Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Will Be Guest Speaker at USF Brown & Gold Night

Combining both the 100th anniversary of the National Football League and the Chicago Bears franchise with the University of St. Francis’ upcoming 100th year as an academic institution of higher learning, the University of St. Francis Athletic Department has announced that 2018 NFL Hall of Fame inductee and Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher will be the guest speaker at its 43rd annual Brown & Gold Night.  The event will take place at the Pat Sullivan Center on Friday, November 22.

Urlacher will become the seventh NFL Hall of Famer to speak at the event, joining the likes of former Bears’ standouts Dick Butkus, Mike Ditka and Dan Hampton as well as the Minnesota Vikings’ Carl Eller and Paul Hornung and Bart Starr of the Green Bay Packers.

Ten other Hall of Fame inductees from their respective sports have also been guests of the University including college basketball coaches John Wooden, Al McGuire and Ray Meyer, Iowa wrestling coach Dan Gable, Cubs pitcher Fergie Jenkins, Blackhawks forward Denis Savard, White Sox first baseman Frank Thomas and USF’s own Gordie Gillespie.

Urlacher played all 13 of his seasons wearing the Blue & Orange of the Bears and was an eight-time Pro Bowl selection.  The ninth overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft, the University of New Mexico product captured Rookie of the Year honors that season before claiming NFL Defensive Player of the Year accolades five years later in 2005.  He retired following the 2012 season.

Voted into the Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility last year, Urlacher finished his career with a team-record 1,779 tackles, including 41.5 for sacks, 22 interceptions 16 forced fumbles and 16 fumble recoveries in 182 games.  He started all but two of those contests and ranks third behind only Walter Payton (184 starts) and Olin Kreutz (183) for the most starts in franchise history.

Other sport personalities to have spoken at Brown & Gold include Bulls players John Paxson, Johnny “Red” Kerr and Bill Cartwright, David Ross of the Cubs, AJ Pierzynski from the White Sox and Bear players Jim McMahon, Tom Thayer, Tom Waddle and Chris Zorich.

The annual fundraiser begins with a cash bar at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7 p.m. and the program at 8 p.m. The event will also include both a silent and live auction.

Tickets are available for $60 each or a table of 10 for $600.  Corporate sponsorships are also available.  For more information, contact the USF Athletic Department at 815-740-3842 or www.gofightingsaints.com.

To purchase tickets, please click on this link – Brown & Gold Night.