Paw Prints E-Newsletter 9/30/2016 9:05:00 AM

Paw Prints E-Newsletter: Volume 27

From The Director of Athletics' Desk...

This morning, as I watched the installation of the new Daktronics scoreboard at the Daemen Park Soccer Field, I took a step back to appeciate what we've accomplished so far, and anticipate what still lies ahead for Daemen Athletics. I am thankful you've decided to open this edition of Paw Prints so we can share the latest on our efforts and general insights on college sport.

Daemen's fall sport season is in full swing, and the accomplishments keep rolling in each day. This past month, Daemen men's cross country student-athlete Kevin Roginson became our first to win a cross country meet since becoming NCAA Division II members . Our women's soccer and volleyball teams continue to compete at the top of the East Coast Conference and our women's cross country team has racked-up four consecutive top-five regional rankings. First Niagara/Key Bank increased its support of Daemen's efforts to bring NCAA Division II athletics and community engagement to Western New York by sponsoring our efforts to create a permanent home for Daemen Soccer and host the 2017 NCAA Division II East Regional Championships for men's and women's cross country. Daemen Athletics also signed three new major corporate sponsors this past month; further showing Buffalo's recognition for what Daemen can bring to the region in both economic impact and community health awareness.

When we re-launched Paw Prints in fall 2014, we wanted it to be something more than just a news report about the performances of Daemen sport teams; we wanted it to also serve as a platform to discuss both the larger issues that go with building and operating a successful NCAA intercollegiate athletics program. Each month we try to connect what is going on here at Daemen to what faces the college sports industry at large. That is why Paw Prints has tackled topics like the impact of sports on young women, how sports can lead to better academic performance by academically at risk students, the Stanford Swimmer sexual assault case, and the random violence in our world that has impacted sport.

It would be hard to stay true to the mission of Paw Prints if it did not address the current controversy surrounding college and professional athletes kneeling or sitting during the playing of the national anthem as a way to bring attention to inequalities in our society. As most readers know, politics and athletics have consistently crossed paths in this and other countries. The current controversy surrounding athletes and the national anthem is hardly the first time that the visibility of sport was used to make a political statement. Consider the 1980 Summer Olympics, when it was the government using sport to make a political statement.

Overlap between politics and sport seems to stir the most controversy when it is the athletes choosing to use their visibility to draw attention to a cause important to them. I have always found that curious because what we love most about athletes is that they tend to be passionate, driven and fearless individuals who are not afraid to take on challenges or the risk associated with overcoming those challenges. Why then is it so out of line for them to be passionate about issues outside of sport? College student-athletes are specifically motivated to take their passion for their sport and use it to drive their desire for learning and understanding of topics and times. In fact, a frequently peddled criticism of college student-athletes is that they are somehow less intellectual or less interested in life outside of sports. Indeed, that they think only of sport. The current anthem movement is indicative of a thinking of life beyond sport and a desire to bring attention to societal rather than sport issues. That is why there is great irony in the negative reaction toward the anthem movement; the negativism truly shows the double-sided criticism that athletes face.

As Americans, we have a fundamental right to express our opinions in a peaceful, thought-provoking manner, even athletes. We each can choose to agree or disagree with their stance, but the right to do so is protected and their bravery for doing so, at least from me, is respected. The intent to spark and allow controversy goes hand-in-hand with the individual's freedom of expression. Perhaps by working through why the anthem actions are so controversial we can gain a better understanding of how varied the life experiences of Americans can be, and we as a society can move to appreciate the diversity that exists in our country. If that does occur and it happens because of athletes stepping forward to spark the discussion, then I think the value of sport to our society has increased in value far beyond economics.

Thanks for reading this far and thank you for your continued support of Daemen Athletics as we try to build an athletics program that inspires commitment, drive and passion for life, learning and sport. As always, if you have any questions or comments about Daemen Athletics, feel free to email me at bniland@daemen.edu

Bridget Niland
Director of Athletics

UPCOMING EVENTS
October 1-2 - Men's Tennis Daemen Invitational
October 1 - Women's Volleyball vs. NYIT - 12 PM
October 2 - Women's Volleyball vs. LIU Post - 12 PM
October 4 - Women's Volleyball vs. Roberts Wesleyan - 7 PM
October 5 - Men's & Women's Soccer vs. Roberts Wesleyan - 1 PM/3:30 PM
October 5 - Men's & Women's Tennis vs. Niagara - 6 PM
October 15 - Men's & Women's Cross Country @ Canisius Alumni Classic
October 15 - Blue Madness Basketball Season Kickoff
October 21 - Women's Volleyball vs. Molloy - 7PM - DIG PINK MATCH
October 22 - Men's & Women's Cross Country @ ECC Championship Meet

FOR A DETAILED LISTING OF UPCOMING EVENTS,
CHECK OUT OUR COMPREHENSIVE ONLINE CALENDAR

IN THE NEWS...

SEPT. 6 - BODNAR NAMED ECC CROSS COUNTRY ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
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SEPT. 6 - DOLEGOWSKI NAMED ECC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
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SEPT. 12 - WESCOTT NAMED ECC DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK
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SEPT. 19 - DAEMEN DUO EARNS ECC WEEKLY HONORS
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SEPT. 19 - BOYAR NAMED ECC ROOKIE OF THE WEEK
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SEPT. 26 - THIS WEEK IN #DCWILDCATNATION: SEPT. 26-OCT. 2
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SEPT. 26 - ROGINSON NAMED ECC RUNNER OF THE WEEK
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SEPT. 27 - WILDCATS RANKED FOURTH IN EAST REGION AGAIN
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NOTABLE GAME RECAPS...

SEPT. 10 - JULIANO'S GOLDEN GOAL LIFTS WILDCATS PAST FINDLAY
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SEPT. 14 - FENEZIANI CLAIMS MEDALIST HONORS IN GOLF SEASON OPENER
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SEPT. 17 - WILDCATS WIN TIGHT ONE AT PHILADELPHIA
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SEPT. 24 - DONAHUE & TRABERT RUN TO TOP-FIVE FINISHES
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SEPT. 24 - ROGINSON POSTS FIRST RACE VICTORY OF CAREER
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SEPT. 25 - WILDCATS RALLY PAST KNIGHTS
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