Indiana University of Pennsylvania Athletics

"All-World." Not many student-athletes can lay claim to such lofty title in their college years, but that's exactly the way Bob McFarland, Sr. was described in 1954 and '55.

McFarland had interrupted his student days at what was then Indiana State Teachers College to serve in the U. S. Army in Germany after having first enrolled on campus in 1952.

Playing football for the Southern Area Command in Munich, he was named to the Armed Forces Press Services international team, among many major-college players, as its second-team end as well as to a service-team all-conference roster.  All this while serving as an MP. Prior to that, McFarland as a college sophomore in 1953 had been credited with being "fast and aggressive," making ·'vicious tackles," and being "always there at the right time."

Returning to campus in 1956, he scored all four touchdowns for his team, coached by Hall of Fame inductee Sam Smith, posted in the season's first three games and went on to score six more for a total of 60 points, believed to be a team record until 1987.

McFarland's senior campaign brought more of the same, and he was selected as an NAIA All-American, to the AP/Associated Press all-state (including Division I universities) first team, NAIA and Pittsburgh area all-district and Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference first teams, the latter a repeat honor.

The Pittsburgh Curbstone Coaches unanimously named him their Western Pennsylvania small-college Player of the Year.  Later, he was picked to a team of all-time best Indians who played prior to 1960.

A two-sport athlete who earned a total of seven letters, McFarland was also a baseball catcher at ISTC, for the two seasons prior to the Korean War and in his junior year, foregoing the sport as a senior to complete his geography-major student teaching.

After graduating, he taught social studies and coached football for nine years at Homeville Junior High in the West Mifflin School District before going to the district's North High School, where he coached baseball, winning several section titles, and was a gridiron assistant for seven seasons.

In 1967, he went to alma mater West Allegheny High School to teach (for 21 years) and serve as head football coach through 1977.  In '69 his team posted an 8-1 mark and won the Black Hills Conference title.

Retiring in 1988, McFarland and his wife of now 45 years. The former Claudia Smith, moved to North Carolina.  They have three grown children, Bob, Jr., Scot and Jill, and four grandchildren, Robby, Megan, Kerry and Christopher.

Bob, Jr., is a 1980 IUP graduate who played quarterback three seasons (1978-80) and is now an insurance consultant in the Philadelphia area.