MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2026
Dr.
Dave
FACTS & FIGURES
FIGHTING SAINTS ATHLETICS
The Fighting Saints compete in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference, Mid-States Football Association, American Midwest Conference, Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference and the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics.
ATHLETES: 440
SPORTS:
Men’s - Baseball, basketball, bowling, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball. Women’s - Basketball, bowling, cross country, dance, soccer, softball, tennis, track & field (indoor and outdoor) and volleyball.
Co-Ed - Cheerleading
SCHOOL COLORS: Brown & Gold
MASCOT: Bernie the St. Bernard
THE UNIVERSITY OF ST. FRANCIS
The University of St. Francis is a Catholic, Franciscan, private institution offering on campus and online undergraduate, degree completion, graduate, doctoral and certificate programs.
FOUNDER & SPONSOR: Founded in 1920 by the Sisters of St. Francis of Mary Immaculate and sponsored by the Third Order Franciscan University Alliance.
RANKINGS: USF is named year after year by U.S. News & World Report as a top Midwest college and is among The Princeton Review’s “Best Colleges: Region by Region.” USF is also ranked among the best when it comes to quality education, affordability, accessibility and safety.
STUDENT ENROLLMENT: 2,912 nationwide
CLUBS & HONOR SOCIETIES: USF offers 42 clubs and organizations and 19 honor societies so students can get involved and stay engaged.
SCHOLARSHIPS & FINANCIAL AID: USF provided over $22 million in academic, athletic and need-based financial aid to students last year (24-25).
ALUMNI: 54,000+ alumni reside in all 50 states and 27 countries.
UNIVERSITY OF ST. FRANCIS 47TH ANNUAL
BROWN & GOLD
CHARLES “PEANUT” TILLMAN GUEST SPEAKER
The creator of the famous defensive technique known as the “Peanut Punch,” Charles “Peanut” Tillman becomes the 11th Chicago Bear to serve as the guest speaker at University of St. Francis’ annual Brown & Gold Night.
One of the NFL’s all-time greats when it came to creating turnovers, Tillman finished his career with 44 forced fumbles (tied for eighth in NFL history), including a single-season record ten in 2012. He also holds the Chicago Bears’ records for most career interceptions by a cornerback (36) and most career defensive touchdowns with eight. Overall, he totaled 38 picks and also recorded 11 fumble recoveries.
A veteran of 13 NFL seasons, Tillman played all but one with the Bears, which eventually resulted in him being named one of the Top 100 players in the history of the franchise. He concluded his career with the Carolina Panthers in 2015. In that time, he was chosen for the Pro Bowl twice, was an Associated Press Second Team All-Pro selection in 2011 and earned a spot on the First Team in 2012. That same year, he set an NFL record with his four forced fumbles in one game.
Tillman claimed a pair of prestigious NFL honors during his career, highlighted by being named the NFL Man of the Year in 2013. He also was the Bears’ 2018 recipient of the Ed Block Courage Award, which is presented to a player from each NFL team that best exemplifies a commitment to the principles of sportsmanship and courage and is voted upon by his peers.
Selected in the second round of the NFL Draft out of University of Louisiana-Lafayette in 2003, where he was a two-time all-conference selection, Tillman claimed Football Digest Rookie of the Year honors that fall. He finished his career with 930 total tackles, 790 of which were of the solo variety. He was also a part of two Super Bowl teams—Super Bowl XLI with the Bears and Super Bowl 50 with the Panthers—as well as the No. 1-rated defense in the NFL in 2005.
Tillman gained his “Peanut” nickname from his aunt because she felt that he resembled the shape of a peanut in his infancy.
The son of a sergeant in the Army that resulted in Tillman attending 11 different schools as a child, he went on to become a FBI special agent in 2018 and served in that capacity until last year.
He and his wife, Jackie, have three daughters and one son and reside in the Chicagoland area.
BROWN & GOLD
ATHLETICS STATS 2025-26
This past fall, USF runner Tyler Anderson dominated the field at the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) Men’s Cross Country Championships and the rest of his teammates followed as the Fighting Saints ran away with their sixth straight league title and 10th in the past 11 years in November.
Anderson was not the only Saint to claim CCAC Player of the Year honors. Kelly Flores was a key piece to St. Francis’ record-breaking 13 victories in women’s soccer this past fall. Offensively, the senior midfielder delivered a team-leading seven assists to go along with 19 points and six goals, which included three game-winners.
Joining men’s cross country on the championship stand this year was USF’s women’s bowling team, which earned its first Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) crown in February. A little over one week later, the St. Francis men’s basketball team captured its second straight CCAC Postseason Tournament championship to advance to the NAIA National Tournament.
The Saints have also taken care of business in the classroom, totaling over 100 NAIA ScholarAthletes and academic all-conference selections each. USF’s 400-plus student-athletes also turned in a 3.27 cumulative grade point average this past fall.
Men’s Volleyball Coming To USF!
USF is proud to announce the addition of men’s volleyball as its newest intercollegiate athletics program, expanding opportunities for student-athletes and further strengthening the university’s commitment to competitive excellence, student success and holistic development. The men’s volleyball team will begin play in Spring, 2027, competing at the NAIA level and in the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC).
BROWN & GOLD
Appearances at NAIA National Championships
Teams
• Men’s Basketball
• Women’s Basketball
• Men’s Bowling
• Women’s Bowling
• Men’s Cross Country
Individuals
• Men’s Indoor Track & Field
• Women’s Indoor Track & Field
• Men’s Outdoor Track & Field
NAIA National Championship Top Team Finishes
• Men’s Bowling (T-7th)
• Women’s Bowling (T-9th)
• Men’s Cross Country (23rd)
Individual Accolades
USF student-athletes garnered a wealth of individual honors for their achievements both on and off the playing fields over the past year.
• 3.27 cumulative GPA for USF’s 440 student-athletes this past fall
• 20 of 21 sports named NAIA Scholar Teams (3.0-or-higher team GPA during the academic year)
• 102 NAIA Scholar-Athletes (3.5-or-higher GPA)
• 5 NAIA All-Americans
• 157 Conference all-academic selections
• 2 Conference Players of the Year
• 63 All-conference selections
SILENT & LIVE AUCTION
Live Auction
Personalized Charles “Peanut” Tillman Autographed Chicago Bears Jersey and On-Stage Photo Opportunity - Get your picture taken with Peanut Tillman on stage tonight, while receiving your personalized autographed Chicago Bears jersey.
Silent Auction
PEANUT TILLMAN MEMORABILIA
• Peanut Tillman Autographed Alternate Orange Game Jersey
• Peanut Tillman Framed Autographed Poster #1
• Peanut Tillman Framed Autographed Poster #2
• Peanut Tillman Autographed NFL Football
• Peanut Tillman Autographed Chicago Bears Mini-Helmet
• Peanut Tillman Autographed Action Photo
• Peanut Tillman Autographed 2003 Bowman Rookie Trading Card
OTHER MEMORABILIA
• Framed Matt Suhey Autographed Walter Payton Memorial Picture (Donated By Jim Hoff ’97)
• Mike Singletary Autographed Chicago Bears Jersey
• Framed Dick Butkus Autographed Hall of Fame Commemorative Print (Donated By Jim Hoff ’97)
UNIVERSITY OF ST. FRANCIS 47TH ANNUAL
CORPORATE SPONSORS
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Adler Roofing and Sheet Metal Inc.
Anonymous
George ‘79 & Regina Block
Brown & Brown Insurance
(John Manner Insurance Agency Inc.)
Rich Chandler
Tracy Chapman ‘03
D’Arcy Buick GMC
Johansen & Anderson, Inc.
Kozol Bros.
KSKJ Life
Piazza & Mannerino Masonry
Quest Food Management Services
Rendel’s
The Ruth Family
Jim Sefcik
Kathleen Sullivan ‘95
Veterans Energy Team
ADDITIONAL THANKS
ABM Maintenance & Custodial Staff
Jeff Joniak and ESPN Radio Chicago
Joliet Tent
Ricoh Document Management Center
USF Business Affairs
USF Marketing Services
USF University Advancement
UNIVERSITY OF ST. FRANCIS 47TH ANNUAL
PAST PRESENTERS
1977 Al McGuire - Former Head Basketball Coach, Marquette University/Color Commentator, NBC
1978 John Wooden - Former Head Basketball Coach, UCLA
1979 Ray Meyer - Head Basketball Coach, DePaul University
1980 Dick Butkus - Former Linebacker, Chicago Bears
1981 Gerry Faust - Head Football Coach, University of Notre Dame
1982 Mike Ditka - Head Coach, Chicago Bears
1983 Carl Eller - Former Defensive End, Minnesota Vikings
1984 Dallas Green - General Manager, Chicago Cubs
1985 Gene Sullivan - Head Basketball Coach, Loyola University
1986 Dan Hampton - Defensive End, Chicago Bears
Tom Thayer - Offensive Guard, Chicago Bears
1987 Al McGuire - Former Head Basketball Coach, Marquette University/Color Commentator, NBC
1988 Doug Collins - Head Coach, Chicago Bulls
1989 Paul Hornung - Former Running Back, Green Bay Packers
1990 The Sportswriters on TV (Bill Gleason, Ben Bentley, Bill Jauss, Joe Mooshil)
1991 John Paxson - Guard, Chicago Bulls
1992 Tom Waddle - Wide Receiver, Chicago Bears
1993 Chris Zorich - Defensive Tackle, Chicago Bears
1994 Bart Starr - Former Quarterback, Green Bay Packers
1995 Johnny “Red” Kerr - Former Player & Head Coach, Chicago Bulls/Color Commentator, WGN-TV & SportsChannel
1996 Gordie Gillespie - College Baseball’s All-Time Winningest Head Coach, Former Head Football & Baseball Coach, College of St. Francis
1997 Rick Majerus - Head Basketball Coach, University of Utah
1998 Rudy Ruettiger - Motivational Speaker
1999 Jerry Markbreit - Four-Time NFL Super Bowl Referee
2000 Bill Cartwright - Coach & Former Player, Chicago Bulls
2001 Tim Floyd - Head Coach, Chicago Bulls
2002 Dan Gable - Former Wrestling Coach, University of Iowa, Olympic Gold Medalist and NCAA Champion
2003 Frank Layden - Former Head Coach, General Manager & President, Utah Jazz
2004 Jim Hendry - Vice President/General Manager, Chicago Cubs
2005 Tom Thayer and Jeff Joniak - Chicago Bears Broadcast Team
2006 Kevin White - Director of Athletics, University of Notre Dame
2007 Mike Ditka - Former Player/Head Coach, Chicago Bears/Pro Football Hall of Fame
2008 Fergie Jenkins - Former All-Star, Chicago Cubs, Baseball Hall of Fame
2009 Rocky Bleier - Former Running Back and member of four Pittsburgh Steelers Super Bowl Championship Teams
2010 John McDonough - President, Chicago Blackhawks
2011 Denis Savard - Chicago Blackhawks Legend & Hockey Hall of Famer
2012 Jim McMahon - Chicago Bears Super Bowl XX Quarterback
2013 Frank Thomas - Former All-Star, Chicago White Sox, Baseball Hall of Fame
2014 Ryan Dempster - 16-Year MLB Veteran, Chicago Cubs 2004-12
2015 Jed Hoyer - Chicago Cubs Executive Vice President & General Manager
2016 David Ross - Chicago Cubs World Series Champion Catcher
2017 A.J. Pierzynski - Chicago White Sox World Series Champion Catcher
2018 Gary Fencik - Chicago Bears Super Bowl XX Champion Safety
2019 Brian Urlacher - Chicago Bears Hall of Fame Linebacker
2023 Joe Maddon - Chicago Cubs World Series Manager
2024 Mike Singletary - Chicago Bears Hall of Fame Linebacker
2025 Horace Grant - Chicago Bulls Three-Time NBA Champion Center
BROWN
