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Eagle's '76 long-shot story inspires movie
By Jim Corbett, USA TODAY
Dick Vermeil, Vince Papale and their wives had dinner recently, toasting the 30th anniversary of the improbable confluence of events that inspired the Aug. 25 Disney film Invincible.
The story of a 30-year-old long shot who caught Vermeil's eye at an open tryout for 150 dreamers transpired while Sylvester Stallone was running the streets and steps of Philadelphia. While Stallone was filming that summer of 1976, a former schoolteacher and bartender emerged as an NFL version of Rocky.
Mark Wahlberg plays Papale, who survived Vermeil's brutal first training camp. The oldest rookie to make a team in league history became a local legend and Eagles special-teams captain. A shoulder injury ended Papale's career in 1978.
Greg Kinnear plays the 40-year-old Vermeil, who spotted in the street free agent a toughness the first-year coach was looking for.
"Vince expounded on how appreciative he was for the opportunity I gave him, saying how grateful he was that the open tryout I held wasn't just a publicity stunt," Vermeil says from his Pennsylvania home. "We were rebuilding a rundown franchise that hadn't been to the playoffs in (16) years."
Papale led by fearless, high-effort example.
"Papale could run and catch the ball," Vermeil says. "He was a track man at St. Joseph's College (in Philadelphia). I loved his enthusiasm.
"They called him 'Rocky' Papale. He set the morale for our special teams.
"It's a great story."
Papale calls Vermeil a surrogate father.
"I raised a toast at dinner to Dick Vermeil," says Papale, now a motivational speaker and executive for a national financial aid company. "All I wanted was an opportunity to show what I could do against the best there was."
Papale never played college football, but he was a Philadelphia Bell receiver for two seasons before the World Football League folded in 1975.
"Fortunately, Dick Vermeil came to town and gave me the opportunity of a lifetime," Papale says. "How many coaches would give you that chance? I doubt my story could happen again, the way the (scouting) system is now."
The film should serve as inspiration for overachievers trying to make rosters this season.
"When you're a long shot, you have to do something every day to get noticed," Papale says. "Every time I caught the ball, I'd run 30 more yards downfield. That ticked off the defensive backs to no end. They thought I was showing them up. But that's what caught Vermeil's eye."
Real life threw Papale for a loss in 2001. That's when Janet Papale aired her husband out in a way that would have made Vermeil proud.
"I found out about the cancer five years ago," Papale says. "I started feeling sorry for myself. Janet said, 'You're supposed to be this courageous, tough guy. You're just a blubbering idiot. ... Be who you say you are.' She 'Dick Vermeil-ed' me. And I needed it."
Papale had 18 inches of his colon removed to prevent a recurrence.
"The day after my surgery, who do you think the first guy to call was? Dick Vermeil."
Papale forced a fumble that won a 1978 game against the Redskins. Asked about the toughest hit he ever took, he says, "I was ready to nail Cliff Branch of the Raiders on a return when Charles Phillips knocked me silly. I got right up because I didn't want anyone to think they could knock me out. But I was so disoriented I went to the wrong bench and sat down with all these blurry guys in silver and black."
Vermeil, the former Eagles, Rams and Chiefs coach, turns 70 on Oct. 30. He will savor a vintage summer 30 years ago when Papale invites him to a private screening of Invincible.
"That first training camp was as tough and brutal as they say, 13 straight days of two-a-days with guys just cutting themselves," Papale says. "I just looked at Dick Vermeil every day and said, 'I want to play for this man. He's the best motivator I ever met.'
"I love the man. He changed my life."
By Jim Corbett, USA TODAY
Dick Vermeil, Vince Papale and their wives had dinner recently, toasting the 30th anniversary of the improbable confluence of events that inspired the Aug. 25 Disney film Invincible.
The story of a 30-year-old long shot who caught Vermeil's eye at an open tryout for 150 dreamers transpired while Sylvester Stallone was running the streets and steps of Philadelphia. While Stallone was filming that summer of 1976, a former schoolteacher and bartender emerged as an NFL version of Rocky.
Mark Wahlberg plays Papale, who survived Vermeil's brutal first training camp. The oldest rookie to make a team in league history became a local legend and Eagles special-teams captain. A shoulder injury ended Papale's career in 1978.
Greg Kinnear plays the 40-year-old Vermeil, who spotted in the street free agent a toughness the first-year coach was looking for.
"Vince expounded on how appreciative he was for the opportunity I gave him, saying how grateful he was that the open tryout I held wasn't just a publicity stunt," Vermeil says from his Pennsylvania home. "We were rebuilding a rundown franchise that hadn't been to the playoffs in (16) years."
Papale led by fearless, high-effort example.
"Papale could run and catch the ball," Vermeil says. "He was a track man at St. Joseph's College (in Philadelphia). I loved his enthusiasm.
"They called him 'Rocky' Papale. He set the morale for our special teams.
"It's a great story."
Papale calls Vermeil a surrogate father.
"I raised a toast at dinner to Dick Vermeil," says Papale, now a motivational speaker and executive for a national financial aid company. "All I wanted was an opportunity to show what I could do against the best there was."
Papale never played college football, but he was a Philadelphia Bell receiver for two seasons before the World Football League folded in 1975.
"Fortunately, Dick Vermeil came to town and gave me the opportunity of a lifetime," Papale says. "How many coaches would give you that chance? I doubt my story could happen again, the way the (scouting) system is now."
The film should serve as inspiration for overachievers trying to make rosters this season.
"When you're a long shot, you have to do something every day to get noticed," Papale says. "Every time I caught the ball, I'd run 30 more yards downfield. That ticked off the defensive backs to no end. They thought I was showing them up. But that's what caught Vermeil's eye."
Real life threw Papale for a loss in 2001. That's when Janet Papale aired her husband out in a way that would have made Vermeil proud.
"I found out about the cancer five years ago," Papale says. "I started feeling sorry for myself. Janet said, 'You're supposed to be this courageous, tough guy. You're just a blubbering idiot. ... Be who you say you are.' She 'Dick Vermeil-ed' me. And I needed it."
Papale had 18 inches of his colon removed to prevent a recurrence.
"The day after my surgery, who do you think the first guy to call was? Dick Vermeil."
Papale forced a fumble that won a 1978 game against the Redskins. Asked about the toughest hit he ever took, he says, "I was ready to nail Cliff Branch of the Raiders on a return when Charles Phillips knocked me silly. I got right up because I didn't want anyone to think they could knock me out. But I was so disoriented I went to the wrong bench and sat down with all these blurry guys in silver and black."
Vermeil, the former Eagles, Rams and Chiefs coach, turns 70 on Oct. 30. He will savor a vintage summer 30 years ago when Papale invites him to a private screening of Invincible.
"That first training camp was as tough and brutal as they say, 13 straight days of two-a-days with guys just cutting themselves," Papale says. "I just looked at Dick Vermeil every day and said, 'I want to play for this man. He's the best motivator I ever met.'
"I love the man. He changed my life."
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