woodbuck27
07-18-2006, 07:20 AM
Former NFL lineman finds a higher calling
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
BY MARK JAFFEE
2006 - Republican-American
A Super Bowl XXVII championship ring as a member of the 1992 Dallas Cowboys is Alan Veingrad's most memorable keepsake.
A close second is a Rolex watch presented by Emmitt Smith in appreciation for helping to keep Smith upright during his path toward the 1991 National Football League rushing title and league MVP.
Those two mementos are accessories to Veingrad's special occasion wardrobe these days. More than a decade after wrapping up his career that began as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers in 1986, Veingrad is proud of his sports roots.
"I wear the Super Bowl ring and Rolex on special occasions and people want to look so closely and read everything inscribed on them," he noted.
That includes a thank-you message from Smith.
But that part of his life is over. His 86 games as a professional athlete were just a small part of the man and father he is and the one he can become.
His everyday routine is vastly different -- consumed with a prayer book, a yarmulke, a head covering, and Tallis, a prayer shawel, customary Orthodox Jewish attire.
A secular Jew in his youth, Veingrad is now an Orthodox Jew, which means he is constantly studying, praying and asking questions about his faith.
"I wanted to elevate myself
See FAITH, Page 6C
and I finally dialed in on it," he said.
Life without sports is Veingrad's calling now. A motivational speaker, he travels to national and local Jewish organizations, spreading his knowledge. Veingrad will be at the Liorah Greenberg Community Jewish Center in Litchfield on Friday night and Saturday morning and at a breakfast Sunday at the Dolce Heritage to share his views of sports and religion.
"This is another step in this tremendous journey of life," said Veingrad, 42. "I go to shul, celebrate the Sabbath and am kosher 100 percent."
To those people, including rabbis, who ask whether he wishes he had found his calling earlier in life, before the NFL, Veingrad responded that it was just part of the life process.
"Actually, I didn't consider myself a very good high school player and being from South Florida, I had to go to East Texas State (now known as Texas A&M-Commerce) in order to get a scholarship. I couldn't imagine myself as a pro."
But after three college seasons, Veingrad grew to 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, and his future became clearer.
"One of my coaches, Boley C.W. Crawford, called me into his office and asked me what my goals were," said Veingrad. "I told him that I wanted to be captain and all-conference. He responded by saying that I should consider pro football."
Veingrad left the office stunned.
"My whole life changed from that moment on," he said. "I ate, slept and trained football."
But a year later, he was stunned again as he watched the 1985 NFL draft. Veingrad's name was never called.
"From what the scouts were telling me, I thought I would be in the third or fourth round, maybe the fifth," said Veingrad. "My phone kept ringing from family and friends, and I kept saying, 'No. No. No.'"
Finally, after 1 a.m., the Tampa Bay Buccaneers called and gave him the opportunity to sign a free-agent contract. Ten days later, he was released. The Houston Oilers then picked him up, only to cut him three weeks later.
Veingrad missed the 1985 NFL season, but returned to college to finish his degree and even coached the offensive line.
A year later, Green Bay called. In the Packers' training camp, Veingrad got some advice from veteran lineman Mike Obravic.
"He taught me four or five techniques that made a difference," he said. "I learned that you better ask questions or you will get pounded every day."
Obravic ended up retiring later in training camp and Veingrad wound up earning the starting spot at right tackle, ahead of former No. 1 pick Tony Mandarich.
After six seasons, including the Super Bowl in 1992, football was out of his system. Veingrad retired, opting for his religious faith to carry him on.
"It was a very difficult change and transition, but I like exciting and new things," he said. "I know people are generally not comfortable with change. I am not asking people to follow my way, but I do ask them to challenge themselves and grow as a person."
The father of two girls and a boy, he believes that football taught him plenty of life's lessons, which also apply to his religion.
"In football, I learned about dedication, work ethic, being a team player and thinking about other people," he said. "The last thing football taught me is about change. Teams are always changing your technique or strategy, so you don't become stale and mundane.
"It is the same with any career. You always need to study up on your products and keep up with the times," he said. "I love football, but now, my life is even better because I am able to reach out and help somebody else."
With violence flaring around the world, especially in the Middle East, Veingrad would like to see everyone have a peaceful existence and continue to educate about religious questions people may have.
"When I was in college in Texas, I was the only Jew on the team and the only one in the school and my teammates would always ask me questions about the High Holy days: Why do we fast on Yom Kippur? Why does Hannukah last eight days?
"I would call home and my family didn't have the answers, either," he said.
That made Veingrad determined to explore his faith further and ask those questions of those people who did know.
"When I was in the NFL, players would ask me why is education so important to Jewish people," he recalled.
Veingrad's response was simple. "Children are taught the value of a dollar and to have a (meaningful) career," he said. "Jewish people are always positive and see the glass as half-full and not as half-empty."
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
BY MARK JAFFEE
2006 - Republican-American
A Super Bowl XXVII championship ring as a member of the 1992 Dallas Cowboys is Alan Veingrad's most memorable keepsake.
A close second is a Rolex watch presented by Emmitt Smith in appreciation for helping to keep Smith upright during his path toward the 1991 National Football League rushing title and league MVP.
Those two mementos are accessories to Veingrad's special occasion wardrobe these days. More than a decade after wrapping up his career that began as an undrafted free agent with the Green Bay Packers in 1986, Veingrad is proud of his sports roots.
"I wear the Super Bowl ring and Rolex on special occasions and people want to look so closely and read everything inscribed on them," he noted.
That includes a thank-you message from Smith.
But that part of his life is over. His 86 games as a professional athlete were just a small part of the man and father he is and the one he can become.
His everyday routine is vastly different -- consumed with a prayer book, a yarmulke, a head covering, and Tallis, a prayer shawel, customary Orthodox Jewish attire.
A secular Jew in his youth, Veingrad is now an Orthodox Jew, which means he is constantly studying, praying and asking questions about his faith.
"I wanted to elevate myself
See FAITH, Page 6C
and I finally dialed in on it," he said.
Life without sports is Veingrad's calling now. A motivational speaker, he travels to national and local Jewish organizations, spreading his knowledge. Veingrad will be at the Liorah Greenberg Community Jewish Center in Litchfield on Friday night and Saturday morning and at a breakfast Sunday at the Dolce Heritage to share his views of sports and religion.
"This is another step in this tremendous journey of life," said Veingrad, 42. "I go to shul, celebrate the Sabbath and am kosher 100 percent."
To those people, including rabbis, who ask whether he wishes he had found his calling earlier in life, before the NFL, Veingrad responded that it was just part of the life process.
"Actually, I didn't consider myself a very good high school player and being from South Florida, I had to go to East Texas State (now known as Texas A&M-Commerce) in order to get a scholarship. I couldn't imagine myself as a pro."
But after three college seasons, Veingrad grew to 6-foot-5, 240 pounds, and his future became clearer.
"One of my coaches, Boley C.W. Crawford, called me into his office and asked me what my goals were," said Veingrad. "I told him that I wanted to be captain and all-conference. He responded by saying that I should consider pro football."
Veingrad left the office stunned.
"My whole life changed from that moment on," he said. "I ate, slept and trained football."
But a year later, he was stunned again as he watched the 1985 NFL draft. Veingrad's name was never called.
"From what the scouts were telling me, I thought I would be in the third or fourth round, maybe the fifth," said Veingrad. "My phone kept ringing from family and friends, and I kept saying, 'No. No. No.'"
Finally, after 1 a.m., the Tampa Bay Buccaneers called and gave him the opportunity to sign a free-agent contract. Ten days later, he was released. The Houston Oilers then picked him up, only to cut him three weeks later.
Veingrad missed the 1985 NFL season, but returned to college to finish his degree and even coached the offensive line.
A year later, Green Bay called. In the Packers' training camp, Veingrad got some advice from veteran lineman Mike Obravic.
"He taught me four or five techniques that made a difference," he said. "I learned that you better ask questions or you will get pounded every day."
Obravic ended up retiring later in training camp and Veingrad wound up earning the starting spot at right tackle, ahead of former No. 1 pick Tony Mandarich.
After six seasons, including the Super Bowl in 1992, football was out of his system. Veingrad retired, opting for his religious faith to carry him on.
"It was a very difficult change and transition, but I like exciting and new things," he said. "I know people are generally not comfortable with change. I am not asking people to follow my way, but I do ask them to challenge themselves and grow as a person."
The father of two girls and a boy, he believes that football taught him plenty of life's lessons, which also apply to his religion.
"In football, I learned about dedication, work ethic, being a team player and thinking about other people," he said. "The last thing football taught me is about change. Teams are always changing your technique or strategy, so you don't become stale and mundane.
"It is the same with any career. You always need to study up on your products and keep up with the times," he said. "I love football, but now, my life is even better because I am able to reach out and help somebody else."
With violence flaring around the world, especially in the Middle East, Veingrad would like to see everyone have a peaceful existence and continue to educate about religious questions people may have.
"When I was in college in Texas, I was the only Jew on the team and the only one in the school and my teammates would always ask me questions about the High Holy days: Why do we fast on Yom Kippur? Why does Hannukah last eight days?
"I would call home and my family didn't have the answers, either," he said.
That made Veingrad determined to explore his faith further and ask those questions of those people who did know.
"When I was in the NFL, players would ask me why is education so important to Jewish people," he recalled.
Veingrad's response was simple. "Children are taught the value of a dollar and to have a (meaningful) career," he said. "Jewish people are always positive and see the glass as half-full and not as half-empty."