[Sly Fox]

St. Francis University
Loretto, Pennsylvania

Established in 1847
Private University
Undergraduate Enrollment: 2000
Postgrad Enrollment: 600
Religious Affiliation: Catholic
Athletic Affiliation: Northeast Conference (NEC)
Nickname: Red Flash
Notable Alumnus: Charles Schwab



SFU Official Football Site




Chris Villarrial
1st Season as St. Francis Head Coach

Villarrial deserving of shot to save SFU football
Commentary

By Nate Foreman,sports@altoonamirror.com
POSTED: December 22, 2009



St. Francis University has a good reason to be optimistic.

The athletic department hired a very qualified individual to take over a football program that flat out stinks.

Chris Villarrial - an 11-year NFL veteran - replaces Dave Opfar after one year as his offensive coordinator.

The Red Flash saw improvement with Villarrial in charge of the offense, and there's no reason to think he won't do a better job having the entire team under his control.

But this is St. Francis we're talking about - a school built around education, not football.

An enrollment of 1,500 undergraduate students. A small Division I-AA - I mean FCS - program with no tradition. No winning history whatsoever. In the middle of nowhere. A life-size snow globe in the winter months.

Who could possibly want to play football there? Unless, of course, you are already from Cambria or Blair County and have dealt with the area your entire life.

It's just not ideal with options like Penn State, Pitt, IUP, and Cal Pa. all within 100 miles.

Those are just a few of the reasons why Villarrial will have a difficult time, not only with recruiting, but with winning.

It's not his fault. It's not any other coach's fault. It's not the university's fault. It's just what everyone has to deal with having a Division 1 program in Loretto, Pennsylvania.

Speaking with Villarrial - he is truly a character. He isn't a man who makes you lose interest when he speaks. He looks you in the eye, yet he can keep the mood light and rattle off a joke or two to make you smile.

And with his experience and credentials, there's no doubt that what he brings to the table is something the Red Flash can certainly build on.

Click Here for Full Story


2009 Results (2-9)

• 09/05 - @ #8 New Hampshire ........ L 14-24
  09/12 - MOREHEAD STATE .......... W 31-0
  09/19 - @ #3 Northern Iowa ......... L 0-30
  09/26 - @ Wagner* ................... L 48-56 (3OT)
  10/03 - ALBANY* ...................... L 6-27
  10/10 - @ Sacred Heart* ............. L 7-29
  10/17 - @ Robert Morris* ............ L 0-28
  10/24 - DUQUESNE* .................. W 31-14
  11/07 - MONMOUTH* ................. L 10-24
  11/14 - @ Bryant ...................... L 12-35
  11/21 - CCSU* ......................... L 13-14

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[jcmanson]

Gettin started early huh?

[Keenan]

Gettin started early huh?

Love it! Spent this past weekend figuring out my work schedule for 2010 to see which games I'm going to be able to attend! I work every third Saturday. Needless to say, Sept. 4th can't get here soon enough!

[Sly Fox]

No reason to dilly-daddle around. Saw that story on St. Francis and felt inspired to start thinking 2010 even before the New Year.

[Cider Jim]

Sly, while you're at it, why not start a separate thread about the SPRING GAME?

[LUnpretty11]

Good point about the Spring Game there CJ....

It seriously felt like I was watching a high school football "highlight"... There were only 3 places that I played in that had the same crappy stands/scoreboard in high school. Every other team I played was a better conditioned field. How do the players have motivation to do well?? Positive note for their team is they didn't get eye bogglingly crushed by anyone on that schedule... and by that I mean 50+ points.

[Sly Fox]

As soon as we have details about the spring schedule including the game, I will be glad to post it. This is all I have to hold me over through a Texan winter right now.

[Chris Lang]

The spring game will be held some time during the month of April.

[SuperJon]

Ok, I have no inside knowledge, but let's use to precedent set the past four years:

Spring ball starts the week after Spring Break.

The spring game has been the third weekend in April, the week before the draft, the past two years.

I'm guessing it's that weekend (April 17) again. If not, it'll be April 24.

The spring semester follows the same pattern every year: Basketball season goes right into spring break which goes right into spring ball which goes into the spring game and then a week later we have exams and then we go home for summer.

[Cider Jim]

Okay, Sly, let's get this April 17th Spring Game thread going! (We can always change the date if we have to). But let's get the talk going about the players, the tailgating menu, the possible transfers who will be in attendance, what the stadium will look like during construction, etc.

[RJ]

They do seem to lack size and strength. Horrible FCS stadium. Maybe the worst I've seen. They will probably be somewhat intimidated by our crowd and stadium. (How often do you get to say that?)

[TDDance234]

They do seem to lack size and strength. Horrible FCS stadium. Maybe the worst I've seen. They will probably be somewhat intimidated by our crowd and stadium. (How often do you get to say that?)

You haven't been paying much attention lately, have you?

[ToTheLeft]

I think RJ has been paying attention. I think there's some literal meaning to that statement, rather than sarcasm.

[BJWilliams]

Oh yeah...the students have proven very good at getting inside the heads of the opposing team.

[Sly Fox]

I'm with you, RJ. Although the D2s and Chuck Souths of the world aren't much ahead of St. Francis in terms of crowds & stadiums.

[From the class of 09]

I don’t know if any of the other local’s listened this morning but Rocco was on 105.9 talking about spring practice and the upcoming season. He sounded good and gave the typical expecting big things out of this bunch, speech. He also mentioned how he was excited that this years BS champ gets an automatic bid to the FCS playoffs, just giving LU a bit more to play for. Rocco did say that this team would easily be his most athletic he has had at LU (hence the 3-3-5 look on D). He said now the coaches are jumping into spring recruiting mode now that spring practice is over.

Nothing ground breaking here but still good to hear positive stuff from the head coach.

[Sly Fox]

Thanks for the report ... just 134 days until kickoff.

[kuntryboimike]

ill be home from iraq in roughly 100 days!!! you better believe ill be at that game!!! CANT WAIT!!! GOOOO FLAMES! by the way! i met a sgt thats also a student at liberty the other day while working. it was really cool to meet another deployed soldier who attends/loves liberty!!!

[Sly Fox]

Love hearing how LU is represented in that theater. I'm jealous that you'll be at the opener while I watch from Texas.

[SumItUp]

Love hearing how LU is represented in that theater. I'm jealous that you'll be at the opener while I watch from Texas.

There is plenty of time to plan a trip.

[Sly Fox]

We have homecoming penciled in & I'm calling in one of my markers now to South Padre on Thanksgiving weekend. So I believe my paternal capital may be all spent for the remainder of the year.

[Sly Fox]

Lewis & Parker Named To CDS Preseason FCS All-American Team



LORETTO, Pa. (June 5, 2010) - Saint Francis football players Scott Lewis (South Fork, Pa./Bishop McCort) and Matthew Parker (Darlington, Pa./Blackhawk) were named to the 2010 Consensus Draft Services (CDS) Preseason Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) All-American team as Honorable Mentions, as announced by CDS early Saturday morning.

Click Here for Full Story

[Sly Fox]

Then and Now: Former Buffalo Bill Chris Villarrial

In the world of sports, many athletes come and go; few get their name etched in big trophies, while many fall unnoticed. Although Chris Villarrial may not have a Super Bowl ring, he has many reasons to stand tall from the career he has had.

Before Villarrial became a pro football player, he played his high school ball at Hershey and then went on to Division II Indiana University of Pennsylvania.

Click Here for Full Story

And of course there is this if you want to humor an Old Hag.

[Cider Jim]

http://www.wordtotheword.com/

[Sly Fox]

Gracias, CJ. The headline for the St. Francis story may be one of my favorites of all time.