Brandywine

Dick Vermeil keynote speaker at Penn State Brandywine commencement

Touchdown, Penn State Brandywine class of 2010! The campus’ graduates had better get their helmets and shoulder pads ready because football legend Dick Vermeil will huddle with the accomplished Nittany Lions before sending them off into the real world as this year’s commencement speaker at 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 17, in the Commons Building Gymnasium.

Vermeil spent 15 seasons as a National Football League head coach, including seven seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles to kick off his NFL career. During those seasons, he engineered four playoff appearances, including a trip to Super Bowl XV as Champions of the NFC in 1980.

After his tenure with the Eagles, Vermeil began a 14-year broadcasting career, serving as an NFL and college football analyst for CBS and ABC. He went on to coach the St. Louis Rams, leading the team to its first Super Bowl victory after the ’99 season. Before retiring in 2005, Vermeil spent five seasons coaching the Kansas City Chiefs.

After returning home to the Philadelphia area, Vermeil has helped many worthy causes. Numerous Philadelphia-area organizations have benefited from his involvement, including the Mary Campbell Center, Elwyn Inc., Devereux, the Second Mile Center and the Boy Scouts of Chester County, whose golf tournament bearing Vermeil’s name annually earns $100,000 for the organization. He also is involved with People for People Inc., a community outreach organization founded by Reverend Herbert Lusk, a former Eagles player for Vermeil.

The Vermeils now devote much of their time to Vermeil Wines, and in particular Jean Louis Vermeil Cabernet Sauvignon, in partnership with lifelong friends at OnThEdge Winery and Frediani Vineyards in the Napa Valley, Calif.

Vermeil was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Law Degree from Chestnut Hill College, Philadelphia, in 2007.

Vermeil and his wife have three children and 11 grandchildren.

Dick Vermeil Credit: Penn StateCreative Commons

Last Updated March 21, 2011

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