"It feels good," Bruner said. "It's been a long time. It feels like it took forever, but it's finally here."
During his year away from the team, Bruner did a lot of growing up. Saluki head coach Jerry Kill said it was a difficult decision to suspend Bruner for an entire season, and the severity of the punishment raised some eyebrows. But Kill said Bruner needed to lose football for a time, in order to put his life in perspective.
"He lost a lot with his mistake, but Brandon didn't pout around," Kill said. "Instead, he stood up to the challenge and learned from it. If he was my son, I couldn't be more proud of what he's accomplished."
The change is noticeable.
"I feel like I've matured a lot," Bruner said. "I can tell, my family can tell, and Coach Kill said he can tell."
Brandon's grandfather, Darwin White, consulted with Kill about the punishment and agreed it was the best course. White, too, has seen a great change in Bruner, watching him grow from adolescence to manhood in a year's time.
"I'm so pleased with what he has accomplished," White said, "He's really grown and seems to be developing not only physically, but mentally as well."
Bruner's maturity and commitment to the team was evidenced recently when he was voted to the five-man team council, a group that meets with Kill to discuss important team matters.
"Even though I've been out for a year, the younger guys still look up to me and ask me questions," Bruner said. "Just knowing that my peers voted me to be in that position feels good."
By all accounts, the senior cornerback is having an excellent training camp and has assumed the status as the team's best coverage man.
"He made a mistake he shouldn't have made," Kill said. "Everyone deserves a second chance. Now, if you keep making the same mistakes, then you don't want to be turned around. But with this kid, there's no question he wants to be turned around. It takes a lot of guts to do what Brandon has done, and that's why I'm so proud of him.
"He's what life is all about, you root for guys like him."
