Temple University Athletics
Alex Derenthal: Team Leader & Humanitarian
11.26.08 | Football
Nov. 23, 2008
Complete Derenthal Feature Story in PDF Format 
by Cathy Bongiovi
Redshirt senior Alex Derenthal has been an integral part of Temple's rebuilding process over the last three seasons. A starter in a school record 45 consecutive games, the 6-4, 298-lb. center has seen it all during his five years on the North Broad Street campus.
Not bad accomplishments for someone who didn't start playing football until halfway through his freshman year of high school.
"My freshman year, I didn't make the JV baseball team," Derenthal said. "And I had nothing better to do during the spring semester than go out for the spring football team."
Instead of tagging out base runners or hitting balls out of the park, Derenthal began a love affair with a different sport, a sport that has become his passion and given him opportunities beyond his wildest dreams. Starting as a tight end, he quickly moved up and down the offensive line for Western HS. He ended his prep career as the South MVP of the Broward County All-Star Game, becoming the first offensive lineman to earn the honor.
At Temple, Derenthal has been the starting center for four consecutive seasons. As a freshman, he garnered Honorable Mention Freshman All-American from The Sporting News. As a sophomore in 2006, he received another big honor--team MVP--the first sophomore in school history to take home the honor.
"That was a giant shocker for me," he shared. "I didn't expect anything. And when I heard my name called, it was unbelievable."
And Derenthal continues to impress on and off the field. Last year the two-time team captain was named to the prestigious American Football Coaches Association Good Works Team for his community service work, and he was the recipient of the National Football Foundation's Academic Achievement Award. In May, Derenthal represented Temple at the NCAA National Student-Athlete Development Conference in Orlando, a national conference where more than 700 student-athletes openly shared ideas and while enhancing their leadership and communication skills.
"We discussed and tried to come up with ways to improve life on campus for all students," he said.
An All-MidAmerican Conference candidate, Derenthal entered his senior year listed on several national prominent watch lists, including the Rimington Trophy as the nation's best center, the Lombardi Award as the nation's best lineman, and the Wuerffel Trohpy presented to the college football player who best combines exemplary community service with athletic and academic achievement. But he remains unfazed by all of the attention.
"It feels great. I can't say that I really try to pay attention to it, because we're so busy week in and week out," he said. "I guess when friends or family bring it up, it does bring a smile to my face, because I never would have expected anything like this."
The Davie, Fla., native does admit that his school record number of starting appearances has special meaning.
"That actually means a lot to me," Derenthal said. "One thing I try to pride myself on is I really don't want to come out of a game, whether I'm hurt, or whatever the circumstance. I want to keep myself in every game."
When he's not at practice or in class, Derenthal also takes time to give back to the community. He's been involved in many activities during his tenure at Temple, including the Thanksgiving food drive, the Philadelphia Triathlon, the annual Diamond Street Clean-up, Owls for the Cure, Bring Your Child to Work Day, the Shore Tour, and visits to Children's Hospital.
"The bone marrow drive was the fondest one I've been a part of," Derenthal said, "because we had our whole entire team involved in it. We had guys on campus throughout the day recruiting people to come get their cheeks swabbed. I think it's something that will do the country a lot of good."
But with all of his hard work on the gridiron, in the classroom, and in the community, Derenthal has also had to deal with tragedy on the homefront. During his freshman year, his father James died unexpectedly from a heart attack.
"The week I went home for Spring Break, the day before I was supposed to come back, he passed away," Derenthal shared. "And we were supposed to start spring football the next day, so I missed the first week of spring ball to stay home with my family."
Derenthal wanted to stay at home longer to care for his mother Lynn and his younger brother Kurt. But he also felt pulled toward his other responsibilities.
"I felt like I needed to come back to the team, so I came back and finished out spring ball," he said. "My semester didn't really go so great. The semester after that really wasn't my greatest either, but I do believe I became a stronger person from it. It taught me to turn around."
It was a difficult loss for Derenthal who cherishes the time he spent with his father.
"I was close with my Dad. He came to all my games in high school. We'd go to the park and throw the ball around when I was a kid."
And they shared a passion for fishing, too.
"He bought me my first aluminum bass boat, and we used to go out to the Everglades fishing from time to time. It was definitely nice to spend time with him."
Derenthal believes his father has been watching over him and his family, but credits his mother as his hero.
"She had it really hard when my Dad passed away. She's been able to support both myself and my brother since then. She's always been there for us. It's funny, I did always hang out with my Dad when I was a kid, but my Mom was always the sports fan, and I think she's the one who actually turned us towards it. She's a strong person. She's helped me become the person I am today."
In turn, members of the Temple community credit Derenthal as their hero, too.
"Alex is a special young man," said head coach Al Golden. "From the time we got here, he's embraced the approach we have to the game. He's tough, and unselfish. Not only is Alex a tremendous talent on the gridiron, but more importantly, he is even a better human being. Alex's body of work speaks for itself. His involvement within the community has made a tremendous impact in the lives of many people in and around the Philadelphia area. Alex's commitment to academic excellence is only paralleled by his tireless work ethic and unquestionable desire to be the best teammate he can be on and off the field."
"The best kid you'd ever want to be around," said offensive line coach Andrew Dees. "Alex is a great student of the game--smart, great work ethic. If you're a young offensive lineman, that's who you're looking up to. He definitely leads by example, and he's very vocal. It's exciting to see that."
"Alex's just a great all-around person," said quarterback and roommate Adam DiMichele. "The things he does and the courtesy he has toward other people--he just wants to give to the community. And he's such an intelligent football player. He really makes my job easy as a quarterback. I'm just so thankful to have played with him. He's made my life that more special. If I have a child and it's a boy, I want him to be just like Alex."
"Alex exemplifies the term `student-athlete'," said former offensive coordinator George DeLeone who now coaches with the Miami Dolphins. "He stands as a throwback to a day when unselfishness, courage, personal responsibility, and loyalty were the norm in the athletic landscape. His career body of work stands for everything positive about the great game of college football, and I was blessed to have been around him."
With two games to go, Derenthal will conclude his collegiate playing career. He will graduate in December with a degree in kinesiology and hopes to continue his football career.
"I'd like to play football if that's at all possible," Derenthal said. "If not, I really want to stay around football, so I'd like to try to be a grad assistant somewhere to see if coaching is a possibility for me"
Derenthal also intends to pursue a master's degree in physical therapy.
But until then, Derenthal will continue to work hard and share lessons he's learned with his younger teammates.
"I've learned a lot about the game of football-- from defensive schemes to being able to read things pre-snap. As far as being a person, I've learned a great deal of responsibility. I've grown a lot since freshman year," Derenthal shared. "Now I tell my teammates to `Just keep digging in, even when times are tough.' Obviously the program is on the rise right now. It always hasn't been this way. If we can keep it going at the rate we're going, things will turn around."
