SPARKILL, N.Y. – History will be made Saturday night at 6 p.m. at the Torne Valley Sports Complex, as the inaugural season of St. Thomas Aquinas College sprint football will get underway with the Spartans’ program-opening contest against Collegiate Sprint Football League foe Post University.

 

For head coach Matt Barry’s 65-player roster, the lid-lifting contest will give the STAC community the opportunity to witness the work that the coaching staff and student-athletes have put in over the last several months to bring collegiate football to the Rockland County institution.

 

“There is a great buzz around campus, and (STAC president) Dr. Margaret (Fitzpatrick) and (STAC director of athletics) Gerry (Oswald) have a great vision for this program,” said Barry – whose son attended St. Thomas Aquinas five years ago. “A great amount of alumni have passed along their excitement and well wishes for the team, and the support we’ve received across the board has been second to none.”

 

The speed of the sprint football game is a dynamic for fans to look for out of the gate at all positions on the field, as every student-athlete has to meet the 178-pound weight limit to compete at two separate weigh-ins during game week. As a result, traditional football fans might be surprised to see an offensive lineman leading a rush at the second or third level of blocking on a rushing play, or to see a nose tackle chasing the ball carrier down from behind, as two examples of how the speed of play impacts both sides of the football. For Barry – a retired police officer – and his staff, it has brought an interesting dynamic towards preparing his student-athletes on the practice field.

 

“With the speed across the board at every position, we have had to cross train the student-athletes who may now be playing on the offensive or defensive lines after playing at skill positions in their careers thus far,” explained Barry. 

“Our team has stepped up very well in practice, including our offensive linemen – who will be the key to our season with their ability to set the tone on that side of the ball.”

 

For Saturday night’s debut, STAC will face off with Post University from Waterbury, Conn. Head coach Joseph Newman’s Eagles are a side that Barry has a great deal of respect for.

 

“(Newman) is in his second year as the head coach with the team, and has really re-shaped the program with a lot of new faces. This game will be a challenge for us, as Post has a great deal of returning upperclassmen who bring experience from last season to the table.”