I clearly remember the emotional 1988 afternoon at Camp Cochise when ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ football coach Dick Tomey stood in the middle of his team and announced that a virtually unknown walk-on linebacker, Donnie Salum, would be awarded a scholarship. Salum was an undersized linebacker whose toughness and hustle helped him become a two-year starter.
It was a good choice by Tomey; Salum went on to lead ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ with 113 tackles in 1989 and become the type of grit-and-toughness player that became a hallmark of Tomey’s UA football teams. Not only that, Salum was later the broker in the recruiting battle for tight end Rob Gronkowski 20 years later. Salum, who owned a fitness equipment business in Denver, had become close friends with Gronk’s dad, Gordy, also in the fitness equipment business.
I lost track of Salum about 10 years ago. I knew his fitness equipment business went broke after he was diagnosed with cancer in the back of his skull. He lost 80 pounds, lost his job and Tomey organized a fundraising golf event in Phoenix to help the former Wildcat linebacker with medical expenses.
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Donnie Salum, left, former ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ football coach Dick Tomey, center, and former UA teammate Tedy Bruschi met up at UA’s spring game in 2013.
Last week, while in Colorado, I was watching a Denver TV news program. When it broke for a commercial, Salum appeared on the screen. He was touting The Fitness Gallery, his sports equipment business. He owns seven locations in the Denver area. Since then, I’ve seen four or five more Fitness Gallery commercials starring the ex-Wildcat. Denver Broncos Hall of Fame running back Terrell Davis appears on screen with him, endorsing Salum’s business.
Thirty-seven years after Salum received a UA football scholarship at Camp Cochise, I again got choked up, this time watching his TV commercials. What a success story.
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