Hall of Fame
For a growing Utica football program, Brian Barth brought versatility to the Pioneer offense while helping the team become a winner for the first time. Barth was on the roster when Utica scored its first win over an NCAA Division III program with a 22-6 win over Mount Ida in 2002, and later captained the squad to its first winning season in 2005.
Barth was a three-time Empire 8 All-Conference selection, headlined by a first team choice in 2003. He was also a 2003 ECAC Northwest Honorable Mention All-Star, and a 2004 Football Gazette Division III Preseason All-American.
Brian was noted for his toughness and durability during his time at Utica. He appeared in every game he was eligible to appear in during his college career, and started 35 of the 40 games he played. He was also a dominant receiving tight end in a Utica offense that needed that position to play a strong role in the passing game. He had 80 career catches, which stood in the top ten in program history for many years following his graduation. Off those 80 catches, Barth notched 849 receiving yards and averaged 2.29 receptions per game. He led the team in receptions in his sophomore and junior seasons.
He also helped block the edges for a productive Pioneer rushing attack. In Barth's senior season, he led the way for Mike Capra to become the leading single season and career rusher in school history.. Both marks stood for an extended period of time, with the career rushing mark remaining until 2014, and the single season mark until 2016.
Following his collegiate career, Barth participated in a regional professional football combine where he was encouraged to send out his tape to a number of professional teams. From his combine efforts, Barth was invited to attend a free agent workout at Buffalo Bills training camp under then-head coach Dick Jauron. Others have gone on to follow in Barth's footsteps with professional opportunities in recent years.
A native of Greene, New York, Brian received his degree in Criminal Justice.Â
