May 1, 2008

by Tyler Blue '08

Since they were kids, Kevin Hoyng and Matt Champa dreamed about a chance to play in the National Football League. Come Friday, that dream becomes a reality.

The former Flyer standouts have received invitations to participate in the Cleveland Browns' rookie mini-camp this weekend. The two will arrive at the team's facilities today and prepare for practice Friday morning.

"It was pretty shocking," said Champa, who earned FCS All-American recognition after catching 59 passes at tight end this past season, upon finding out about his invitation. "After I left UD, I thought my football career was done."

Unlike Champa, who wasn't actively pursuing an NFL career when a Browns scout showed interest in him last month, Hoyng had signed with Dayton-based agent Ron Todd in February in hopes of getting this opportunity.

So it was more relief than shock when the call officially came for the man who holds most of the Flyers' passing records (including career completions, yardages and touchdowns).

"I was just excited and relieved," he said. "I wanted an opportunity, and I got it."

According to Todd, the two are in for a very busy weekend. It starts tonight with meetings and a team dinner. Friday and Saturday are filled with multiple practices in the morning and evening. When they aren't practicing, they will be attending meeting after meeting.

"I told Kevin to expect the unexpected," said Todd, who has a reputation league-wide for representing prospects from smaller schools who have not received the hype and scrutiny of some other NFL hopefuls.

"As long as you are getting a little bit better each practice, you will start to separate yourself. You have to show improvement."

Hoyng, a quarterback in college, is trying to make a successful transition to the defensive side of the ball as he is projected as a free safety at the next level.

He thinks his time at quarterback will help make the switch easier.

"I think I have a pretty good understanding of free safety and defense being a quarterback," he said. "I've had to put on some weight--I'm up to 197 or 198--and coach Stanley (James Stanley, the Flyer defensive backs coach) has given me individual lessons, teaching me the footwork."

They will be competing with the Browns' drafted players, rookie free agents and others who the team invited to try out. At stake is a contract that will get them into another mini-camp in June. That one would be with the whole team.

Although it is a long, uphill journey, they are excited not only by the opportunity to compete, but with the opportunity to share the experience together.

"It will be cool to have one of my best friends there," Champa said. "I have been close to Kevin for five years now. It will be quite an experience."

"I think it's great to have someone I'm familiar with," Hoyng said. "We will push each other, relay some information... it will just be good to have someone to talk to."

It is not very often, though it is not unheard of, that Flyer football players have the opportunity to continue their careers in the pros. Recently retired head coach Mike Kelly recalls a few players in the past who received the same invitation Hoyng and Champa have.

Still, it is quite the achievement to have two players from the same recruiting class draw this much attention from the NFL.

"What it says is that we had a good year," Kelly said. "We had two young men who reached their full potential and are in the position to showcase it."

But the two hopefuls have more going for them than football ability.

"Their upside, as it's been for most Dayton Flyer student athletes, is that they are team oriented, they take ownership and are disciplined," Kelly said. "Those qualities are probably a big reason they are getting this sniff."

It was those qualities that drew Todd to Hoyng in the first place.

"When I first met Kevin, I looked into his eyes," he said. "He had the eye of the tiger. Kevin's a winner. He has what is called selective amnesia. When he makes a mistake, he lets it slide off his back. He has that `it,' and that's very hard to find."

Whatever happens over this weekend, the two of them will make sure that they give it everything they have.

"You can't ask for success," Champa said. "You can only ask for opportunities to be successful."

"I am feeling confident," Hoyng said. "I've always been confident in my abilities, and I've been working hard. I'm just going to leave it all on the field. If I go out and make plays, make a positive impact, hopefully they'll want to keep me."