IUP Athletic Hall of Fame
Back To Hall of Fame
Back To Hall of Fame
Joe Flora specialized in thievery during his career as an IUP cornerback, and is regarded as one of the premier ballhawks in the school’s football history.
Flora picked off 14 passes as a member of the IUP secondary, an impressive number given that opposing quarterbacks were loath to even throw in his direction. He finished his senior season with eight interceptions in eight games, a 1.0 per-game average that tied him for the NCAA Division II lead. He also ranked
ninth nationally in passes defended per game (2.0).
A raft of honors followed: Flora was named a first-team American Football Coaches Association and Associated Press All-American, tabbed the PSAC West Defensive Player of the Year and voted team MVP as IUP rolled to an 8-2 record, a PSAC West title and a berth in the national playoffs. He was also selected to play in the Cactus Bowl, the Division II all-star game in Kingsville, Texas.
Flora played professionally after graduation, suiting up for two seasons in the National Indoor Football League with the Wheeling Greyhounds, who won championships both years, and a season with the Arena Football League’s Nashville Kats.
An operations manager for Estes Express Lines in West Middlesex, he resides in New Castle with his wife, Valerie, and their children: Macey (11), Sofia (7), Joey Jr. (5) and newborn Gabriella.
Back To Hall of Fame
