'Middle of Nowheresville' SFU embraces anonymity
DAYTON, OH (WTAJ) — One of the smallest schools in all of Division I, Saint Francis is leaning into the fact that they're from 'Nowheresville, PA.'
'We just want to keep making history and put the middle of nowhere on the map,' said junior guard Riley Parker.
The school rolled out 'Middle of Nowheresville' t-shirts ahead of CBS's Selection Sunday show. (You can purchase them here)
It's a nod to the team's small town roots. Saint Francis is in Loretto, PA. A small town of about 1,300 in Cambria County. Even life-time Pennsylvanians would have a hard time putting a pin on a map.
But SFU is ok with that and lean into the underdog mentality. While players did not wear their 'Nowheresville' shirts coming off the bus in Dayton Monday, they still leaned into the vibe.
'We have a really great community out in Loreto. And they really embraced us as a team, and they've supported us this whole way,' said Parker. 'We have so many people that have come from Loretto. They've come to Dayton just to watch us play this game. So it means the world to us and we just want to keep doing it, keep, keep giving back to that community.'
Gameday Primer: SFU is back in the Big Dance chasing history
'I didn't know anything about Saint Francis, honestly,' said freshman standout Juan Cranford Jr. 'But, like I said, the coaching staff reached out to me. That meant a lot because they gave me a chance, and they believed in me. So, I just want to shout them out. This is true blessing to be here.'
Saint Francis is in the NCAA Tournament for the second time in program history, and first since 1991. The school's notable basketball alumni include former NBA players Maurice Stokes, Kevin Porter, Norm Van Lier, and Mike Iuzzolino.
SFU plays Alabama State Tuesday night at 6:40 p.m.
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