By Harold Raker
MOUNT CARMEL -- For many athletes, what happened to Dave Shinskie three weeks ago would have been devastating.
Shinskie gave up numerous college football scholarship offers coming out of Mount Carmel in 2003, instead trying to parlay his 90-plus mile-an-hour fastball into a career as a major league pitcher for the Minnesota Twins.
The dream came to an unexpected end when the Toronto Blue Jays released the right-hander and no other organizations came calling.
"I thought I could pitch in the big leagues and I still think I can pitch in the big leagues," Shinskie said Wednesday in a telephone interview from a friend's house in Pittsburgh.
Instead, Shinskie will pursue a second dream, that of starting at quarterback for a big-time college program.
The former Red Tornadoes' three-sport star (football, basketball and baseball) made a commitment Saturday to accept a full scholarship to play quarterback for Boston College. He will compete for the starting job at age 25; a la former Florida State Heisman Trophy winner Chris Weinke, who also spent time in the Blue Jays organization.
"I am going to be a lot older than the other players," Shinskie said, but added, "I am not nervous. I am not a nervous guy, never was. I am going in with an open mind. I'm a guy that gets along with pretty much everyone, so we'll see what happens."
Shinskie, son of David and Joann Shinskie, Kulpmont, is looking forward to a new chapter in his life, but was not happy the way his baseball career ended at Class AA New Hampshire even though he had a 3.44 ERA in a dozen appearances this year.
"I was pretty mad. I wasn't happy, but stuff happens. When one door closes, another one opens. I am going to take this opportunity and try my best," he said.
He added, "I am taking what I can out of what my life has come to. I am trying to make the best of it. I wasn't mad that no teams called me back. I am glad I had this opportunity to play football again."
Shinskie, who will report to Boston later this month, has kept his football skills fresh the last several years by quarterbacking for the scout team against his alma mater's defense during practices.
His former coach, Mike Brennan, who left Mount Carmel after last season to take the same job at Blue Mountain, recalls talking to his former quarterback about the possibility of switching sports.
"The last five years or so I've seen him throw twice a week and I always told him if you're ready to make that move to football, let me know (because) I guarantee you will have people wanting you,''' Brennan said.
It was Brennan's connection to Boston College that may have helped Shinskie end up in Beantown instead of Pittsburgh, Rutgers or a few other schools interested in the quarterback's talents.
Current BC tight ends coach Dave Brock, who coached at Temple when Brennan played there, had offered Shinskie a football scholarship out of high school. Shinskie initially chose the University of Delaware before signing with Toronto.
Brennan's brother called Brock last week to let him know of Shinskie's situation and Brock called Brennan immediately.
"He said, We want to get in on this derby,' '' Brennan said.
Little wonder the Eagles were interested. Their lone experienced quarterback, Dominique Davis, decided a week ago to transfer after he was suspended for academic reasons. That left first-year BC coach Frank Spaziani without a quarterback who has ever thrown a pass in an Atlantic Coast Conference game.
Shinskie said he chose Boston College because the school offered him a full scholarship and he loved everything about the program after taking an official visit a week a go.
"They offered me a scholarship and a chance to compete right away," he said. "Coming in there right away and competing, at an academic school, and the coaches there are second to none, they are great guys (and) I just felt really comfortable up there when I took my visit and I made my mind up."
Shinskie said he doesn't really know any of his future teammates, but he did meet some of the linemen last week.
As for his chances to be the No. 1 QB in the fall, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Shinskie said, "I feel good about it. I'm an athlete and I'm always going to compete and they told me I'm going to be able to compete for the starting position and that's what I'm going to do."
Brennan has little doubt about Shinskie's chance for success. "People have had success with these types of guys. They have been humbled, they have been working hard, competing with people, traveling, and they are mature," Brennan said.
"He learned a work ethic in his baseball days and that is certainly going to help him in football," said the coach for whom Shinskie won two Class AA state championships.
"He's a different person physically. He was a very good quarterback and now he has grown into his body, his feet are significantly better and he says he throws the football better now than he did then," Brennan said.
Shinskie admitted that while he was playing professional baseball, the thought of playing college football crossed his mind.
"I loved football, but baseball was my job and my life, and I was focused on that," he said. "But you never get sick of throwing the football around and it doesn't leave your head."
Shinskie has not chosen a major but said it will involve education because he wants to become a teacher and a coach.
But, if the former Pennsylvania Associated Press Small School Player of the Year has his wish, that part of his life will be four years in the future.
