The disappearing quarterback
Mike Boryla enjoying life back out of the shadows in Castle Rock.
By Shaun Kernahan; photos courtesy of Mike Boryla
With 65,000 screaming fans at the old Veterans Stadium, Mike Boryla took his place in the huddle as the quarterback for the Philadelphia Eagles. In an odd way, it was those moments that perfectly prepared Boryla for his current career as the star of a one man play – The Disappearing Quarterback: Dog Days are Over.
Boryla attended the 1970’s quarterback factory that was Stanford University, before playing parts of four seasons in the NFL. His Colorado debut of the play, recalling those days on the gridiron, was performed in November at Studio Loft at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, a venue at which he once played a Regis High School state championship basketball game.
In the 35 years between playing football to cathartically discussing it on stage, Boryla escaped the game by working as a mortgage banker and lawyer. His first attempt at law school was actually short lived, as he had registered for school at NYU, purchased the books and paid tuition when he received ‘the’ call. That call was the invite to New Orleans to represent the NFC in the Pro Bowl – a game in which he led a comeback victory.
At least seven of the theatrical plays Boryla has written were keyed into his computer right here at the local Starbucks on Castle Pines Parkway. Boryla comically admitted, “I was here all the time; I was creeping people out I was here so much.”
Signed 1975 Mike Boryla Topps football card.
One thing Boryla mentioned that was missing from his previous plays was his sense of humor. He made it a point to let his comical side shine through in this one. That sense of humor was perfectly on display the day I met him. He paused while ordering his coffee, turned to me and said, “Here is my card in case you have any other questions,” and proceeded to hand me his signed 1975 Topps football card.
Boryla is taking his play to The American University of Paris in December. In February 2020, he will be taking it back to Paris, Dublin and London, where Boryla was surprised to learn of the passion and appetite that Londoners had for American football.
After eight years in Castle Pines, the Boryla family moved to Castle Rock to be closer to Wellspring Community, an organization he could not speak more highly of. Boryla’s son has Down syndrome where he is just one of Wellspring’s many STARS – Specially Talented Adults Raising Standards.
