Two weeks ago, TTN published a letter to the editor criticizing the football team‘s off-field actions. Here’s starting QB Adam DiMichele’s response — unedited — for your enjoyment.
No matter what you say about the team’s performance on the field — it takes a true leader like DiMichele, shown here in a game at Penn State last year, to unselfishly stand up for his teammates.
Josh,
Alright man, my names Adam and im actually the quarterback of the Football team here at Temple and i got the chance to read your letter to the editor in the Temple Newspaper. First off, we do appreciate your support at the Navy game and throughout the years but i dont agree w/ everything you wrote in your article. Its obvious that we have 105-115 guys on the team here and things can get a little hectic sometimes on and off the field. i agree, in the cafe and at the sac guys can get obnoxious w/ their loud talk, cutting lines, etc. Its not everyone, theirs freshman and 1st year players out there that are only 17 and 18 years old, i personally dont know you, but im sure you have cut line, said the wrong thing, or been crazy sometimes. Its natural. I dont know if your saying this is an everyday occurence or whatnot, but you dont understand that its a problem thats trying to be fixed. Something you did not know, we get numerous emails from people on campus that applaud the way we have been acting since Coach Golden and his staff have arrived. NUMEROUS!!! Letters from professors, alumni, other students, and also cafeteria workers. We are trying to change, we have been chaging, and to read something like that, in a way you made it out like we are the worst people/athletes around! You went into great detail about how BAD we played, and how we dont and cant win! The part about being arrogant you wrote is also partly true. We have players that think their untouchable, but you dont understand, 3/4 of those players are now gone! Not with the program anymore. “holler at the shorties” come on man, that wasnt needed either! It happens, girls holler at us, we holler at them!! I dont quite understand what truly got you to write what you wrote though w/o quite having all the facts. I was thinking about writing to you or just letting it go, but i just wanted you to know that things ARE changing. Our culture has changed, our appearance on and off the field is changing, and we feel confident that the good that we continue to do off the field will help us as men in the long run. Theirs things that you dont know about the Temple Football program. Everyone talks about how bad we are, and what a bunch of thugs/losers/ or whatever people say about us. I just would like to see someone do what we do! Be a D1 college student/athlete. You do know we go to class too! NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO MISS CLASS!! When the normal student wakes up late and decides he dont want to go to class, he doesnt have to, whos going to stop him? But with us, you miss class, YOU MAY BE HEADING HOME! EVERYDAY, 6am to 6 or 7pm! Study halls, community service (done way more of that than the average person knows), weight training, film work, class, homework, studying. I know people say we are on scholarship and things are easier for us. But i challenge someone to try and follow me (or a teammate of mine) for the day!! See what we do each and everyday to prepare for both football and class! Its not easy!! If you would like to try it, a tuesday or wednesday would be great for you to come check things out…. Believe me. Honestly im not mad about what you wrote, but i am a little bit frusturated. Its not everyone, it may be a small group that do ruin it for the rest of us, and that will change. Now you know who i am on here, so if things continue, juss send me a message and ill talk to the guys about it. Simple as that. Take care man, and your support is appreciated.
Adam
