Hall of Fame
Tim Tracy’s versatility and willingness to put the team’s best interest ahead of personal gain proved invaluable to the Vulcan football program.
Not only did Tracy play under two distinguished coaches; he also performed at two different home fields while starring at Cal U from 1969 through 1972.
After playing one year under Bill Hepner, Tracy played his final three seasons of collegiate football under John Katusa. Both coaches were also longtime faculty members.
“John Katusa was an old army guy who went by the book,” said Tracy. “I did not need a lot of discipline but he sure instilled that in us.”
Cal football also moved from Booster Field to newly constructed Adamson Stadium during Tracy’s junior season.
“When I was recruited California had just tied for the PSAC championship in 1968 and they were telling us about the field,” Tracy said. “It was neat being able to play at both fields.”
A standout two-way player, Tracy played wide receiver and defensive back, as well as handling the placekicking duties and kick and punt returns. The athletic Tracy had 10 interceptions over his final two years and earned all-state, all-conference, and all-district honors.
In his junior year, Tracy forever secured his spot in Cal U sports trivia when he kicked the first-ever extra-point at Adamson Stadium. He actually converted four PAT’s as the Vulcans christened the new state-of-the-art football facility with a 34-6 victory over divisional rival Shippensburg. Tracy also picked off two Red Raider passes that day and finished with 11 career extra-points.
“We were missing a few ingredients as far as having a championship team but we could not have had more fun. It was an exciting time,” said Tracy. “I could bore you with 20 football stories off the top of my head and Alan Natali (teammate, 1998 inductee) will tell you that I remember everything. But what stands out and what I really enjoyed was the camaraderie. I think about those guys all the time.”
Born in Morgantown, West Virginia, Tracy graduated from Albert Gallatin High School in 1969 where he was a three-year scholastic starting wide receiver and defensive back.
Following his collegiate days, Tracy had a tryout with the Chicago Bears of the National Football League and played two years of semi-pro football with the Chambersburg Cardinals and Hagerstown Bears.
Tracy, who earned his bachelor’s degree in special education from Cal U in 1973, has enjoyed a distinguished teaching and coaching career.
For the past 16 years, he has taught special education, English, and social studies at Uniontown High School. He is also the Uniontown varsity football team’s first assistant coach and the head junior high school track and field coach. Tracy has helped Head Coach John Fortugna and the Red Raiders achieve four straight WPIAL playoff seasons that included an undefeated regular season in 2001. Before coming to Uniontown in 1988, Tracy taught and coached football and softball at Mapletown High School for four years. He believes that the values he learned playing under Katusa and Hepner help in today’s coaching world that is often made increasingly more difficult with outside interference.
“I resemble those men as I coach today because I always try to be very up-front and honest with the kids I coach,” said Tracy. “I make sure they know exactly why they are playing or not playing. I always say that football is a tough game for tough people. I honestly do not let the outside interference bother me. Politics or parents who are just concerned about their children playing doesn’t deter my love for the game and you have to use your best mind.”
Along with his demanding coaching responsibilities, Tracy is active in the community. He is a member of the Beulah Baptist Church in Smithfield, where he serves as a Deacon, Trustee, and Adult Sunday School teacher. Always loyal to his alma mater, Tracy regularly participates in the annual Vulcan Football Alumni tradition, which celebrated its silver (25th) anniversary last month.
“I played in the first six Alumni Games and stopped after the 1984 game,” Tracy said. “But I will always come back for that weekend and support Vulcan football. There is a special bond there. It is great to see my old teammates but it is also important to meet the new guys connected with the program. Everyone has a lot of fun and that is what it’s all about.”
Tracy also strongly believes his education at Cal prepared him for his teaching career.
“I most definitely credit Cal for preparing me to be a teacher,” said Tracy. “A lot was happening back in the 1960s but California had a good environment. The school was not stuck in the times and was moving forward.”
Tim and his wife, Antoinette, reside in Smithfield, and are the parents of three grown children—Telsha, Teanna, and the late Tim, Jr. Teanna is a senior education major at Cal U. Not so surprisingly, the man who kicked the first of thousands of extra-points at Adamson Stadium is pleased about receiving the university’s highest athletic honor.
“Finding out about being inducted was a very exciting moment for me and sharing it with my wife made it very special,” Tracy said. “I am looking forward to the induction but I always look forward to coming to Cal. When I visit my daughter on campus I am always pointing to all the places I either stayed or hung out in.”
