Sports Briefs: Friday, September 3, 1999

Brown granted waiver for fifth year of eligibility While the Ivy League does not permit redshirting -- holding an athlete out of competition for a season to gain a year of eligibility later -- the Ivy League's medical hardship provision allows the "student-athlete to recapture a season of eligibility which was shortened as a result of an incapacitating injury or illness," according to Penn's 1999-2000 Student-Athlete Handbook. The Ivy League approved Brown's waiver this week. "Typically [getting the waiver] is a given, but you have to go through the protocol," Penn coach Fran Dunphy said. "We're very grateful that Frank was given the extra year." After a productive freshman season in which he played in all of Penn's 27 games, Brown missed all but 13 minutes of the 1996-97 season with a knee injury. In '97-98, the knee injury caused the Beverly Hills, Calif., native to miss 16 of the Quakers' 29 games. Last year, Brown reemerged in Penn's season-opening 61-56 loss to Kansas, coming off the bench to score 17 points and keep the Quakers in the game. He led Penn in three-point shooting accuracy last season, hitting 46.2 percent (12-of-26) from beyond the arc. Brown is the preseason favorite to start at small forward. -- Eric Moskowitz Finn among 15 players released by Chicago On Monday, the Chicago Bears decided that fullback Jim Finn was not relevant to their roster plans. Finn, who became 1999's "Mr. Irrelevant" when the Bears made the former Penn running back the 253rd and final selection in last spring's NFL draft, was one of 15 players released by the Bears as they pared their roster to 73. A two-time unanimous first-team All-Ivy selection, Finn won the Bushnell Cup in 1998 as the Ivy League's Player of the Year after rushing for 1,450 yards on 323 carries, both of which set school records. Finn, a converted strong safety, finished fourth all-time on the Quakers rushing list with 2,251 yards despite starting just 16 games at running back. At 5'10" and 245 lbs., Finn had hoped to catch on as a fullback with Chicago. In four preseason games, he caught three passes for 43 yards. Finn did not attempt a rush but did recover a fumble for eight yards. Chicago must further trim its roster to 53 players by Sunday afternoon; however, Finn still has a shot at making the five-man practice squad, which the Bears will announce on Monday. -- E.M.