Mitch Marrow

After a Dashed Debut With the NFL, Player Turns to Acting By CHUCK SLATER Published: September 12, 1999

THIS was supposed to be the day the dream was realized. Mitch Marrow of Harrison was going to run onto the field of the New Orleans Superdome with his teammates on the Carolina Panthers, making his delayed debut in the National Football League.

Instead he will be at home, talking to his dog. And tackling a new career, acting, instead of tackling quarterbacks.

After what Marrow invested in football, it is not an easy change. Coming from the University of Pennsylvania, not known as an incubator of professional football talent, Marrow extended his undergraduate time to five years, playing the last four years, because it meant he would play more. The defensive lineman was a preseason choice for All America despite being an Ivy Leaguer in his last year, only to come down with and battle mononucleosis most of the season.

In the pros' eyes, he recouped with an outstanding performance in the predraft scouting combine (his 38 continuous repetitions in the 225-pound bench press were the most of anyone), and he was drafted in the third round by Carolina last year.