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'Tru' Papa Bear: How Dave Trubisky helped Mitch become man Bears had to have
Rich Campbell
Sometime in the afternoon Aug. 10, as Soldier Field sits quiet and ready to have its first exhibition game of a new season and a new era, Mitch Trubisky's phone will ding.
He knows it's coming. He has gotten the text from his dad dozens of times.
Just do what you do.
It might sound cliche or trite, but it sparks a fire. Football has connected Dave Trubisky and his son since Mitch was old enough to pick up a ball.
"All I have to do is do what I was born to do: Play this game and have fun," Mitch says. "Getting that text from him, it means I'm ready to go. As long as I give it my all, I know he's going to be proud of me, which is the best feeling in the world."
After all these years, as Dave celebrates Father's Day as a dad for the 23rd time, he isn't quite sure if Mitch needs those words of encouragement as much as he needs to offer them.
The ritual started when Mitch was on the junior varsity at Mentor High School in this town of about 46,000 people 25 miles northeast of Cleveland. Dave had coached his oldest son from age 7 through youth league but suddenly was more detached.
"Now I'm a parent in the bleachers; it was kind of tough," Dave recalled. "That was just my way of getting him ready for the game or trying to calm him down and just keep him straight."
The texts continued through Mitch's varsity career, which included a legendary run to the 2012 state semifinal in Ohio's biggest classification and culminated with him being named Mr. Football of the state.
They continued at North Carolina, where Mitch emerged last season as one of the top college quarterbacks in the country, compelling the Bears to trade up to draft him second overall.
By now, Dave's text message to his son is so ingrained in their pregame routine that it has become superstition. On the receiving end, Mitch has a great appreciation for how his father, as well as his mother, Jeanne, helped mold him into the star college player and amiable, loyal person who arrived at Halas Hall this spring.
"One of the most real, genuine things in this world is love for your family, your parents," Mitch says. "Especially my dad, if I just give my all, knowing that it makes him proud, it just makes me want to strive for that much more. Sharing these moments and that happiness together is really special."
Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky
Photos of quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who the Bears selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft.
Pass it on
Dave Trubisky gave Mitch his first football, a small aqua-colored Dolphins ball, before Mitch could catch it consistently. Dave, now 51, was an honorable mention all-state quarterback at nearby Perry High in the early 1980s. He had an affinity for the Dolphins because of quarterbacks Bob Griese and Dan Marino.
He and Mitch would play catch in the backyard. To this day, Mitch considers himself a visual learner. As his dad preached basics, such as gripping the laces to control the ball, he absorbed what he saw.
Dave prioritized completions over mechanics, hence Mitch's ability to make the "funny-body throws" with which Bears general manager Ryan Pace became enamored.
"I just wanted to duplicate everything he was doing to get the ball to me," Mitch said. "I see him still throw the football today, he's so smooth with it."
Thinking back, maybe Mitch really was born to do this. After all, the first moments of his life did involve an audible.
The play call on Aug. 20, 1994, was, in fact, for Dave and Jeanne's firstborn to be a girl. At least that's what their doctor repeatedly indicated despite their request not to know in advance.
Kayla Rose Trubisky was scrapped in favor of Mitchell David. And from the start, he was wired to play sports.
Dave, standing 6-foot-4, had decorated careers in football, basketball and tennis that earned him a spot in Perry High's athletic Hall of Fame.
Jeanne, 47, played basketball, softball and volleyball. She's quick to take credit for the nimble footwork that helps Mitch's throwing accuracy.
Dave coached Mitch's teams through middle school, mostly as an assistant. Mitch began as a running back because he was fast, then switched to quarterback after two years.
Back then, Dave didn't emphasize winning as much as he drilled into Mitch the importance of making good decisions based on the defense.
"If a kid was out of position," Dave recalled, "Mitch would go take him by the hips and move him to the right spot. I wanted him to be a leader and do things the right way. Because if you do that, your talent will take over."
Dave coached Mitch hard, not wanting to give him preferential treatment. Kade McClure, Mitch's longtime friend who the White Sox drafted Tuesday in the sixth round of the baseball draft, played on those youth teams. His father, Brian, a quarterback the Bills drafted late in 1986, was one of the coaches.
"Mr. T and my dad had no problem letting you know you messed up when you were 10 years old, making you run a lap," McClure said with a laugh.
For as intense as Mr. T was as a youth coach, though, maintaining a healthy level of support and oversight has come easily for him.
"It was never about him reliving his glory days," Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno said. "He wasn't overbearing. He let coaches coach his kid and was never the kind to interfere. It comes from his good, laid-back nature."
In fact, it was Mitch who always dialed up the intensity of his training. He would badger his parents to get him to practice early or let him stay late for extra throwing.
"My dad was never pushing me past ridiculous limits," Mitch says. "He was always super supportive. Me doing extra work made him proud of me. That made me want it even more for him."
Mitch Trubisky
...
Rich Campbell
Sometime in the afternoon Aug. 10, as Soldier Field sits quiet and ready to have its first exhibition game of a new season and a new era, Mitch Trubisky's phone will ding.
He knows it's coming. He has gotten the text from his dad dozens of times.
Just do what you do.
It might sound cliche or trite, but it sparks a fire. Football has connected Dave Trubisky and his son since Mitch was old enough to pick up a ball.
"All I have to do is do what I was born to do: Play this game and have fun," Mitch says. "Getting that text from him, it means I'm ready to go. As long as I give it my all, I know he's going to be proud of me, which is the best feeling in the world."
After all these years, as Dave celebrates Father's Day as a dad for the 23rd time, he isn't quite sure if Mitch needs those words of encouragement as much as he needs to offer them.
The ritual started when Mitch was on the junior varsity at Mentor High School in this town of about 46,000 people 25 miles northeast of Cleveland. Dave had coached his oldest son from age 7 through youth league but suddenly was more detached.
"Now I'm a parent in the bleachers; it was kind of tough," Dave recalled. "That was just my way of getting him ready for the game or trying to calm him down and just keep him straight."
The texts continued through Mitch's varsity career, which included a legendary run to the 2012 state semifinal in Ohio's biggest classification and culminated with him being named Mr. Football of the state.
They continued at North Carolina, where Mitch emerged last season as one of the top college quarterbacks in the country, compelling the Bears to trade up to draft him second overall.
By now, Dave's text message to his son is so ingrained in their pregame routine that it has become superstition. On the receiving end, Mitch has a great appreciation for how his father, as well as his mother, Jeanne, helped mold him into the star college player and amiable, loyal person who arrived at Halas Hall this spring.
"One of the most real, genuine things in this world is love for your family, your parents," Mitch says. "Especially my dad, if I just give my all, knowing that it makes him proud, it just makes me want to strive for that much more. Sharing these moments and that happiness together is really special."
Bears quarterback Mitch Trubisky
Photos of quarterback Mitch Trubisky, who the Bears selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2017 NFL draft.
Pass it on
Dave Trubisky gave Mitch his first football, a small aqua-colored Dolphins ball, before Mitch could catch it consistently. Dave, now 51, was an honorable mention all-state quarterback at nearby Perry High in the early 1980s. He had an affinity for the Dolphins because of quarterbacks Bob Griese and Dan Marino.
He and Mitch would play catch in the backyard. To this day, Mitch considers himself a visual learner. As his dad preached basics, such as gripping the laces to control the ball, he absorbed what he saw.
Dave prioritized completions over mechanics, hence Mitch's ability to make the "funny-body throws" with which Bears general manager Ryan Pace became enamored.
"I just wanted to duplicate everything he was doing to get the ball to me," Mitch said. "I see him still throw the football today, he's so smooth with it."
Thinking back, maybe Mitch really was born to do this. After all, the first moments of his life did involve an audible.
The play call on Aug. 20, 1994, was, in fact, for Dave and Jeanne's firstborn to be a girl. At least that's what their doctor repeatedly indicated despite their request not to know in advance.
Kayla Rose Trubisky was scrapped in favor of Mitchell David. And from the start, he was wired to play sports.
Dave, standing 6-foot-4, had decorated careers in football, basketball and tennis that earned him a spot in Perry High's athletic Hall of Fame.
Jeanne, 47, played basketball, softball and volleyball. She's quick to take credit for the nimble footwork that helps Mitch's throwing accuracy.
Dave coached Mitch's teams through middle school, mostly as an assistant. Mitch began as a running back because he was fast, then switched to quarterback after two years.
Back then, Dave didn't emphasize winning as much as he drilled into Mitch the importance of making good decisions based on the defense.
"If a kid was out of position," Dave recalled, "Mitch would go take him by the hips and move him to the right spot. I wanted him to be a leader and do things the right way. Because if you do that, your talent will take over."
Dave coached Mitch hard, not wanting to give him preferential treatment. Kade McClure, Mitch's longtime friend who the White Sox drafted Tuesday in the sixth round of the baseball draft, played on those youth teams. His father, Brian, a quarterback the Bills drafted late in 1986, was one of the coaches.
"Mr. T and my dad had no problem letting you know you messed up when you were 10 years old, making you run a lap," McClure said with a laugh.
For as intense as Mr. T was as a youth coach, though, maintaining a healthy level of support and oversight has come easily for him.
"It was never about him reliving his glory days," Mentor coach Steve Trivisonno said. "He wasn't overbearing. He let coaches coach his kid and was never the kind to interfere. It comes from his good, laid-back nature."
In fact, it was Mitch who always dialed up the intensity of his training. He would badger his parents to get him to practice early or let him stay late for extra throwing.
"My dad was never pushing me past ridiculous limits," Mitch says. "He was always super supportive. Me doing extra work made him proud of me. That made me want it even more for him."
Mitch Trubisky
...
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