Spencer Reid signs up for Temple football

For a few minutes, anyway, it was Spencer Reid's turn.

Spencer is the youngest of Andy Reid's five children. Yesterday, Spencer announced that he would fulfill his dream of playing Division I football when, in the gymnasium at Harriton High, he signed his national letter of intent to play football at Temple University.

As Spencer mushed his Reid redhead under a Temple ballcap, Andy sat on his left. His mother, Tammy, the clan's boss, sat on his right and co-signed the letter. His brothers, Garrett and Britt, looked on. Sisters Crosby and Drew Ann, pursuing their own post-high school endeavors, were out of town and unable to attend.

Head coach Matt Barr and athletic director Tom Ferguson looked on. A half-dozen teammates cheered. Otherwise, the gym was empty when he inked his intent at 3:30 p.m.

Usually, dozens of students would be in attendance to support the second college scholarship player a school has produced, but Harriton had a snow day. The gym felt cavernous, but Spencer, very comfortable in his own skin, did not mind.

"The people that are here are the people that care about me," Spencer said.

A 5-11, 205-pound running back and linebacker, Reid amassed 960 rushing yards and accounted for 15 touchdowns for the Rams, who went 3-8. He runs a 4.5-second 40-yard dash and is an accomplished blocker - attributes that could make him an instant asset on the Owls' special teams or in their backfield.

Reid transferred back to Harriton after a short stint at St. Joseph's Prep, seeking more secure playing time and, he admitted, more academic support.

Yesterday, he hardly could have had more familial support from a family whose troubles have been well-documented.

Spencer was in eighth grade when his older brothers' brushes with the law because of their connections to drugs and guns became talk-show fodder for the devout Mormon family.

"He's focused. It's school, studying, football, church for him," said Andy Reid, beaming. The other kids' issues, Andy said, "Helped him."

His big brothers could hardly be prouder.

"They've kind of been the spine to me," Spencer said.

Britt is a student assistant coach at Temple. He has 1 year remaining. New Temple coach Steve Addazio will retain him. Britt said he wants to coach as a profession.

"Continue the family tradition," he said.

Garrett is enrolled at Montgomery County Community College and is considering continuing his education at Temple.

Temple plays its home games on Saturdays at Lincoln Financial Field, home, of course, to Andy Reid's Eagles. That will make it easier for Reid to watch Spencer play - he used to have to rush home on Friday nights - and it will make it much simpler for Tammy, who, between Spencer, Britt and Andy, often watched three games per weekend.

Neither Garrett nor Britt mattered much yesterday. Neither did Tammy, or, really, Andy.

It was Spencer's day.