From The Director of Athletics' Desk...
 

Welcome to 2016!  The release time on this edition of Paw Prints could make it one of the first emails you read upon your return to the normal routine of life after what I hope was a peaceful holiday season.  It is the time of year for goal-setting and resolutions.  It happens to be that this resolution time coincides with the end of the fall semester when Daemen Athletics receives news on the academic performance of our student-athletes.  At the start of 2015-16, Daemen Athletics met as a group and student-athletes set their own goals and made resolutions for the fall semester.  The academic goal for all student-athletes was a collective GPA of 3.0 or higher.  Many student-athletes took on a personal goal of a 4.0, Dean's List or 3.0 status.  Daemen Athletics is very proud to announce that the student-athletes have once again achieved their goals, posting a collective fall semester GPA of 3.16.  Four student-athletes posted a perfect 4.0 GPA and later this month we will learn how many will be named to the Dean's List and members of the 3.0 club. 
 
Just like in life, business and sport, there were some teams and students that did not meet the goals and that is where the resolution setting time of year collides with the start of the spring semester.  It is also where this month's Paw Prints hopes to make its point. To set a resolution we have to think about what we do well and most importantly what we need to improve on. In other words, to set resolutions we have to own our failures and figure out how to move on.  It is process similar to what happens after a loss on the field, court or course.  This past week I met with a student-athlete who did not meet the goal they set and they had the look of defeat that we typically see after an athletics loss.  We talked about the need to apply the same process for achieving in sports to the student-athlete's academics.  We talked about watching as many inspirational, comeback sports movies as they could find during the holiday break.
 
The purpose of the inspiring movie or book binge was to set the stage for the student's academic comeback and wipe away the look of defeat on their face. That practice was something passed on to me from a coach after a particularly disappointing race back in high school.  I've used the "inspiring sports movie" binge now and then when I fell short of a goal or when something seems so out of reach to accomplish. The "go to" favorites in our house are: Chariots of Fire, Rudy, Miracle, Remember the Titans and The Rookie.  I'm sure you have your own list as well. The key is to find something to read or watch that places you back on the path toward your goal; that restores the confidence you need to succeed.  Our lists may differ, but we will likely all agree that some of the greatest inspirations in life can come from athletics and that the real win is when the inspiration extends beyond sports.
 
Daemen Athletics hopes to pass that line of thinking on to our student-athletes and our staff. To us, the mark of a quality college athletics program is teaching our student-athletes that the skills we use to succeed in athletics competition are transferable to achieving our academic and life goals.  In athletics, when a game, match or race is lost, you have to regroup and resolve to do better; you have to get yourself back on the path to your goal.  So to for academics. So to for our New Year's resolutions, whatever they end up being.  
 
Resolutions aside, Daemen College and Daemen Athletics has much to look forward to in 2016.  Our men's and women's basketball programs are bringing the #beFIERCE approach to their respective 2015-16 seasons.  Both teams will play at home in Lumsden Gym on January 7th, 9th, 22nd and 24th.  Our track and field athletes also get back into action on January 23rd and our tennis program is holding its second annual Tennis Carnival on Saturday, January 30th.  Coach Beatty does an outstanding job with this event and it promises to be a great night of tennis, food and fun. We look forward to seeing you at one or more of these events, and I encourage you to check out our composite event calendar online.
 
Best of luck setting and keeping those resolutions, or meeting your goals for 2016. As always, feel free to contact me at bniland@daemen.edu with questions, comments or concerns regarding Daemen Athletics.  #beFIERCE
 

Bridget Niland
Director of Athletics