Hall of Fame
Before going on to a distinguished coaching career, Joe Sarra was a standout linebacker and fullback for the Vulcans from 1957-59.
He was a member of the 1958 PSAC championship team that achieved the second of just three undefeated football regular seasons in school history.
Cal U went a perfect 8-0 in 1958 while outscoring its opponents by a per game average of 25.9-3.9. Four of the Vulcans’ eight victories that season were by shutouts.
The Vulcans led the nation in rushing defense and were second nationally in total defense. Cal U allowed just 42 rushing yards per game. In 1959, Sarra helped the Vulcans win six of eight games.
“We had a lot of qualities that it takes to have a great team,” said Sarra. “We were loyal to each other, dedicated, worked hard and were tough. We also disciplined ourselves and respected each other. When you have these things you’re going to be successful.”
He becomes the ninth player on the 1958 team to earn induction into the Cal U Athletic Hall of Fame. Past inductees include Fran Herron (2008), Fleming Mosely (2007), head coach Ted Nemeth (2004), Jack Scarvel (2002), Carl Crawley (2001), Phil Clifford (2000), Frank Bernadowski (1998) and Dick Fields (1998).
While he is understandably pleased to receive Cal U’s highest individual athletic honor, the team is what’s most important to Sarra.
“I am glad to be chosen but really accept this on behalf of all the players on that team,” he said. “I sincerely mean that because there are a lot of players on that team who could be accepting this award.”
Sarra was also a catcher and outfielder on the baseball team and played two seasons under Andy Sepsi and his senior season under 1996 Cal U Hall of Fame inductee Mitch Bailey.
“Nemeth was a great guy and all the coaches did a great job,” Sarra said. “They knew what they were doing. I never remember a player ever saying a bad word about the coaches. They also gave you the opportunity to play other sports. The coaches were all friends who pulled for each other. It was a great environment.”
He earned his bachelor’s degree in social studies education in 1960. Four years later he received his master’s degree in secondary administration and guidance from West Virginia University. Sarra also lauded the education he received from Cal U.
“I am glad I went to Cal State,” said Sarra. “Academically I could not have gotten a better education from professors who really cared about you. When you went to class it was expected that you were going to listen to the direction they gave you and they took the time to talk to you. It wasn’t one of those closed-door situations and the professors were top-notch. You wanted to perform in class.”
After his undergraduate days, Sarra became the head football coach at East Washington High School in 1961 and then served as an assistant coach for two years at Hempfield High School and then at Belle Vernon.
From there he left for central Pennsylvania and was the head coach at Southern Columbia for three seasons and then served one year as the freshman head coach at the University of Miami of Ohio for one season. He then joined the staff of Lafayette University and was an assistant coach at the Easton, Pa., school for 12 seasons before joining the staff of The Second Mile, a State College-based organization concerned with the welfare of young people.
It was there he met longtime Penn State defensive coordinator Jerry Sandusky and joined the Nittany Lions’ staff in 1984. For 15 years he coached the defensive line and then inside linebackers before becoming an administrative assistant for special projects under head coach Joe Paterno for two seasons.
Originally from Fayette City, Pa., Sarra was a 1955 graduate of Bellmar High School. The senior class president, he starred in football and baseball at Bellmar and attended the University of Toledo for one season before transferring to Cal U. He remains in contact with many of his Vulcan teammates.
“I keep in touch with a lot of the guys and hate to mention just one or two,” said Sarra. “I have had some health problems and many guys have called to offer encouragement. What we had was special and still is.”
Sarra received the Michael Duda Award for Athletic Achievement from the Cal U Alumni Association in 1992. While at Miami of Ohio he met current Cal football head coach John Luckhardt and the two competed against one another when Luckhardt was at Lehigh and Sarra at Lafayette. Luckhardt had Sarra speak to the Vulcans in the spring of 2007.
“Even though we competed against each other we’ve been good friends for a long time,” Sarra said. “He’s done a tremendous job with the California football program.”
In 1998, Sarra received the All-American Football Foundation’s Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2000, he was inducted into the Bernie Romanoski Chapter Pennsylvania Sports Hall of Fame and the following year Sarra was inducted into the Mid-Mon Valley All-Sports Hall of Fame. Though he was a part of one of college football’s premier programs at Penn State, Sarra still talks fondly of the great rivalries between the towns in the Mon Valley and said the keen sports competition in the area made people grow up fast. His pride in his collegiate alma mater is also evident.
“Some places may look fancy on the outside and Cal U has a beautiful campus but it’s what’s inside those new buildings that’s important,” he said. “Cal U has always had great people to direct the students. They develop leaders.”
Sarra and his wife, Barbara reside in State College, Pa., have two grown sons, Joe, Jr., and Scott.
