The Roberts family was closely tied to St. Francis football in the early years
Jay (40) and Justin (22) Roberts in their St. Francis days, circa 1974
… Jay, Jerry, Justin, Joe
Jay Roberts will be inducted into the St. Francis Athletics Hall of Fame Friday night, and as I wrote in the Altoona Mirror, he had been overlooked for a number of reasons for many years.
http://www.altoonamirror.com/sports/local-sports/2019/07/roberts-time-has-finally-come-earned-football-glory-the-hard-way-at-sfu/
Jay’s numbers were tremendous. In his four-year career from 1971 until 1974, he rushed for 3,824, just under 4,000. If the Red Flash had played its full nine games in his senior year — St. Vincent’s dropped football before the season started — then he might have hit the 4,000-yard mark.
Jay also started as a defensive back and did the punting and placekicking duties. He was offered a chance to compete for the World Football League after finishing his career with the Red Flash, but demurred.
In short, he had a storied career in the early years of the program under Coach Art Martynuska, but he was not the only member of the Roberts family to have made a contribution to St. Francis football.
The Roberts’
In addition to Jay’s four years as a running back, his brother Justin was a running back and defensive player for the Flash for a similar time. Brother Jerry was Art Martynuska’s right-hand man as an assistant coach and while not named as such, was the defensive coordinator for 12 years.
In addition, since the football team was not directly supported by the college after it was reinstated in 1969, it had to raise its own money, too. The lion’s share of the money the college funneled through the student government, a cumbersome and inexplicable process that was problematic.
So, Art turned to whomever he could for help.
One of those who did was Joe Roberts, the patriarch of the family who was then a Cambria County Commissioner.
Joe and his Good Fellowship dinners
Joe Roberts, as a politician, had to raise money for his campaigns, so he had a good network that helped St. Francis while his boys were playing there and Jerry was coaching from 1969 until 1981.
Joe had dinners, ox-roasts — anything that would help the team. These were run by his Good Fellowship organization, as I recall. However, the greatest effort that he made was providing a great speaker that turned into the best fundraiser for the team.
During the 1970s, the Steelers were becoming the darlings of Western Pa. One of the most popular players was a running back named Rocky Bleier.
Rocky was a native of Wisconsin who played collegiately at Notre Dame. However, after being drafted by the Steelers in 1968, he was drafted to serve in the Vietnam War. Bleier was wounded in a battle, losing part of his right foot when a grenade landed near him. He earned the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
During his service time, Steelers owner Art Rooney Sr. kept in touch with Bleier and told him that he could have a spot on the team when he returned. However, that took tremendous courage and tenacity since he had been so seriously injured.
Finally, he made the team and was able to play with Franco Harris in the backfield of the team that won four Super Bowls.
Everyone knew Rocky’s story, and Joe figured that if he could convince Rocky to show up for a dinner, that the St. Francis team could make some money. Joe convinced Congressman John Murtha, who knew Bleier, that this would be a great idea.
Indeed, it was and came to fruition. I cannot remember exactly what year it was, but Rocky spoke to a large crowd at the Stokes Building, and it raised quite a bit of money for the program.
So, Joe was a key to the early success of the team, too.
Jerry was a rock
However, the one key Roberts, the one who stayed with St. Francis for the longest time, was Jerry. I wrote about Jerry just about two years ago when he passed away suddenly.
In short, Jerry was a key member of the team as a coach. We honored Jerry a few years ago at a reunion, and he was touched.
Here is the link to Jerry’s story:
http://hughbradyconrad.blogspot.com/2017/08/rip-jerry-roberts-classy-knowledgeable.html
So, while Jay will enter the Hall of Fame, the Roberts family had a significant role in the early years of St. Francis football. Jay will accept a personal honor, but the family ties will be on his mind Friday night.
Jay’s numbers were tremendous. In his four-year career from 1971 until 1974, he rushed for 3,824, just under 4,000. If the Red Flash had played its full nine games in his senior year — St. Vincent’s dropped football before the season started — then he might have hit the 4,000-yard mark.
Jay also started as a defensive back and did the punting and placekicking duties. He was offered a chance to compete for the World Football League after finishing his career with the Red Flash, but demurred.
In short, he had a storied career in the early years of the program under Coach Art Martynuska, but he was not the only member of the Roberts family to have made a contribution to St. Francis football.
The Roberts’
In addition to Jay’s four years as a running back, his brother Justin was a running back and defensive player for the Flash for a similar time. Brother Jerry was Art Martynuska’s right-hand man as an assistant coach and while not named as such, was the defensive coordinator for 12 years.
In addition, since the football team was not directly supported by the college after it was reinstated in 1969, it had to raise its own money, too. The lion’s share of the money the college funneled through the student government, a cumbersome and inexplicable process that was problematic.
So, Art turned to whomever he could for help.
One of those who did was Joe Roberts, the patriarch of the family who was then a Cambria County Commissioner.
Joe and his Good Fellowship dinners
Joe Roberts, as a politician, had to raise money for his campaigns, so he had a good network that helped St. Francis while his boys were playing there and Jerry was coaching from 1969 until 1981.
Joe had dinners, ox-roasts — anything that would help the team. These were run by his Good Fellowship organization, as I recall. However, the greatest effort that he made was providing a great speaker that turned into the best fundraiser for the team.
During the 1970s, the Steelers were becoming the darlings of Western Pa. One of the most popular players was a running back named Rocky Bleier.
Rocky was a native of Wisconsin who played collegiately at Notre Dame. However, after being drafted by the Steelers in 1968, he was drafted to serve in the Vietnam War. Bleier was wounded in a battle, losing part of his right foot when a grenade landed near him. He earned the Bronze Star and the Purple Heart.
During his service time, Steelers owner Art Rooney Sr. kept in touch with Bleier and told him that he could have a spot on the team when he returned. However, that took tremendous courage and tenacity since he had been so seriously injured.
Finally, he made the team and was able to play with Franco Harris in the backfield of the team that won four Super Bowls.
Everyone knew Rocky’s story, and Joe figured that if he could convince Rocky to show up for a dinner, that the St. Francis team could make some money. Joe convinced Congressman John Murtha, who knew Bleier, that this would be a great idea.
Indeed, it was and came to fruition. I cannot remember exactly what year it was, but Rocky spoke to a large crowd at the Stokes Building, and it raised quite a bit of money for the program.
So, Joe was a key to the early success of the team, too.
Jerry was a rock
However, the one key Roberts, the one who stayed with St. Francis for the longest time, was Jerry. I wrote about Jerry just about two years ago when he passed away suddenly.
In short, Jerry was a key member of the team as a coach. We honored Jerry a few years ago at a reunion, and he was touched.
Here is the link to Jerry’s story:
http://hughbradyconrad.blogspot.com/2017/08/rip-jerry-roberts-classy-knowledgeable.html
So, while Jay will enter the Hall of Fame, the Roberts family had a significant role in the early years of St. Francis football. Jay will accept a personal honor, but the family ties will be on his mind Friday night.
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