The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1962-12-14
SPORTS of M
No fringe benefits
team goes unbeaten
by Lou Fabro
SPORTS of TIMES
by Lou FabrO
Times Sports Editor

They don't give athletic Scholarships" free rides or
any fringe benefits to athletes at st. Johns University but
the school team managed to cruise through its nine-game
football schedule with an unbeaten record just the same.
AS part of their achievement this past season, the john
MES also won the Minnesota intercollegiate Athletic Confer
ence championship and finished seventh among the nations
small football powers.
FOR SPORT FANS WHO MAY be wondering-the
St. Johns University we're referring to is located at Col
legeville, MINI. The school has an all-male enrolment of
$500 students and it's operated by the Benedictines.
And for the skeptics who feel the past season was just
a fluke, it's interesting to note that st. Johns has lost only
twice in its last % football games.
This accomplishment is all the more significant be-
cause not only does the school refrain from providing spe-
cial financial lures for athletes, but it also has rigid en-
trance requirements and students are required to carry a
heavy academic schedule.
LIKE N OTHER st. Johns does
offer some scholarships. But athletes qualify for these like
any other student-on the basis of need, scholarship and
classroom potential. Athletic ability isn't a consideration.
Coaches don't sit on the scholarship board. In most cases,
the top aid granted a qualified applicant is $500 of the esti-
mated $3.50 expense for one year.
Coach of st. Johns football team is John (rather APP
propriate) Gagliardi who is rounding out his 10th year at
the school. In his 10-year reign, his teams have won 81
games, lost % and tied two for a sparkling lib winning
percentage.
This record takes on added luster when you consider
daily practices are held to 80 minutes and no ~scrimmages
are held once the season begins. These restrictions are i'm
posed because of the demands of school studies.
GAGLIARDI. WHO GUIDED ST. JOHNS to a confer.
1AS( NA% SA A1 &AA1C JNA G1 &O0ASAA@ &O1NAS A~9 AS AN6A&SS
for the limitations placed upon him. Football fame is short
lived prepare for the future is a piece of advice he
constantly imparts to his gridders.
He believes there's room for intercollegiate football In
the athletic program of any university. He also feels there
need not be any conflict between academic standards and
football records. The success of st. Johns football players,
both in college and later in graduate school, seems to prove
him right in this respect.
Many Johnny athletes are honor students and all carry
a full academic load. The football player who doesn't grad
uate with his class and go on to graduate school is rare. OF
four seniors on this years team, three are going to medical
or law school. Six of last years graduated ~gridders are car
rying on advanced studies in chemistry, medicine or law.
IT'S INTERESTING TO NOTE that st. Johns enjoys
enthusiastic fan support. Home games always draw capacity
crowds; even at away games, Johnny students and alumni
frequently outdraw followers of the home team.
One logical reason for this enthusiastic support is that
the team truly is part of the school the players aren't
just "hired hands" lured to the campus to represent the
school on the athletic field.
Many colleges have been forced to drop football be-
cause it became a "big business" too costly to support; the
sport died on other campuses when attempts to produce
winning teams without hiking expenses or lowering aca-
demic standards failed.
In contrast, st. Johns hasn't been forced to make any
adjustments Yet, 1t continues to produce top students and
winning football teams without mourning any financial
problems.