Dave Diehl '98 with Kevin Badke '98, Peter Cabo '98, and Tom Pavljasevic '98.
Darlene Diehl, Brother Rice registrar and assistant to the principal, pulled into her parking spot last Tuesday and looked up at the sign in front of the school. Above her head was a huge picture of her youngest son, Super Bowl champion and Brother Rice grad Dave Diehl ’98, holding the Super Bowl trophy in one arm and his daughter Addison in the other. Mrs. Diehl was so happy to see Dave’s great moment represented with the person he cherishes most – his little girl.
If you ask anyone who knows him well, they’ll tell you that’s what Dave Diehl is all about – family and friends. Dave celebrated his second Super Bowl success with members of his family and his good friends, who made the trip to Indianapolis to watch him compete in Super Bowl XLVI. Fellow members of the Brother Rice Class of 1998 Kevin Badke, Peter Cabo, Tom Pavljasevic, and Jack Winters were on hand to watch as Dave and his Giants teammates beat the Patriots and hoisted the Vince Lombardi trophy for another Super Bowl victory.
Kevin Badke has been friends with Dave Diehl since they were 12 years old; they were both ball boys when their older brothers played football for Rice. Their friendship remained strong through their own years at Rice where Badke, a past BR quarterback, says they forged a “unique relationship made through Rice.” Kevin has been supportive of Dave’s career, attending many of his games over the years.
Kevin’s attendance at this year’s Super Bowl was just one more opportunity to watch Diehl play. “I was just going to one of Dave’s games to see my buddy play,” said Badke. “When you care about a guy, you want to see him do well.”
Badke says Diehl has been there for his Brother Rice friends, too. Dave was supportive of Kevin when he opened his business, the Trinity Irish Pub, near the University of Virginia. Kevin is proud to have one of Dave’s jerseys hanging on the wall of the pub, and, on Sundays, Kevin says, “We’re watching while he’s playing.”
Being in the national spotlight, according to Kevin Badke, has not changed Dave Diehl at all. “He’s completely earned and deserved (his success),” says Kevin. “Yet, he’s the one who reminds us what’s important – family and friends.”
Like Dave, Kevin also holds that bond of family and friendship in high regard. Whenever he’s back in Chicago, he says, “I still go back to Rice to see Mrs. Diehl. I know I’ll be in trouble if I don’t stop in to say hello.” What a great testament to the bonds of friendship formed through Brother Rice – friendships to last a lifetime!
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