Chevalier, Jack
Philadelphia Tribune, The
06-13-2000
Howard grad builds future with Eagles: Elijah Thurmon signed as free agent
He's just a raw rookie, not even a draft choice, who possesses the size and
speed and natural skills to make the Eagles' roster some day.
But on Friday afternoon, when the Eagles rode two buses to North
Philadelphia to build a new playground, young Elijah Thurmon felt like part
of the varsity. The wide receiver from Howard University shoveled dirt and
planted flowers and assembled playground equipment right along with Donovan
McNabb, Duce Staley and Troy Vincent.
It was a sunshiny day for Thurmon, who graduated from Howard last month
with a degree in television production and did some work with children
while in college.
'We had the Metropolitan Youth Sports Program where we spoke to a lot of
school kids in Washington,' Thurmon said, 'and I did some tutoring, too.'
The 23-year-old from Severn, Md., is a brand new pro athlete, but he
realizes the value of giving back to the community. That's the mission of
Eagles Youth Partnership, the team's charitable wing, established in 1995
by owner Jeff Lurie and his wife, Christina.
Once a year, the Eagles venture into a low-income area and help construct a
playground. With some 75 players and 11 coaches, the group can accomplish
plenty in two-and-a-half hours. They spent Friday afternoon at 10th and
Arizona streets, just north of Dauphin, to transform some vacant lots into
a handsome Village Eagles Youth Park. It will have playground equipment,
outdoor sculptures, murals, a large tiled mosaic and a variety of plant
life.
In previous years, the football team helped build parks in Franklinville
(1999), South Philly (1998) and Nicetown (1997).
Thurman was an academic All-American at Howard and one of the outstanding
receivers in Division IAA football. He also served an internship at Black
Entertainment Television (BET), learning to edit film, operate mini-cams
and conduct interviews.
'I did a lot of sports and worked with Charlie Neal,' Thurmon said.
He knows Philadelphia because his mother, Elisabeth Thurmon, grew up in
Germantown. He has a younger sister, Natasha, at Morgan State. And right
now, Thurmon's football career is the family's main focus.
'I thought I might get drafted, but I was ready either way,' Thurmon said.
'The Eagles signed me as a free agent the day after the draft.'
At 6-foot-4, 207 pounds, Thurmon is one of the team's bigger receivers,
with 4.5 speed. Despite such physical gifts, the rookie ranks seventh on
the depth chart -- behind Charles Johnson, Torrance Small, Na Brown,
Dameane Douglas, Todd Pinkston and Gari Scott.
Thurmon weighs 35 more pounds than Pinkston, the second-round draft pick
from Southern Mississippi, and he's four inches taller than Scott, the
fourth-round choice from Michigan.
'Thurmon's a big, strong player,' coach Andy Reid said, 'and we're asking
him to do a lot of stuff that's new to him. They don't use our system at
Howard University. But he's coming along. You just don't see a lot of
rookies break into the lineup in the West Coast offense.'
Johnson and Small are the current starters. Brown and Douglas gained
experience last year. Pinkston and Scott are high-pick rookies. Maybe
Thurmon will be assigned to the practice squad.
'What I'm looking for,' he said, 'is some action. A chance to play.'
Thurmon caught 84 passes last year -- 'That was my uniform number,' he said
-- for 1,350 yards and eight touchdowns. He made first team all-MEAC after
a career of snagging tosses from Ted White (Kansas City Chiefs) and
6-foot-6 Bobby Townsend.
Thurmon has been assigned No. 13 by the Eagles.
'It's not unlucky,' he said. 'The number doesn't get you a job. It has
nothing to do with making the team. That depends on you.'
Article copyright Philadelphia Tribune Company, Inc.
Article copyright Philadelphia Tribune Company, Inc.
V.116
Philadelphia Tribune, The
06-13-2000
Howard grad builds future with Eagles: Elijah Thurmon signed as free agent
He's just a raw rookie, not even a draft choice, who possesses the size and
speed and natural skills to make the Eagles' roster some day.
But on Friday afternoon, when the Eagles rode two buses to North
Philadelphia to build a new playground, young Elijah Thurmon felt like part
of the varsity. The wide receiver from Howard University shoveled dirt and
planted flowers and assembled playground equipment right along with Donovan
McNabb, Duce Staley and Troy Vincent.
It was a sunshiny day for Thurmon, who graduated from Howard last month
with a degree in television production and did some work with children
while in college.
'We had the Metropolitan Youth Sports Program where we spoke to a lot of
school kids in Washington,' Thurmon said, 'and I did some tutoring, too.'
The 23-year-old from Severn, Md., is a brand new pro athlete, but he
realizes the value of giving back to the community. That's the mission of
Eagles Youth Partnership, the team's charitable wing, established in 1995
by owner Jeff Lurie and his wife, Christina.
Once a year, the Eagles venture into a low-income area and help construct a
playground. With some 75 players and 11 coaches, the group can accomplish
plenty in two-and-a-half hours. They spent Friday afternoon at 10th and
Arizona streets, just north of Dauphin, to transform some vacant lots into
a handsome Village Eagles Youth Park. It will have playground equipment,
outdoor sculptures, murals, a large tiled mosaic and a variety of plant
life.
In previous years, the football team helped build parks in Franklinville
(1999), South Philly (1998) and Nicetown (1997).
Thurman was an academic All-American at Howard and one of the outstanding
receivers in Division IAA football. He also served an internship at Black
Entertainment Television (BET), learning to edit film, operate mini-cams
and conduct interviews.
'I did a lot of sports and worked with Charlie Neal,' Thurmon said.
He knows Philadelphia because his mother, Elisabeth Thurmon, grew up in
Germantown. He has a younger sister, Natasha, at Morgan State. And right
now, Thurmon's football career is the family's main focus.
'I thought I might get drafted, but I was ready either way,' Thurmon said.
'The Eagles signed me as a free agent the day after the draft.'
At 6-foot-4, 207 pounds, Thurmon is one of the team's bigger receivers,
with 4.5 speed. Despite such physical gifts, the rookie ranks seventh on
the depth chart -- behind Charles Johnson, Torrance Small, Na Brown,
Dameane Douglas, Todd Pinkston and Gari Scott.
Thurmon weighs 35 more pounds than Pinkston, the second-round draft pick
from Southern Mississippi, and he's four inches taller than Scott, the
fourth-round choice from Michigan.
'Thurmon's a big, strong player,' coach Andy Reid said, 'and we're asking
him to do a lot of stuff that's new to him. They don't use our system at
Howard University. But he's coming along. You just don't see a lot of
rookies break into the lineup in the West Coast offense.'
Johnson and Small are the current starters. Brown and Douglas gained
experience last year. Pinkston and Scott are high-pick rookies. Maybe
Thurmon will be assigned to the practice squad.
'What I'm looking for,' he said, 'is some action. A chance to play.'
Thurmon caught 84 passes last year -- 'That was my uniform number,' he said
-- for 1,350 yards and eight touchdowns. He made first team all-MEAC after
a career of snagging tosses from Ted White (Kansas City Chiefs) and
6-foot-6 Bobby Townsend.
Thurmon has been assigned No. 13 by the Eagles.
'It's not unlucky,' he said. 'The number doesn't get you a job. It has
nothing to do with making the team. That depends on you.'
Article copyright Philadelphia Tribune Company, Inc.
Article copyright Philadelphia Tribune Company, Inc.
V.116
