Q. So much has been written about Joe Banner in the last week, but no one has said much about the guy who is succeeding him as president -- Don Smolenski. I never heard of him until last week. Who is he and what does he bring to the job?
-- Carl W., Tacony
A. Don Smolenski, 45, is a very bright guy and well suited for the job of running the Eagles business side. Jeff Lurie made it clear that Smolenskis role will differ from that of Joe Banner in that Smolenski will not be involved in football matters. He wont deal with player contracts. That will be handled solely by general manager Howie Roseman.
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Smolenski is an experienced and capable businessman. He earned a masters degree in accounting from the University of Hartford and was a public accountant with the Arthur Andersen firm before taking on the duties of chief financial officer for the International Hockey League. That was his first foray into professional sports.
He joined the Eagles in 1998 as vice-president and chief financial officer. Two years later, he was promoted to senior vice-president and in 2010 he was named the clubs chief operating officer. Along the way, Smolenski earned a reputation as a guy who gets things done and doesnt seek the spotlight. He is well-liked by everyone in the building.
During the press conference, Lurie talked about seeing Smolenski working shoulder to shoulder with the clean-up crew shoveling out Lincoln Financial Field the night before the NFC Championship game against Atlanta. Lurie also talked about Smolenski having a mattress in his office because, like the coaches, he has been known to work around the clock.
An example was three years ago when the Eagles took over the City High School All-Star game, which was in financial trouble. Banner, to his credit, brought the game to the Linc and agreed to underwrite the cost. Smolenski took it from there, putting the event together and hosting a banquet at the Linc for all the coaches, players and their families. It was not an easy thing to pull off on short notice, but he did it in style.
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I doubt that Smolenski will ever have the public profile of Banner. He doesnt have that kind of role, nor does he aspire to be on stage. But he is a very capable guy. I believe he will do a good job.
E-mail Ray Didinger at viewfromthehall@comcast.net