A tale of two former quarterbacks’ pro journeys: Adam DiMichele

Adam DiMichele, recently cut by the Philadelphia Eagles, keeps all football options open.

The distance was only feet away, but the worlds were miles apart.

Adam DiMichele spent his Temple career suiting up for home football games in the Owls’ locker room at Lincoln Financial Field. This summer, DiMichele had his own locker just down the hall.

After a successful career on North Broad Street, DiMichele earned a private tryout during offseason minicamps with the Philadelphia Eagles, who also play their home games at the Linc.

“All you really need is one team to like you, and that’s kind of what happened with Philadelphia,” DiMichele said. “They gave me that opportunity.

“It was probably my best workout. I thought I threw the ball very well.”

DiMichele signed a rookie free-agent contract with the Eagles on May 18. He was released less than a month later, but the staff told him to be ready for a phone call.

That phone call came a month later, and DiMichele signed with the Eagles again on Aug. 12.

“It was weird because they have you in there and have you sign the papers, and the next thing you know, they kind of release you,” he said. “So I wasn’t sure what was going to happen with camp. I was just trying to stay ready.”

DiMichele finished 14-for-22 for 130 yards and a 21-yard touchdown pass eight days later in a preseason game against the Indianapolis Colts.

“I was actually more nervous at practice than I was at the games,” he said. “I was just trying to play smart and play like I have always played. I came in with nothing, and basically, I had nothing to lose.”
During his time with the Eagles, DiMichele had the opportunity to work behind and interact with quarterbacks Donovan McNabb, Michael Vick and Kevin Kolb.

He said they were all good guys, calling McNabb a “professional” and Kolb a “competitor.”
“They were all really good people,” DiMichele said. “I was trying to ask a lot of questions, and I always wondered if they were going to answer the questions or [ignore me].”

DiMichele’s journey started at Sto-Rox High School in McKees Rocks, Pa., where he was a three-sport All-State selection as a senior in baseball, football and basketball, earning state Player of the Year in the latter two.

“I really enjoyed each and every second of it, each season of it,” DiMichele said. “I was blessed to be around a lot of good people, good coaches and players.”

DiMichele finished his high school career as the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League’s all-time leading passer, breaking records set by Joe Montana, Dan Marino and Joe Namath.

“Success in high school came from a great backing from my family, great players, great coaches around me,” he said. “That’s where it all came about.”

DiMichele’s high school career earned him a scholarship to Penn State, who saw him as a defensive player and wanted him to play in the secondary. DiMichele wasn’t too keen on moving to the defensive side of the ball, so he asked to be released from his scholarship. Penn State balked at the idea, so DiMichele could not play sports at any other Division I school for a year.

He decided the quickest way to make it to a professional league would be by playing baseball, so he enrolled in Okaloosa-Walton College in Florida for two years.

In 2005, the Toronto Blue Jays selected him in the 38th round of the Major League Baseball draft.
But again, DiMichele said he wasn’t completely confident with his career path.

“It was weird. I kind of had just another change of heart,” he said. “It was one of those parts of your life where you don’t know what you want to do and weighing all your options, and that’s how I was. I guess I just missed football.”

So, after a brief stay at Penn State and two years on the diamond, DiMichele came to Temple, where he started at quarterback for three years.

“It was just kind of like a perfect fit,” he said. “They were rebuilding, and I was trying to rebuild myself.”
In his first year, DiMichele started nine games and threw for 10 touchdowns. A year later in 2007, he threw for 12 touchdowns in eight games before a season-ending leg injury.

Last year, he missed three games with a shoulder injury.

DiMichele admitted his past injuries hurt his chances of getting drafted.

“It was a very difficult thing,” he said. “You work so hard in the offseason, and one play can really do you in and just hurt your season.”

After missing those three games in the middle of the season, DiMichele returned and threw for a touchdown in a win against Ohio.

He finished his senior year throwing for 1,911 yards and 18 touchdowns while leading the Owls to a 5-7 record – their best finish since 1990. DiMichele, a recipient of the Owl Award and Captains’ Award in both 2007 and 2008, finished his career with 5,024 passing yards, which ranks fourth in Temple’s history.

“I’m definitely honored,” he said. “If I could go back, I would share it with those other seniors because they did just as much as I did in turning this program around. I think we did lay the foundation for something great, and I think this should be a great year.

“Those guys have seen the lowest of the low, and they’ll never let it get that low again.”

It was a low day for DiMichele when he was again released by the Eagles after his strong preseason appearance. But a phone call from offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg and quarterbacks coach James Urban brightened his day, as they told him they were impressed with his competitiveness and how he played against the Colts.

“They basically told me not to quit,” he said. “They think I can still play at this level, and they think I should play anywhere I can right now and get as much playing experience as [I can].

“It was a bad day getting released, but they made my day a little better, as did feeling I could do it and not doubt myself.”

There is no doubt DiMichele still wants to play – the issue is where. He talked about the Canadian Football League and mentioned there are a few teams interested.

“I just really want to play,” DiMichele said. “It doesn’t matter whether it’s the NFL or Canada. I just really want to play and compete.”

Pete Dorchak can be reached at pdorchak@temple.edu.

After jail time and fines, Vick can still fly

Despite being high-profile, the Eagles’ newest addition will not be the end all to dogfighting crimes.

Three weeks ago, the Philadelphia Eagles lost their first preseason game against the New England Patriots by two points off the foot of David Akers.

Akers didn’t have to worry, though, because the next day, and ever since then, the only story local and national media have been covering regarding the Eagles is the signing of convicted dogfighter Michael Vick.

Philadelphians are reacting in a variety of ways, the most vocal reactions coming from those who oppose the Eagles’ decision to bring Vick to the team.

“I was shocked,” said Emilee Madrak, junior theater major.

Madrak said she believes Vick’s crimes are too heinous for him to be allowed back into the NFL. As someone who spends her spare time rescuing dogs in Philadelphia, Madrak, like many others, has witnessed first hand the ramifications of torturing dogs and the heartlessness that allows animal abuse to continue. She said she has serious doubts about Vick’s sincerity in apologizing for his crimes and in his pledges to help take on the institution of dogfighting.

While the crime is horrible, it is useless to attack Vick. Aside from the fact that no one can truly determine whether he has apologized sincerely, he has served 18 months in federal prison and lost tens of millions of dollars in endorsements. Additionally, Vick has been forced to file for bankruptcy, declaring $16 million in assets and $20 million in debt. The man has paid a dear price.

Also, Vick alone is not the commissioner of dogfighting. He was merely a high-profile participant. Dogfighting existed long before Vick’s “Bad Newz Kennels” and will, unfortunately, continue. Dogfighting is common and in some places, is not even viewed as immoral.

When asked whether he thought dogfighting was prevalent among professional sports athletes, Clinton Portis of the Washington Redskins responded, “It’s prevalent in life.”

Portis went on to suggest that many people, including public officials and police officers, participate in the activity of dogfighting.

All in all, it’s natural to feel outraged at Vick’s crime, but keeping him out of the NFL will not do anything to curb dog fighting. If you truly want to help animals, you must realize that by advocating against dogfighting as an NFL player, Vick can help to extinguish it.

The man who took the field this past Thursday against Jacksonville is a different Michael Vick than the one who played for the Atlanta Falcons. He has committed a crime and served his time, and he has the rest of his life to spend righting his wrongs.

Michael Polinsky can be reached at michael.polinsky@temple.edu.

Eagles lose title game, soar with wind power

Now that the postseason is over for the Eagles, and we know they will not be on the field for Super Bowl XLIII, we can focus on their work off the field. 

One of the biggest ways the Eagles give back to the community is with the “Go Green” campaign, which they claim allows Lincoln Financial Field to run completely on sustainable energy.  

At first, I was sure this was yet another manipulative business ploy, capitalizing on the current wave of environmentalism. However, no matter how hard I tried to resist, the facts quickly piled up, and I was convinced that the Eagles’ colors are appropriate for their organization.

For the past six years, the team has drastically reduced its environmental impact and has found innovative techniques for sustainability. 

In September, the team announced the upcoming season’s 10 home games would be powered by wind credits. That’s 100 percent sustainable energy. 

Still, there are issues with the team’s wind credit system. We know the team paid a wind energy company, but what does that mean? Are the stadium lights and hot dog stands powered by groups of turbines at local wind farms?

Although that’s what comes to mind when the phrase “100 percent sustainability” is thrown around, the reality is quite different.

Wind credits are the latest craze in the green economy. Credits can even be bought in the check-out lanes at Whole Foods Market. These credits represent the extra money that would be spent on energy if it were wind powered. The extra money does not mean facilities receive clean electricity that comes from wind farms.

Instead, the extra money provides capital for wind power companies, allowing them to set up additional turbines and contribute to the national grid.

Can these renewable energy businesses keep up with the “Go Green” campaign?

According to the mission statement posted on philadelphiaeagles.com, the goal of the campaign is “to create and sustain championship performance on the field and in the community through programs that promote the quality of life in our region, green the environment to improve our impact on the planet and enhance our profitability as a business.”

According to the Philadelphia Business Journal, the Eagles have reduced their energy consumption by 30 percent since 2004.

Despite the obvious flaws in the wind credit system, the team has been able to acquire renewable energy straight from another source: solar panels.

According to greenphillyblog.com, the new solar panels were “installed in summer 2007 and are expected to produce 16,100 kilowatt hours, eliminating 26,400 pounds of carbon dioxide (or greenhouse gas) emissions per year.”

The “Go Green” campaign has proven countless times that the Eagles are on the cutting edge of the green movement. Even though 100 percent sustainability might not be what it seems, at least they’re in front, making a difference in our community.

Mike Podlogar can be reached at mikepodlogar@temple.edu.

Owls hope to fill the Linc this year

The Philadelphia Eagles haven’t averaged less than 67,000 fans per game since they opened the 68,532-seat capacity Lincoln Financial Field in 2003.

Their co-tenants, the Temple Owls football team?

The Owls drew a record 28,858 people per game last season, an increase of 82.5 percent, to lead the Mid-American Conference in overall attendance.

That still left the Linc less than half full and left the Owls in fifth place in average attendance among the six college football teams (Pittsburgh, Tulane, Minnesota, South Florida, San Diego State and Temple) that played at NFL stadiums last year. (A seventh team, Miami (Fla.), joined this season.)

“We’re not in a position where we can fill a stadium or even come close to filling a stadium,” Director of Athletics Bill Bradshaw said. “But I believe as our teams get more competitive and are more successful, that students will want to come out more.”

The Owls did finish the 2007 season with an overall 4-8 record and a 4-4 record in the MAC, a definite upgrade from a 2006 campaign that ended with a 1-11 finish. Until the Owls annually compete for a MAC title or even a BCS game, it seems that giveaways will have to entice the students to come out.

“We will have a pregame tailgate in lot K with music and food for all games,” Scott Walcoff, assistant athletic director for marketing and promotions, said. “There will be special giveaways for the home opener versus the University of Connecticut [Sept. 6] and the game on Oct. 21.”

Temple’s athletic department will once again give away free tuition for a semester to one lucky student who attends the UConn game. The first 20,000 fans at the nationally-televised game versus Ohio in October will receive a pink thunderstick as part of “Pink out the Nation,” with ticket proceeds benefiting Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

On top of the giveaways, Temple also offers students transportation to and from the campus beginning two and a half hours before the start of every home football game. Buses stop at 1300 residence hall, Johnson and Hardwick halls and the Student Center. Riders are dropped off on the 11th Street side of the Linc. Buses pick up students at the same location immediately following the game.

Of course, if Temple’s football team played in an on-campus facility, giveaways and transportation might not be as much of a necessity.

“My opinion is that we should always consider anything that’s in our best interests, and in a perfect world, having your own football stadium close to where your students are is ideal,” Bradshaw said. “That’s certainly an issue for the president and the Board of Trustees. We have several years to go in our agreement with Lincoln Financial, so we’re looking forward to that.”

Ten more years, in fact. Temple signed a 15-year agreement in 2003 for an amount that Bradshaw said was “not insignificant.” Prior to that, the Owls played their football games at Veterans Stadium for 26 years, along with periodic stops at the University of Pennsylvania’s Franklin Field when dates conflicted with the Philadelphia Phillies schedule.

“Certainly, playing at Franklin Field would’ve been an option for Temple,” Bradshaw said. “It would’ve been a challenge, and maybe wouldn’t have been as attractive an opportunity for Temple football at the brand-new, state-of-the-art Lincoln Financial.

“But it would’ve been a fallback, and we did have discussions with Penn about it because the agreement with Lincoln Financial was solidified only two weeks before the opening game in 2003.”
The Linc, as it’s called by fans, provides the Owls with their own cherry-carpeted locker room, separate from that of the Eagles, giving it “a real Temple Owls’ presence,” Bradshaw said.

“[The players] love it,” he added. “That’s part of our recruiting trip. When student-athletes come in, one of the first places we take them is Lincoln Financial Field. It’s an important part of the recruiting process. No matter who they line up against, they can say that our building is the nicest that there is.”
It may be one of the nicest, but it’s not yet one of the fullest.

Jennifer Reardon can be reached at jennifer.reardon@temple.edu.