The name dates back to 1927, when the school boasted one of the fastest football ground attacks in the east, headed by quarterback George Kunzler, captain and right halfback Ed McLister, fullback Alphonse Abels and left halfback Ralph Bruno. Because the team wore predominantly red uniforms, the fans and ''The Loretto'' (the student newspaper) dubbed the team "The Red Flashes."
The nickname quickly spread, first to the football team and later that same season to the basketball team. Within 15 years, "The Red Flashes" evolved into the present form of "The Red Flash," through the efforts of sports publicist Simon "Cy" Bender.
Before The Red Flashes romped on the football field, the school's teams went by a variety of unofficial nicknames, with the most popular being the "Saints." Others were derived from a Franciscan theme, such as the "Franciscans" and "Frannies."
The most popular unofficial nickname also evolved from the Franciscan theme, with its origins dating back to the 1930s. The nickname "Frankies" can be traced as far back as the 1938–39 basketball season, when the name first appeared in ''The Loretto'' and the ''Johnstown Tribune-Democrat''. The rise of this nickname can be closely tied to the University's Mr. Frankie Award, given annually to an outstanding senior male, which dates to 1936.
The "Gigity" nickname gained widespread use by fans and the then-college but was discontinued after the 1971–72 season, giving way to the current "Red Flash" moniker. The change coincided with the opening of the Maurice Stokes Athletics Center.
Saint Francis’ athletics tradition dates back to 1867 when a group of students formed a team called the Independent Star-Athletic Association. The team played its first game under the Saint Francis banner in 1888. Gymnastics was established in 1882, while football was first played at Saint Francis University in 1892.
The name "Red Flash" is unique among NCAA Division I schools.
Classifications
The team has participated at the following levels.
*1892–1950: N/A
** 1916, 1918, 1920–1921, 1932–1937, 1942–1946, 1954–1968: No team
*1951–1952: NCAA
*1953: NCAA College Division
*1954–1968: No team
*1969–1972: NCAA College Division
*1973–1977: N/A
*1978–1992: NCAA Division III
*1993–present: NCAA Division I-AA/FCS
Conference memberships
The team has been affiliated with the following conferences.
*1892–1953: Independent
*1954–1968: ''No team''
*1969–1977: Independent
*1978–1988: NCAA Division III independent
*1989–1991:
Atlantic Collegiate Football Conference The Atlantic Collegiate Football Conference was a short-lived NCAA Division III football conference composed of member schools located in the Northeastern United States. The league existed from 1988 to 1991.Northeast Conference (NCAA Division I-AA/FCS)
Championships
Conference championships
† Co-champions
Playoff results
Division I FCS
The Red Flash have appeared in the FCS Playoffs two times. Their record is 0–2.
Notable former players
Notable alumni include:
*
Tony Bova
Anthony J. Bova (August 21, 1917 – October 15, 1973) was a professional football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 1940s. He graduated from The Kiski School and then Saint Francis University, located in Loretto, Pennsylvania ...
(1917–1973) played in the NFL 1942–1947
*
Joseph Laukaitis
Joseph is a common male given name, derived from the Hebrew Yosef (יוֹסֵף). "Joseph" is used, along with "Josef", mostly in English, French and partially German languages. This spelling is also found as a variant in the languages of the mo ...
played for the Wyoming Cavalry (2014), Uniform number 95 and the Green Bay Blizzard (2015) Uniform number 94 of the Indoor Football League
* George Magulick (1919–1955) played in the NFL 1944-1944
* John McCarthy (1916–1998) College football All-American in 1941 at Saint Francis University and played in the NFL 1944-1944
*
Archie Milano
Archie J. Milano (May 26, 1918 – August 12, 1991) was an American football player and coach. He played professionally in the National Football League (NFL) for one game in 1945 with the Detroit Lions. He attended Saint Francis University in L ...
(1918–1981) played in the NFL 1945-1945
*
John Naioti
John F. Naioti (1921-1990) was a professional football player in the National Football League. He graduated from Saint Francis University, Loretto, Pennsylvania in 1942.
He played in the National Football League for the Pittsburgh Steelers in ...
(1921–1990) played in the NFL 1942 and 1945. Served in the military in 1943 and 1944.
* Joe Restic (1926–2011) played in the NFL 1952-1952 and was the head coach of Harvard from 1971 to 1993 with a record of 117–97–6.
*
Ed Stofko
Albert Edward Stofko (1920-1988) was a professional football player in the National Football League (NFL). He graduated from Johnstown Pennsylvania High School and attended Saint Francis University, Loretto, Pennsylvania.
Career
He played in ...
(1920–1988) played in the NFL 1945-1945. He was drafted as the 85th pick in 1944.Pro-Football-Reference.com
*
Lorenzo Jerome
Lorenzo Jerome (born January 20, 1995) is an American football free safety. He played college football at St. Francis.
Early years
Jerome was a three-year starter at quarterback and defensive back at J.P. Taravella High School.
College career ...