You Can Get Crafty At The Denison House 
The Denison Advocates Will Hold A Craft Fair From 11 A.m. To 5 P.m., Sunday, 
July 21, On The Grounds Of The Historic Nathan Denison House, 35 Denison St.

Acting Up 
Youngsters Discover The Work Behind The Glamour Of Stagecraft

By JERRY KELLAR; Times Leader Sports Writer
 Friday, July 12, 1996 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A 





In the end, it was that 12-pound bass that helped make the decision for
Bruce Kozerski. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 That, and Cub Scout outings. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; And coaching his oldest son's soccer team. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And summers and falls with nothing to do ... but spend precious time with
family. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I think," wife Beth Kozerski said, "that Bruce just wants to pack up the
kids and go find another striper." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 He'll have all the time in the world now. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 After 12 sterling years with the NFL's Cincinnati Bengals, Kozerski on
Thursday announced his retirement from the game. The 6-foot-4, 287-pound
offensive lineman via Coughlin High School and Holy Cross College made it
official at the Bengals' annual Press Luncheon at Riverfront Stadium. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I just had enough," Kozerski, 34, said by telephone from his home in
Edgewood, Ky. "So many people get caught up in making money, reaching another
plateau, doing this and doing that. I just said to myself, `How much is
enough?' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Football is very important to me, it always will be," said Kozerski, who
holds a degree in physics from Holy Cross and has minor interests in several
businesses. "I enjoyed that time. But I don't have the fire anymore to go out
there and knock people down. The time has come to move on. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I don't want to be remembered as a milker." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Bengals' president general manager Mike Brown called Kozerski a gentleman
and a true professional. "He is someone who has always cast a positive light
on our team." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Kozerski also will certainly be remembered as one of the league's most
durable players. He played all five positions along the offensive line for the
Bengals, and started 137 of his team's 172 games since he came into the league
as a ninth-round draft pick in 1984. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Those numbers are nothing short of astounding considering the career-life
expectancy of an NFL player is just 3.2 seasons. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Dependable versatility," is how Bengal coach Dave Shula described
Kozerski, a native of Plains Township. "There are a lot of people who can do
different things, but they usually don't do them well. Koz did them all well." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 His 12-year stint along the offensive line for Cincinnati was exceeded only
by future Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz. The Bengals' team captain the last
three years, Kozerski was named an AFC Pro Bowl alternate three times. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I have no regrets," he said. "I've been incredibly fortunate." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 His luck finally ran out last season, when he broke his right ankle in a
game against the Browns and was forced to miss the final six games of the
season. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 It was the first serious injury of his career. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Kozerski, however, insisted the injury had nothing to do with his decision
to retire. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Not at all," he said. "I'm probably in the best shape of my career. It's
just that the time I spent with my family after the injury showed me I could
live without playing this game. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Hey, there's golf to be played and tennis to be served up." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 First up, though, will be a quick -- no, make that long -- getaway to the
family vacation home on Norris Lake, Tenn. Word has it the striper are biting
like crazy these days. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It was the biggest one he's ever caught," said Kozerski, noting that it
was his 8-year-old son, Matthew, who netted the 12-pounder a couple of weeks
ago. "It's times like that that I've missed out on. I'm planning on enjoying
my family again." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Along with Matthew, Bruce and Beth Kozerski have two other children: Adam,
2, and Amy, 16 months. It was Matthew, though, who became famous seven years
ago for riding on his dad's shoulders on the field after the Bengals lost to
the 49ers in Super Bowl XXIII. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "That was Bruce's single-most proudest moment," Beth said of the picture
that made the following week's edition of Sports Illustrated. "I still cry
when I see it." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I have a lot of great memories," Bruce Kozerski said. "I'm very proud of
what I've accomplished. I hope they appreciate the work I gave them." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Bruce Kozerski &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Retiring after 12 years in the NFL &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Plains Native Kozerski Decides He's Had Enough Of Life In Nfl 
The Chance To Do Other 
Things And Enjoy Family Life 
Entices 12-year Cincinnati 
Bengals' Lineman To Retire

Plains Native Kozerski Decides He's Had Enough Of Life In Nfl The Chance To Do Other Things And Enjoy Family Life Entices 12-year Cincinnati Bengals' Lineman To Retire