Vince Papale gives local players
a sneak preview

By Tom Waring
Times Staff Writer

Vince Papale recalls the exact words Dick Vermeil used to tell him he’d made a National Football League roster.
"Congratulations, old man, you’re a Philadelphia Eagle," the coach said.
Back in 1976, Papale was a part-time bartender and a substitute teacher at his alma mater, Interboro High School, in Delaware County.
At St. Joseph’s University in the mid- to late 1960s, he was a track and field star. He didn’t play football there because the school didn’t have a program.
In 1974 and ’75, he played wide receiver for the Philadelphia Bell of the World Football League.
By 1976, there was plenty of excitement in Philadelphia. The city was celebrating the nation’s bicentennial, Sylvester Stallone was starring as a Philadelphia boxer in a blockbuster movie called Rocky, and the long-suffering Eagles were hiring an exciting young coach named Dick Vermeil, who had just coached UCLA to a Rose Bowl victory over No. 1 Ohio State.
Papale, then 30 and an Eagles season ticket-holder, tried out for the team and showed Vermeil enough that he made the squad as a wide receiver and special teams player. He played three seasons for the Birds before shoulder injuries ended his career.
Today, the 59-year-old works for Sallie Mae, a leading money lender for higher education.
Soon, his story will hit the big screen. A script was written chronicling Papale’s story as the oldest rookie, excluding kickers, to make an NFL roster.
In October 2004, Disney bought the movie rights. Filming for Invincible began in Philadelphia in the spring and wrapped up last month. The movie is tentatively set to debut in September.
Since Disney announced plans for the movie, Papale has been a popular guest speaker at various functions. Last week, he addressed the Rotary Club of Frankford-Northeast Philadelphia’s weekly meeting at Torresdale-Frankford Country Club.
"I’m pretty jacked up about this whole experience," he told the crowd. "I can’t believe it’s happening."
The movie is being produced by the same people responsible for two other recent successful sports movies — The Rookie and Miracle.
Papale believes Invincible will be a success, especially in Philadelphia.
"Everybody loves an underdog," he said.
The movie stars Mark Wahlberg as Papale and Greg Kinnear as Vermeil.
Wahlberg is only about 5 feet 9 inches tall, while Papale is 6-foot-2. To make the actor look like an average-sized NFL player, movie producers hired actors who are much smaller than the characters they play.
Thus, the actor who plays 6-foot-8 wide receiver Harold Carmichael is only 6-foot-1. The actors who play hulking linemen Stan Walters and Jerry Sisemore are much smaller than the typical offensive tackles.
Nonetheless, Papale thought Wahlberg did a great job making catches during filming.
"He was incredible," the ex-pro said.
Life is good for Papale. Besides his good job and the excitement about the movie, he’s married with two young children.
In addition, he’s a five-year survivor of colorectal cancer. In commercials for Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, he encourages others to be tested.
"Forget Invincible. I was almost invisible," he said of the medical scare.
Papale, who once had a brief stint as a sports reporter for Channel 10, was accompanied to the Rotary speech by his 9-year-old son Vince. Also in attendance was Steve Ebbecke, a former Frankford High School and Villanova University star football player who was a teammate of Papale’s with the Eagles.
The crowd also included veteran high school football referee Tom McClain, who will play an official in the film.
Members of the North Catholic and Frankford football teams attended the luncheon. North coach Charlie Szydlik and players Charlie Klink, Mike O’Neill and Dan Shields were celebrating their upset victory over the Pioneers on Thanksgiving.
Frankford athletic director Jack Creighton, coach Mike Capriotti and players Angel Gonzalez, Braheem Foy, Brandon Norris, Chris Wilson and Ryan Hardy were basking in the glow of a Public League championship and a trip to the state playoffs.
Papale explained that the movie isn’t necessarily about him. It’s about any person who has a dream but faces obstacles.
The former pro football player encouraged the young people in attendance to pursue their dreams and strive to reach their potential. He told the North Catholic and Frankford players that they are winners for simply putting on the uniform.
"Victory is in the participation," he said. ••
Reporter Tom Waring can be reached at 215-354-3034 or twaring@phillynews.com