As a football coach, Father Jonas McCarthy, TOR, asked God for a favor — a fumble — and because his prayer was answered, the St. Francis Red Flash defeated Duquesne
Father Jones McCarthy, TOR
[Reposted from hughbradyconrad blog]
As a football coach, Father Jonas McCarthy, TOR, asked God for a favor — a fumble —
After about a quarter-century of coaching, people can remember many events that were special and people who were memorable. That was the case with Father Jonas McCarthy, TOR, with whom I coached at St. Francis College/University for five years during the 1970s.
Father Jonas was a unique individual, and at the 50th anniversary of the modern era of St. Francis football last weekend, his name was on the lips of many former players.
However, the one event that took place that so many recall was a victory in 1976. At the time, the Red Flash were playing their home games at the stadium at Portage High School.
And the opponent was the nefarious Duquesne Dukes.
I say “nefarious” because that was the way that Father Jonas regarded the Duquesne football team. Father was a native of Pittsburgh who had played in the Pittsburgh Catholic High School League.
One of his opponents in those years was a young man by the name of Dan McCann, who was then the coach of the Dukes.
To Father Jonas, there was no more nefarious man in sports — or in the world — than Dan McCann, whom he sometimes referred to as “Dirty Dan.” He often accused him of cheating, of skirting the rules when it came to eligibility of his players.
At the time, both Duquesne and St. Francis, along with schools that had Div. I basketball like Georgetown, Niagara, Dayton, and others, we’re not permitted in NCAA Div. III. That changed when the NCAA broke college athletics into Divisions I, II, and III. Div. III was a non-scholarship area, and St. Francis football was non-scholarship while their basketball was scholarship. St. Francis did not become Div. III until 1978.
So, the regulations of football at that time were very loose, to say the least, and according to Father Jonas, Coach McCann took advantage of that.
In this game, which took place in September, 1976, the Dukes charged out to an early lead. The Red Flash had not been very successful in the series to that point — or subsequently. But in this game, Jonas — and the rest of us coaches — felt that we had a chance to win.
What ignited the comeback was an interception that had been returned for a touchdown to narrow the lead to 16-7.
At that point, Father asked for some divine intervention to stop these nefarious fellow-Catholics from Pittsburgh.
Calling plays from the top of the press box
In Portage, the stadium had a press box, and above it, was the roof where Father and I would go every week to call down plays and give advice to the other coaches.
The roof was probably not the safest place to be in the stadium, which we loved overall. And believe me, it was cold in the later games in October and November.
However, for me, it was the best place to call offensive plays. You would see the game so much better up there, and Jonas would call down defensive ideas to Jerry Roberts, who called the defensive signals.
Jonas would also talk to the linemen whom he thought were slacking off during the game, which amused me. He was a soft-talking, gregarious, verbose guy, but he seldom lost his Irish temper.
The prayer
However, on this day, after we had scored a TD to claw our way back into the game, Jonas realized that we really needed another TD.
This is an absolutely true story, and I was the only one up on that roof to verify that it took place. Believe me, for a person who still questioned the value of prayer, it was an impressive moment.
Father cast his eyes up toward the heavens, took a deep breath, and said in a reverent voice, “Big guy, I don’t ask for many favors, but we really need a fumble.”
Internally, I chuckled a little. What was the chance that this “Hail Mary” would be answered.
On the subsequent kickoff, our kickoff team forced a fumble, and we recovered.
After jumping up and down with excitement and calling the next offensive play, I looked at Father in amazement.
He just shrugged his shoulders, smiled in his humble, laconic way, and said, “Sometimes, he comes through. You just have to ask.”
We talked about that for years, and when Art Martynuska, who was the head coach and best friend of Jonas’ during those eight years that he coached, learned about it, he was also amazed.
At first, Art did not believe it, just thought that I was joking. However, I always knew that h knew that it was true.
When Jonas confirmed it, that was one of their favorite stories that they discussed in Jonas’ favorite hangout, Tookie’s in Lilly, just down the street from Art’s store on Cleveland Street. Jonas fell in love with Tookie’s pizza, and he and Art shared a beer and a pie at least once a week.
I struggled with the rationale for prayer throughout my life, but that was one of the times that I realized that it could work. My prayers today are more conversations with Jesus than actual prayers, but the connection with God that Jonas had was impressive.
The actual play
Last weekend, I discussed the play in detail with the two major players in it. Joe Sheehan, a lineman who played at Cambria Heights High School and who forced the fumble, and defensive back/linebacker Mike Lozupone who played high school ball in New Jersey, who recovered it.
We quickly took the ball in for a score with Sean Donoghue catching a pass for a TD.
Joe, who now lives in New Castle, Pa., recalled it, but not with the detail that Mike did.
What all remembered was that it spurred us on to a 26-16 victory — and Jonas’ prayer was a key to that win.
That was a win — and a story — for the ages.
Jonas' passing
Father Jonas was a unique individual, and at the 50th anniversary of the modern era of St. Francis football last weekend, his name was on the lips of many former players.
However, the one event that took place that so many recall was a victory in 1976. At the time, the Red Flash were playing their home games at the stadium at Portage High School.
And the opponent was the nefarious Duquesne Dukes.
I say “nefarious” because that was the way that Father Jonas regarded the Duquesne football team. Father was a native of Pittsburgh who had played in the Pittsburgh Catholic High School League.
One of his opponents in those years was a young man by the name of Dan McCann, who was then the coach of the Dukes.
To Father Jonas, there was no more nefarious man in sports — or in the world — than Dan McCann, whom he sometimes referred to as “Dirty Dan.” He often accused him of cheating, of skirting the rules when it came to eligibility of his players.
At the time, both Duquesne and St. Francis, along with schools that had Div. I basketball like Georgetown, Niagara, Dayton, and others, we’re not permitted in NCAA Div. III. That changed when the NCAA broke college athletics into Divisions I, II, and III. Div. III was a non-scholarship area, and St. Francis football was non-scholarship while their basketball was scholarship. St. Francis did not become Div. III until 1978.
So, the regulations of football at that time were very loose, to say the least, and according to Father Jonas, Coach McCann took advantage of that.
In this game, which took place in September, 1976, the Dukes charged out to an early lead. The Red Flash had not been very successful in the series to that point — or subsequently. But in this game, Jonas — and the rest of us coaches — felt that we had a chance to win.
What ignited the comeback was an interception that had been returned for a touchdown to narrow the lead to 16-7.
At that point, Father asked for some divine intervention to stop these nefarious fellow-Catholics from Pittsburgh.
Calling plays from the top of the press box
In Portage, the stadium had a press box, and above it, was the roof where Father and I would go every week to call down plays and give advice to the other coaches.
The roof was probably not the safest place to be in the stadium, which we loved overall. And believe me, it was cold in the later games in October and November.
However, for me, it was the best place to call offensive plays. You would see the game so much better up there, and Jonas would call down defensive ideas to Jerry Roberts, who called the defensive signals.
Jonas would also talk to the linemen whom he thought were slacking off during the game, which amused me. He was a soft-talking, gregarious, verbose guy, but he seldom lost his Irish temper.
The prayer
However, on this day, after we had scored a TD to claw our way back into the game, Jonas realized that we really needed another TD.
This is an absolutely true story, and I was the only one up on that roof to verify that it took place. Believe me, for a person who still questioned the value of prayer, it was an impressive moment.
Father cast his eyes up toward the heavens, took a deep breath, and said in a reverent voice, “Big guy, I don’t ask for many favors, but we really need a fumble.”
Internally, I chuckled a little. What was the chance that this “Hail Mary” would be answered.
On the subsequent kickoff, our kickoff team forced a fumble, and we recovered.
After jumping up and down with excitement and calling the next offensive play, I looked at Father in amazement.
He just shrugged his shoulders, smiled in his humble, laconic way, and said, “Sometimes, he comes through. You just have to ask.”
We talked about that for years, and when Art Martynuska, who was the head coach and best friend of Jonas’ during those eight years that he coached, learned about it, he was also amazed.
At first, Art did not believe it, just thought that I was joking. However, I always knew that h knew that it was true.
When Jonas confirmed it, that was one of their favorite stories that they discussed in Jonas’ favorite hangout, Tookie’s in Lilly, just down the street from Art’s store on Cleveland Street. Jonas fell in love with Tookie’s pizza, and he and Art shared a beer and a pie at least once a week.
I struggled with the rationale for prayer throughout my life, but that was one of the times that I realized that it could work. My prayers today are more conversations with Jesus than actual prayers, but the connection with God that Jonas had was impressive.
The actual play
Last weekend, I discussed the play in detail with the two major players in it. Joe Sheehan, a lineman who played at Cambria Heights High School and who forced the fumble, and defensive back/linebacker Mike Lozupone who played high school ball in New Jersey, who recovered it.
We quickly took the ball in for a score with Sean Donoghue catching a pass for a TD.
Joe, who now lives in New Castle, Pa., recalled it, but not with the detail that Mike did.
What all remembered was that it spurred us on to a 26-16 victory — and Jonas’ prayer was a key to that win.
That was a win — and a story — for the ages.
Jonas' passing
Father Jonas struggled in the last year of his life with diabetes. He had a small part of his foot amputated, and that slowed him down tremendously.
Father was the provincial of the TORs, and he taught economics and religion at the college.
However, he did show up for class one morning in the spring 1979 semester, and when they searched for him, he had passed away.
Nevertheless, his name was on the lips of many of the players who attended last week's event, He was indeed a special guy.
His death had a tremendous impact on Art because the two of them had become very close friends.
While many of the players last week talked of Jonas showing up for practice in black Franciscan garb and sandals, I remember one aspect of the relationship between those two that was amusing.
Jonas refused to practice in the rain
When rain was wetting Loretto, Father Jonas turned into what today would be referred to as a "snowflake." He would yell down to Art, "You're crazy practicing in this rain. The guys are going to get sick."
His prayer that Art would not practice in the rain was not heard by his Heavenly Father as Art would practice if there were two inches of rain on the practice field.
So, sometimes prayer works -- and I am happy that it worked against Duquesne. It was not exactly the "Immaculate Reception," but it certainly has spiritual significance.
I was okay with practicing in the rain, unlike my fellow coach, but throughly enjoyed my time coaching with Jonas. He was a unique guy.
Story
Phil Cmor wrote a great story for the Tribune-Democrat about the reunion. Here is the link:
https://www.tribdem.com/sports/watch-video-red-flash-celebrate-th-anniversary-of-football-rebirth/article_df5d056a-dcef-11e9-8d43-878c36939e69.html
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