Joseph Skladany was the key defensive player
on the 1981 football team that went 9-2 and finished
the season ranked ninth in the country in NCAA
Division I-AA. He earned first team All-America
honors from the Associated Press that year. As one of
the best linebackers in Lafayette history, Skladany
holds a school record with 532 career tackles.
Skladany was a starter and defensive caller for an unprecedented
four years and twice was named the team's MVP. A
member of a great football family, Skladany's brother,
Tom, had a brilliant career at Ohio State and the
Detroit Lions of the NFL, while his father and uncles
played professional football. After graduating with a
degree in economics and business, Skladany had a
tryout with the Pittsburgh Steelers and signed a free
agent contract with the Arizona Wranglers of the
United States Football League.
