Spencer Prescott Fundraiser Is Saturday

Over the past 25 years, it could be argued, nobody has had a greater impact on Temple football than Spencer Prescott, who recruited so many players as an assistant coach for Bruce Arians, Jerry Berndt, and Bobby Wallace. Now comes the chance for so many to pay him back.

Over the past 25 years, it could be argued, nobody has had a greater impact on Temple football than Spencer Prescott.

Prescott, who needs a kidney transplant, could aptly be called the Owls’ number one salesman. As an assistant coach for Bruce Arians and Jerry Berndt and Bobby Wallace, he recruited enough players to fill the 85-scholarship limit, probably two times over.

Prescott is the common thread from the football team’s years as an independent to its life in the Big East to its move to the MAC. Over the past 25 years, every Temple team except for 1997 and 1998 featured at least one player recruited by Prescott.

From Paul Palmer to Erick Warren to Lawrence Wade to current team members Dominique Harris and Devin Tyler, the first contact for so many Owls was the guy they call Spence.

Nearly 200 of his former recruits, now friends, and coaching colleagues will be in Philadelphia on Saturday night for a fundraiser organized by Nick Rapone, who enjoyed two coaching stints alongside Prescott on North Broad Street, not to mention a few years they spent together at UConn.

Rapone first learned of his friend’s condition at the AFCA Convention in January. Though he talks to him every week, Prescott had not told Rapone that his long battle with diabetes had taken a turn for the worse.

“He was at the convention working a booth, and he didn’t look good,” Rapone explained this week. “I didn’t really get to see him much because I happened to be interviewing guys for a couple jobs at Delaware (where Rapone is the defensive coordinator). But people that saw him said he didn’t look good.”

When they talked the following week, Prescott told Rapone that he was going to see a doctor. The doctor said he needed the transplant.

Soon after, Prescott became unable to work. Rapone went to see him this spring.

“I asked him, ‘How are doing?’” Rapone recalled. “I knew he was in a rough spot financially, with medical bills, not being able to work. I told him I wanted to help. He said, ‘No.’ He’s a very prideful man. And I said. ‘No, no, no. Spence, everyone needs help.’ And he proceeded to tell me the story of where he was financially.”

After speaking with Prescott, Rapone called some of his old friends from Temple, including Sheldon Morris, Dave Cartularo, and Barry Berkowitz. They formed a committee and started planning the fundraiser.

Then came the next round of calls to former Temple coaching colleagues, many of them now scattered around the NFL – from Bruce Arians, Amos Jones, and John Mitchell with the Steelers to Clyde Christensen with the Colts, and John Latina at Notre Dame.

“They’re all coming in,” Rapone said.

Most of them are coming with autographed memorabilia that will be available for auction on Saturday night. The full list of auction items is available on the fundraiser’s website: Spencer Prescott Fundraiser

Of course, the players will be there, too. From the big names like Raheem Brock and John Rienstra to guys like Warren.

“Erick said, ‘Coach, I wouldn’t miss it for the world,’” Rapone said. “Wally Chambers (former NFL star and Temple assistant coach) is driving 13 hours. Rienstra called me and said he was flying in from Colorado on Saturday, he’s landing at 4 and he wanted to know if he would be there on time. He’s coming in for one day.”

Papa Owl Wayne Hardin will be there, too.

Aside from the nearly 200 attendees, Rapone said 125 others who can’t attend have made donations to the cause.

“It’s a sign of respect for a unique individual, a man who stands for everything that’s right,” Rapone said.

Prescott, a lights-out recruiter, would have to be impressed with the recruiting job that Rapone and the committee have done for this event.

“What made him a great recruiter is the same thing that makes him a great person,” Rapone said. “He’s honest and of the highest integrity. He relayed that to the kids he recruited and to the guys he coached.”

Harris, the last link to Prescott’s Temple recruiting legacy, offered a story similar to so many others who’ve donned the Cherry and White over the past 25 years.

“He impressed me,” Harris said of his first contact with Prescott. “He told me about the school. He looked at me, obviously, and liked what I had to offer. He showed interest in me and gave me a chance.”

Now comes the chance for so many to pay him back.