Dear Student-Athletes: A Letter From The Director of Athletics

4/27/2020 4:15:00 PM

This message has been approved for distribution as part of the Daemen College's COVID-19 official response.

Dear Daemen Wildcats,

Four weeks ago, we faced an opponent that wore no uniform. As Wildcats, you took on this opponent with the fierceness we would expect from our student-athletes. I believe you have proven that despite the unprecedented COVID-19 situation, you are strong and resilient.

The winter and spring athletic seasons ended in a disappointing fashion. To have tournaments and seasons cut short is incredibly heartbreaking. The effect is even more significantly felt by our seniors who have had their seasons, and, in some cases, their athletic careers concluded without warning. I recognize that decisions that have been made due to the coronavirus crisis have had an incredible impact on all of you, as well as our coaches, staff, alumni, and fans. I have tremendous empathy for those of you who did not get an opportunity to finish what you started.

I commend all of you for pushing through these unusual circumstances and continuing to make the most of your academics. Our coaches and staff are still working hard, focused on caring for each of you during this time. I appreciate those that continue to train and prepare for the return to competition, whenever that might be.

Your academic success and continued athletic development remains our focus. We know there are many questions about next fall. We continue to receive input from the college's leadership, the NCAA, the East Coast Conference, as well as national, state, and local officials. At Daemen College, we will be guided by what is in your best interests, with your health and safety paramount. We will continue to communicate updates specific to your sport programs through your head coaches and our daemenwildcats.com.

We all take great pride in our Wildcat athletics teams. We will do our best to honor and celebrate you next week. We have outlined a newly designed Wildcat Week of Honors on daemenwildcats.com and on all of our Athletic Department social media platforms. Each day, we will announce different team and department awards and replay broadcasts of pre-selected Daemen games from the past year.

You have helped create an incredible culture in our athletics department. It is a culture grounded in our ability to focus on your needs, and one that will provide you the support necessary to withstand this unusual disruption. Please continue to protect yourself from the virus by staying home and taking the necessary precautions from exposure.

I look forward to the days when our student-athletes are back on their respective playing surfaces proudly wearing their Daemen College uniforms.

Stay Safe and Go Wildcats,

Traci Murphy
Director of Athletic, Daemen College

Print Friendly Version

Related Videos

Related Stories