California University of Pennsylvania Athletics

During his career as a four-year starting defensive back on the Vulcans football team, Jim Snyder made a lot of tackles. His final stop is induction into the Cal U Athletic Hall of Fame. 
 


A walk-on who played all four secondary positions from 1981 to 1984, Snyder was a two-time, first-team all-conference safety and earned Associated Press All-America honors during his senior season.
 
“Initially I was very surprised that I was being considered for the Hall of Fame because of how long ago I played and defensive stats weren’t as important or even accurate back then,” he said. “It’s great to have this honor bestowed upon me, but don’t lose sight of the fact that there were 10 other guys standing out there with me doing their job. You don’t control anything with one person.”
 
Snyder is most proud of making the team and playing in 40 of 41 games in four years. During his freshman season, he received Player of the Week honors following a 15-tackle, one-interception effort in a 31-14 victory at Lock Haven. He credited defensive lineman and 2000 Hall of Fame inductee Rob Dindak ´82 for that award, which followed his first collegiate start. Snyder finished his first season with 40 tackles, seven pass break-ups, and two interceptions and fumble recoveries.
 
“They (Lock Haven) made the determination they were going to run at me and lead with the fullback, but Rob just blew that interference up and left me one-on-one with the running back,” Snyder said. “I got the accolade, but that never happens without Rob and it’s all about playing as a team.”
 
Adversity hit the following spring when his father, Jack, who attended all of his games and scrimmages, suddenly passed away.
 
“He would use all of his vacation days for my games and I was proud he was able to see me play,” Snyder said about his dad, a longtime steelworker.
 
A natural free-safety, Snyder played at cornerback for the first half of the 1982 season to fill an injury void. He then intercepted a pass in each of the Vulcans’ final five games back at the safety spot and finished with a team-high six interceptions. He was also fourth on the team in tackles (77), second in pass break-ups (seven), first in fumble recoveries (two) and third in sacks (three).
 
In 1983 after a 2-3 start, he helped the Vulcans finish 7-3 overall for the team’s first winning season in 13 years. Cal U’s defense held five opponents to nine points or less and Snyder finished with 66 tackles, five interceptions, eight pass break-ups and two fumble recoveries. 
 
During his senior season, the Vulcans, seemingly against all odds after a 1-3 start, won their first PSAC Championship in 16 years and compiled the team’s most single-season victories, eight, since 1958. 
 
A co-captain, Snyder was third on the team in tackles with 77 along with three interceptions, three sacks and eight pass break-ups. 
 
Snyder posted 260 career tackles (130 solo) with 16 interceptions, 30 pass break-ups, and six fumble recoveries. He was also the Vulcans’ punt and kick returner his final two seasons.
 
“My job was to make tackles, help stop the opposing offense, line up and do it again,” Snyder said. “There was no celebrating which froths me about the NFL now. It was a different mindset then.”
 
Before the conference championship season, the Vulcans enjoyed solid second-place divisional finishes in 1981 and 1983. Snyder praised the coaching staff, which included head coach and 1995 Athletic Hall of Fame inductee Jeff Petrucci ´69 and Bob Haley ´81, ´85, who was the defensive coordinator and secondary coach.
 
“When I arrived, it was very noticeable to me that there was a mentality of toughness brought from the coaching staff,” Snyder said. “When my dad died Coach Haley was there for me, looked after me and I have the utmost respect for him. All of them coached toughness and worked us hard.”
 
Not so surprisingly Haley lauded Snyder and called him the leader of the ‘84 title team’s starting secondary, which also included Art Motten, Duke Zack, and Bob McDonough.  
 
“Jim Snyder was a very good, smart, physical football player who made plays, tackles, and got interceptions and did so in crucial moments of games,” Haley said. “He did everything we asked and I loved him and those guys he played with.”
 
Originally from Pittsburgh, Snyder is a graduate of Bishop Boyle High School where he was a three-year starter in both football and baseball.
 
He earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Cal U in 1985.
 
Snyder resides in Agoura Hills, California, with his wife and Cal U alumna Kim Krause Snyder ´84. The couple has two grown children—Megan, 23, and Michael, 20.
 
For the past 34 years, he has been a commercial banker, mostly with Citigroup, Inc.
 
“I appreciate the fact that I have a degree from California University which gave me the tools for which to do, but I also believe that success in the professional arena gets back to the discipline of being an athlete,” Snyder said. “Athletics makes you understand that you have to get up every day, go to work and outwork and outhustle people.”
 
The Snyders return to the area each year during the holidays to see family and visit the Cal U campus to show their children where it all started.
 
“I have fond memories of California University and obviously it’s a big part of my life,” Snyder said.


updated 04/24/22