PHILADELPHIA -- So Vince Papale, a major motion picture has been made about your life. How do you feel?

"Oh my God, what did I ever do to deserve this attention?" Papale said modestly Wednesday during a visit with Philadelphia journalists. "It's the most exciting experience you can possibly imagine."

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'Invincible' Trailer

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Papale rocketed to national attention and into Philadelphian's hearts 30 years ago in 1976 when the laid-off teacher and part-time bartender attended a rare open tryout for the Philadelphia Eagles.

New Eagles coach Dick Vermeil didn't really expect to find anyone, but did want to stir up the players so they would be hungrier for victory. But Vermeil was so impressed by Papale's speed and grace, he offered him a spot in training camp and eventually invited him to join the team -- despite the facts that Papale was 30 years old and had only played one year of high school football.

Papale's story was playing out in the same year that a similar hero scrambled to movie screens. More than one person has noticed the similarities between "Rocky" and Papale's real-life rise from the streets of South Philly to the big leagues of the NFL.

Thirty years later, Papale maintains his amazement at the twists and turns his life has taken.

"I'm deeply humbled by it all and really touched and honored," Papale said.

There was some talk of a movie back in the 70s, but it wasn't until the 25th anniversary of "Rocky" that the talk started again. When ESPN wanted to do a show to coincide with the anniversary, Papale said the NFL mentioned him as a real-life Rocky story.

An ESPN special on Papale, Vermeil and the turnaround of the Eagles aired on Nov. 27, 2002 after an Eagles-49ers game and Papale said his phone started ringing the very next day.

A spec script was developed and the producers interviewed Papale over the phone, but something wasn't right, Papale said.

It wasn't until Papale accompanied his wife Janet to California for a gymnastics convention that the film gelled after a face-to-face meeting over a meal. The writers and producers peppered him with questions and saw how animated he was. That was all they needed to finish the screenplay. In Oct. 2004, the script was put up for auction and production got under way.

Papale was involved in the movie every step of the way and said it has "great accuracy."

Papale admitted there are two incidents in the movie he wished could have been done differently, but he understands that some creative license is necessary. In fact, there were some episodes in his life that Papale said could not be used in "Invincible" or that had to be changed because they had already been portrayed in other movies -- after he had lived them.

In the movie, his buddies bug a reluctant Papale into trying out for the Eagles team. Papale said that is partly true.

"I always wanted to do it. My friends did goad me but I wanted to keep it quiet, I didn't want to be perceived as a buffoon," Papale said.

When he made the cut for training camp, Papale said he started training hard.

"I trained (on my own) religiously every day for months before training camp. … Vermeil said I was the best-conditioned athlete in the country at that time," Papale said.

Papale's teammates weren't particularly happy with the outsider in their midst, but Papale said he won them over by keeping his mouth shut and doing his job. One key play in his first home game turned the tide, when Papale forced a fumble late in the game.

And he was finally invited to his first team party, hosted by Guy Morris, and into the fraternity of professional football players.

Papale also said there was a lot more to Vermeil than many people saw.

"Oh sure, it appears that Dick Vermeil doesn't have a sense of humor, but that's as far away from the truth as you could get. He's just hilarious," Papale said.

Papale said he had a ball during the production of "Invincible" and he made some lifelong friends in Mark Wahlberg who plays Papale and Greg Kinnear who plays Vermeil.

"Wahlberg and I were slobbering all over each other. With Kinnear there was that space, but after the movie I found he was the funniest man in America," Papale gushed.

Even though he was born in Glenolden, Pa., Papale still calls himself the adopted native son of South Philly. He said he owns property there and still goes back to the old neighborhood to visit or to get a Philly cheesesteak.

Papale said that his experience with the Eagles was an exciting time in his life, but he would have been just fine if he hadn't made the team.

"It would have turned out OK. I would have gone back to get my master's degree and gone onto high school counseling, and I would have been retiring right now," Papale said.

Papale spent three years with the Eagles and since then has been a motivational speaker for education and the Sallie Mae program, and he has used his battle with colorectal cancer to find even more meaning in his life. He said he is glad it took 30 years to bring his story to the screen.

"I'm glad it took 30 years because I can share it with a lot more people (including) my children and my beautiful wife. It couldn't be a better time," Papale said.

Papale said the film also helps him get the word out about cancer, the student loan program Sallie Mae and his favorite topic -- education. In fact, he and Wahlberg have taped a public service announcement about the importance of education.

So, has Papale gone Hollywood? Not a chance, he said. He is playing a tiny role in an upcoming movie called "Daddy's Girl," but it is his kids -- ages 9 and 12 -- who have caught the showbiz bug.

"Invincible" opens nationwide on August 25.