Hall of Fame
From 1981 through 1990 California University’s football team rated fourth or higher in total passing offense each season. Four different quarterbacks earned all-conference honors during this stretch and three of those high-powered passers received all-American honors.
Carving his niche during this noteworthy stretch of passing efficiency was Brendan Folmar, who was the Vulcans’ starting quarterback in 1985 and 1986.
After patiently waiting his turn as a backup to All-American quarterback Kevin Russell in 1983 and 1984, Folmar became the starting quarterback in 1985 and success was immediate.
He passed for 1,891 yards and 11 touchdowns in 1985 while leading the Vulcans in rushing with 365 yards and six of the team’s 10 rushing touchdowns, Folmar, who received second-team, all-conference honors, finished second among all PSAC players in total offense, average 225.6 yards per game.
For an encore Folmar guided the 1986 Vulcans to the school’s best start (5-0) in 28 years. He completed 176 of 338 attempts for 2,245 yards and 18 touchdowns. Folmar was the 1986 PSAC total offense champion, averaging 231.7 yards per game which placed him 12th nationally in that category. He again led all rushers in touchdowns with seven. The 6-4 final overall record accomplished by the 1986 Vulcans remains the schools best football showing over the past 14 years.
Nicknamed “Hollywood” by his teammates due to his sharp-featured good looks, powerful throwing arm, and ability to perform well under pressure, Folmar again received all-conference honors in 1986 as well as being an Associated Press Honorable Mention All-American. One of many individual highlights for Folmar was rallying the Vulcans from a 27-7 deficit with five minutes remaining at Clarion for a memorable 28-27 win that ended a 15-year losing streak against the Golden Eagles. In two games against Clarion, Folmar passed for 711 yards and six touchdowns.
“That was pretty much an impossible comeback for us and I remember that game well,” Folmar said. “But to be truthful all of the games stick out and seem like they happened just yesterday.”
Including the 1984 PSAC championship season when he completed just two of four passes for 15 yards and a six-yard touchdown in a relief during a 33-6 win over Slippery Rock. Folmar completed 334 of 692 career attempts for 4,151 yards and 30 touchdowns. He also scored 13 rushing touchdowns. Rather impressive numbers for a guy who almost quit during his freshman year.
“I knew I had to wait back then and one day I was just frustrated and left,” said Folmar. “I went home and my brothers threatened me. I was the youngest and the smallest brother and that was really a turning point for me. My family has always been there for me.”
Vulcan football was in a rebuilding mode during the two years Folmar was the starting quarterback which followed the 1984 state championship. Several key injuries to skilled players put even more pressure on Folmar but he welcomed the challenge.
“Coach (Jeff) Petrucci put a lot on my plate which was good,” Folmar said. “I have always been around strong competition. Even the pick-up basketball games at the local playgrounds were like wars. In basketball, I always wanted the ball at the end and the same was true with football.”
Truly a hometown success story, Folmar is originally from California, and a 1982 graduate of California Area High School, where he was the Trojans’ two-time Most Valuable Player in both football and basketball. He earned his bachelor’s degree from Cal U in elementary education in 1986.
“Many people do not remember that I grew up on the Cal campus,” said Folmar, whose dad, Dr. John Kent Folmar, is a retired Cal U history professor. “I went to school on the campus from kindergarten through fourth grade. California is a great small town and I enjoyed growing up there. I know every nook and cranny of that town.”
Folmar went on to play professional football and was the starting quarterback with the Pittsburgh Gladiators of the Arena Football League, who reached the league championship game in 1987. Folmar also played briefly with the Detroit Lions in the strike-marred 1987 season and played three seasons with the Pittsburgh Arena team. Folmar was also the starting quarterback for the Tuner’s Tavern Flag Football team out of Richmond, VA, which won state and national finalists in 1997 and 1998.
“Flag football is a really competitive sport,” said Folmar, who stopped playing the sport a couple years ago. “There are a lot of very good teams in flag football and you would often have to play four or five games over two days to advance to the next round. I remember looking out at the field a couple years ago and realizing how young all the players were. It was time to stop.”
Now an education coordinator with Poplar Springs Hospital in Virginia, Folmar is pursuing a master’s degree at Virginia State in education, supervising, and administration. Brendan resides in Colonial Heights, Virginia, with his wife, Kristen. The couple has two children, nine year-old Brendan and Michael, who is seven.
Folmar oversees and coordinates 11 teachers in the hospital that educate roughly 95 kids. He credits sports and the demanding quarterback position for helping him succeed at work and in life.
“Sports really saved me and without athletics I would have ended up on the wrong side of the track. I played the quarterback position since I was in ninth grade and I believe my leadership ability is one of my best qualities and I owe that to sports. I was fortunate to play and learn under a lot of really good coaches. Football will always be a part of me.”
Brendan Folmar was the Vulcans’ quarterback in the mid 80s. He was a prolific passer and was named an AP College Division Honorable Mention All American. He was a back-up for the Pittsburgh Gladiators of the arena football league.
