John Vitale (American football)
| No. 67 (Michigan) | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Detroit, Michigan, U.S. |
| Died: | July 9, 2000 (aged 34) Grosse Pointe, Michigan, U.S. |
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
| Weight: | 273 lb (124 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | De La Salle Collegiate (Warren, Michigan) |
| College: | Michigan |
| Career history | |
| |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
John Vitale (December 28, 1965 – July 9, 2000) was an
Early years
A Detroit native,[1] Vitale was born in 1965 and attended De La Salle Collegiate High School in Warren, Michigan.[2]
University of Michigan
Vitale enrolled at the
As a sophomore, Vitale was converted to the
Vitale was also known as a team leader who once showed up with a U-M winged football helmet design shaved into the side of his head. Vitale had a close relationship with his head coach, Bo Schembechler. Sportswriter Mitch Albom wrote about the following exchange between Vitale and Bo Schembechler. "You gonna work us today, Chief?" Vitale would ask. 'I'm gonna kick your butt," Schembechler would say. "Good," Vitale would answer.[8]
Professional football
Vitale was not selected in the
Later years
After his playing career ended, Vitale worked for Wolverine Human Services.[9] His final position was as the director of a community center on the east side of Detroit that was later renamed the John S. Vitale Community Center in his honor.[10]
Vitale was diagnosed with ependymoma, cancer of the spinal cord, in 1994 at age 29.[9] He married Lynn Abdelnour in 1998.[9] In 1999, he found the cancer had returned and he started aggressive chemotherapy treatments. When his father told him that the cancer had spread to his brain, Vitale said, "Well, this sucks." According to sports columnist Mitch Albom, "those were the only negative words anyone heard him say."[8] He died at age 34 in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.[9]
References
- ^ "John Vitale, Center". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
- ^ a b "All-Time Football Roster Database". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
- ^ "1985 Michigan Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
- ^ "1986 Michigan Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
- ^ "1987 Michigan Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
- ^ "1988 Michigan Football Team". University of Michigan, Bentley Historical Library. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
- ^ "2014 NCAA Football Records: Consensus All-America Selections" (PDF). National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). 2014. p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 26, 2018. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
- ^ a b Mitch Albom (July 13, 2000). "Vitale's Lesson: Never Waste A Moment Of Life". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on April 11, 2015. Retrieved April 6, 2015.
- ^ a b c d e f "John Vitale". Toledo Blade. July 13, 2000. p. B4.
- ^ "Michigan Football Teams With Wolverine Human Services, Inc. to Remember John Vitale". MGoBlue.com. University of Michigan. July 20, 2000. Retrieved April 6, 2015.