National Football Foundation

Tony Sardisco began playing football at the age of 13, suiting up for his eighth grade squad simply to see if he could compete. Little did he know at the time that his impact on the game of football would resonate throughout the youth, high school, college and professional ranks for years to come.
 
A native of Shreveport, Louisiana, Sardisco played college ball at Tulane University, accepting their scholarship offer over ones from Louisiana State and Notre Dame. The blend of academics, SEC football and proximity to the Shreveport-Bossier area sealed the deal for the St. John's High School (now Loyola College Prep) product, and his arrival proved to be an omen of portent for Green Wave opponents over the next several years.
 
Sardisco played both offensive guard and linebacker during his four years at Tulane, averaging more than 56 minutes of playing time per game his sophomore, junior and senior years. An All-SEC guard in 1954 and 1955, Sardisco played in the Blue-Gray Game, Senior Bowl and College All-Star game, following his senior season in 1955. That same year, Sardisco captured First Team Look All-America honors, at a time when the Football Writers Association of America selected the now-defunct magazine's All-America team. That team also included college gridiron legends such as Howard Cassady, Paul Hornung and Sam Huff.
 
Following his college career, Sardisco played for one year in the NFL, splitting time with the San Francisco 49ers and Washington Redskins, before serving a two-year stint in the United States Air Force. He returned to the pro game in 1960 with the AFL's Boston Patriots, earning All-Pro recognition in 1961. After his final season in 1963, Sardisco joined the assistant coaching ranks, moving from Jesuit High School in Shreveport to the Buffalo Bills and Temple University before returning to Jesuit in 1970 as their head coach. He became athletics director and a psychology teacher at Loyola College Prep (his alma mater) in 1973, while staying on as the athletics director for another twelve seasons. In 1985, Sardisco ventured into the business world, starting a company, Sardisco Insurance Planning Inc., where he remains active today.
 
During his five-years as president and 20years as a member of the S.M. McNaughton Chapter (Shreveport) of The National Football Foundation, Sardisco has found an outlet to give back to the game he started playing in 1947.
 
"Football taught me a lot and provided me many opportunities when I was growing up" Sardisco said. "I use that as motivation to give back as much as I can to this young students playing the game."
 
The chapter boasts a membership roster of over 100 local community members and annually awards $3500 in scholarship money to seven football players every year chosen from 51-area high schools. Sardisco takes great pride in assisting these young men with their academic and athletic pursuits.
 
"When I send these checks out to the universities and receive thank you letter from the students and the parents noting how much it helps, that makes it all worthwhile," he said.
 
In addition to his duties with the chapter, Sardisco belongs to numerous civic and local organizations in Shreveport, including the Knights of Columbus, Tulane T-Club, and the Shreveport Parks and Recreation Advisory Council. He and his wife, Julie, have four grown daughters; Madeleine S. Bergeron, Andrea S. Payne, Donna S. Brydson and Julie Ann Sardisco.