California University of Pennsylvania Athletics

Frank Vulcano, Jr. was a three-year starting linebacker from 1983 through 1985 who transferred to Cal U from the University of Pittsburgh and helped the Vulcans win their first outright football conference title in 26 years.

Vulcano led the team in tackles in both 1983 and 1984, compiling 96 and 128 tackles respectively. He made 130 tackles as a senior in 1985 and received all-conference recognition all three years. As a sophomore, Vulcano helped the Vulcans win seven games for the first time since 1960 and limit five of Cal's 10 opponents to nine points or less.

In 1984, Vulcano and the Vulcans overcame a 1-3 start and reeled off seven straight wins to finish 8-3 overall.

The Vulcans clinched their first appearance in the PSAC "State Game" in 16 years with a 31-14 upset of nationally ranked Indiana in the regular season finale. Vulcano earned ECAC Player of the Game honors when he made 13 tackles with an interception and returned a punt for the go-ahead touchdown.

"That game sticks in my mind more than any game I ever played," said Vulcano. "We knew that if we won that game we would go into the championship game with a lot of momentum. To have a great game that I did personally to help us to move on was very gratifying. After that touchdown everything just seemed to go our way and we never looked back and kept going forward. That game will always be special and something I remember."

A week later the Vulcans defeated Bloomsburg, 21-14, in the championship game as the defense limited the Huskies to just 33 second-half passing yards and minus 18 rushing yards. Vulcano earned Kodak All-American honors and the team's season-ending seven-game win streak was the longest since 1958.

The Cal U coaching staff that included Hall of Fame head coach Jeff Petrucci, defensive coordinator Bob Haley and linebacker coaches Steve Socrates and Jeff Casteel, kept the 1983 and 1984 teams together after tough starts according to Vulcano.

"Anytime you start a season on a losing note it is difficult to try and come back and prepare," Vulcano said. "We were trained to never quit and keep working hard and good things will happen and eventually they did. Absolutely we were blessed with great coaches."

Vulcano finished his career with 354 total tackles, which still ranks second in the school's football record book. Vulcano also had six career interceptions and wrestled one year at Cal, compiling a 7-0-1 record. After going to Pitt on a wrestling scholarship and trying out for the Panthers' football team as a walk-on, his move to California proved golden.

"I really wanted to play football in college but I just was not big enough, strong enough or fast enough to really play at that level so I transferred to Cal," said Vulcano. "What we accomplished as a team meant a lot to me. As for me individually I put a lot of hard work and time in preparing myself to be good. Being on winning teams and to win a championship was great. Things could not have turned out better."

He joins his father and longtime Cal wrestling coach, Frank Vulcano, Sr., as the first-ever father-son induction into the Cal U Athletic Hall of Fame.

"Cal is my alma mater and to be inducted with him and all the things that he has done for me throughout my life makes this honor all the more special," Vulcano said.

He earned both his bachelor's degree (business administration management) and master's degree (geography and regional planning) from Cal in 1985 and 1987 respectively.

As a competitor, official, administrator, or tournament director, Vulcano has continued his family's long wrestling legacy with distinction.

Originally from Houston, Pa., and a 1981 graduate of Chartiers-Houston High School, Vulcano was a 1980 WPIAL wrestling champion and state semifinalist. He also was a three-year starting linebacker on the Bucs' football team.

He still directs the nationally known Powerade Christmas High School Wrestling Tournament that his father started in 1968 and serves as head of the WPIAL wrestling steering committee.

A registered official from 1982 through 2004, he officiated three NCAA championship wrestling tournaments and five PIAA championship meets as well as the first-ever PIAA team tournament in 1999. Vulcano was inducted into the Southwestern Pennsylvania Wrestling Hall of Fame last spring. At a special ceremony at the 2003 PIAA Championships in Hershey, Vulcano received the Pennsylvania Man of the Year award from USA Wrestling for his contribution to the sport.

"Wrestling has been part of our lives forever," Vulcano said. "It gives me satisfaction to continue some of the things my father started such as our Powerade Tournament. Even though I played football in college my love for wrestling has always been there and always will be."

This fall he began his sixth year as the athletic director at Elizabeth Forward High School after serving as Trinity High School's director of transportation for nine years. Vulcano credits Cal U for helping his professional career.

"I was fortunate enough to serve as a graduate assistant in the athletic office which was a real bonus because that really got me going in the area which I wanted to pursue, which was athletics," said Vulcano. "The experience I gained there was very valuable."

Not surprisingly, Vulcano is looking forward to joining a prestigious list of football Hall of Fame inductees. He is the second starter from the 1984 state title team to receive the university's highest athletic honor.

"There have been so many great football players that have played at California and I am proud to be included in the Hall of Fame and represent the teams I played on," said Vulcano.

Frank, Jr. resides in Houston with his wife, Susan. The couple has three children; Garrett, Jenna and Julia.