COLLEGE FOOTBALL Floyd rewards Lariccia family

The family will derive a special satisfaction from Anthony Floyd's participation in the Liberty Bowl.
By JOHN KOVACH
VINDICATOR SPORTS STAFF
BOARDMAN -- When Anthony Floyd of Youngstown plays for the University of Louisville football team against Brigham Young in the Liberty Bowl on Monday, Tony and Mary Lariccia of Boardman and their family probably will be glued to ESPN to watch "one of their kids."
The Lariccias, who have been sponsoring scholarships to deserving and needy area high school students since 1995, took Floyd under their wing while he was a Chaney High junior in 1998, and have been rewarded with a special satisfaction at seeing their prot & eacute;g & eacute; succeed.
Now a junior free safety for Louisville, Floyd set a school record this year for career interceptions with 17, after coming up with 10 last season to lead the nation and make the Walter Camp All-American team and the AP and UPI All-American second teams.
The previous record of 16 interceptions was held by Sam Madison, who now is in the NFL.
Out to pad mark: Floyd, one of 33 area students since 1995 to receive college financial assistance from the Lariccias, will be seeking to pad his interception mark when Louisville (10-2) challenges Brigham Young (12-1) at 4 p.m.
Floyd teams with strong safety Curry Burns as Louisville's last line of defense, and the duo have become known as known as "Stick and Pick."
Burns led the team in tackles last year with 105, and also was an All-American. Floyd also returned a punt 56 yards for a TD.
Mentor: Tony Lariccia, a stockbroker with Merrill Lynch in Canfield and a philanthropist, also became a mentor at Struthers High, his alma mater, in 1995; and later extended that involvement to Chaney High, his wife's alma mater.
There, he met Floyd, and was impressed by him as a person, student and athlete.
Lariccia said Floyd got a full scholarship to Louisville, but needed help with expenses because his family had hit upon hard economic times.
Lariccia said he also helped Anthony's older brother, Antwan, a former Chaney quarterback and a 1998 graduate, who went to Penn State and then transferred to Florida A & amp;M.
"Most of the assistance was given to Antwan, who didn't receive anything to go to Penn State and Florida A & amp;M," said Lariccia, noting that Antwan is on the Florida A & amp;M team but was injured this year.
However, Lariccia noted that only a small percentage of his collegiate financial assistance has gone to athletes. He said the main criteria for help is academic excellence and financial need.
Close bond: Lariccia has developed a close bond with the two Floyd brothers, and both have worked as interns in Lariccia's office and visit him when they come home.
"Both Antwan and Anthony were raised really [well] by their parents [Patti and Douglas Ford]," said Lariccia, noting Douglas was an All-City quarterback at South High in the early 1970s.