LORETTO, Pa. – The fall of 1952 marked the election of Dwight D. Eisenhower as President of the United States. That was also the final NFL season to feature a Saint Francis football player. Joe Restic, a native of Hastings, Pa., played in three games for the Philadelphia Eagles.
 
All of that may change in 2014 as the Red Flash has two players with NFL tryouts coming up this weekend. Safety Jake DeMedal (New Wilmington, Pa./Wilmington) will be at the Steelers' rookie minicamp, while running back Kyle Harbridge (Easton, Pa./Easton Area) earned a chance to work out for Bill Belichick and the Patriots.
 
Saint Francis head coach Chris Villarrial not only knows what it takes to make an NFL roster, but to excel in the league for an extended period of time. After an All-Pro, 11-year career with Chicago and Buffalo, Villarrial is very qualified to put DeMedal's and Harbridge's accomplishments into perspective.
 
"To me, it's special," he said. "It's one of those one-in-a-million opportunities for those guys, especially coming out of such a small Division I school.
 
"They both did exceptional work here as students and as football players, and you couldn't ask for two better representatives of Saint Francis University."
 
There was a time when Saint Francis produced its share of NFL players. From 1942 until Restic's appearances with the Eagles 10 years later, seven Red Flash alums appeared in NFL contests, including three in 1944 and four in 1945.
 
The NFL was a different world in the mid-1940s. And the world itself was different, as well. Deep in the throes of World War II, the Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Cardinals merged in 1944 due to player shortages and played half of its home games in each city. Three Red Flash players competed on that team known as Card-Pitt.
 
Receiver Tony Bova had a career-high 19 receptions for 287 yards and two touchdowns. That came a year after posting career highs in yards with 419 and touchdowns with five for another WWII merger, the Phil-Pitt "Steagles." Bova played six NFL seasons, finishing his career with 60 receptions for 1,129 yards while being nearly blind in one eye.
 
George "Skinny" Magulick and John McCarthy joined Bova as former Frankies on that 1944 team. It was the only season in the NFL for both men. Magulick, a 5-foot-9, 150-pound halfback, averaged 6.0 yards-per-carry on 17 attempts while also hauling in six catches for 50 yards. He also made two interceptions and returned both kicks and punts. McCarthy was a quarterback and punter, playing in seven games and throwing for 250 yards. He also punted 24 times with a long of 52 yards.
 
Among the four Saint Francis players that suited up in 1945 were Bova and the school's only NFL Draft selection, Johnstown native Eddie Stofko. A ninth-round selection (85th overall) in the 1944 draft, Stofko played in two games for the Steelers in 1945. He completed seven passes on 17 attempts for 94 yards. He also punted three times, averaging 36.3 yards. John Naioti played in seven games for the Steelers that year, while end Archie Milano played for the Detroit Lions.
 
Since Restic's season with the Eagles, Saint Francis hasn't had another NFL player. With Harbridge and DeMedal working out for teams this spring, it may be time to add a new chapter to this old story.