Pro football in New York is in the midst of a difficult stretch, its two NFL teams a combined 2-6. But Wednesday was a day for a football celebration in Queens.
St. Francis Prep honored football royalty, alum and legendary Hall of Fame NFL coach Vince Lombardi as part of the “Hometown Hall of Famers” program through the Pro Football Hall of Fame and Allstate.
Lombardi’s grandson, John, accepted a plaque in his honor, one which will be featured prominently at the Queens Catholic school, and St. Francis Prep alum and Rutgers head football coach Kyle Flood was the event’s master of ceremonies.
Another proud St. Francis alum, former Rutgers and NFL tight end Marco Battaglia, was also on hand. The school’s student body, faculty and members of the varsity football program also took part.
“I don’t know if there is a coach of any kind, anywhere that doesn’t strive to emulate the things that Vince Lombardi was able to do,” Flood said. “It’s special that we get to call him one of our own at St. Francis Prep.
“There is no doubt that he has some core beliefs that I’ve taken with me my entire career and we have them at Rutgers. He always believed in running the football and stopping the run and that is one of the foundations of our football program and how we play.”
Lombardi attended St. Francis Prep when it was in Brooklyn, and played football there before continuing his education and football career at Fordham.
He coached the Green Bay Packers to two consecutive Super Bowl titles and five league championships in seven years. Lombardi, who died in 1970 at the age of 57, never had a losing season as an NFL head coach, winning 73.8 percent (96-34-6) of his regular-season games and a 9-1 postseason mark. The Super Bowl trophy is named in his honor.