Paw Prints E-Newsletter: Volume 66

9/20/2021 11:13:00 AM

From the Desk of the Director of Athletics...

Dear Wildcat Nation,

It is with great pleasure and excitement that I write to you this month. There is a buzz in the air; a feeling that, as an athletics administrator, you grow accustomed to this time of year, but one that was certainly missing last September.

As our teams return to competition, a sense of normalcy has also returned - albeit a "new normal". We remain hyper-vigilant about COVID-19 and the delta variant, and to that end we have informed student-athletes what is expected of them this semester. They must continue to make good choices in order to protect themselves, their teammates and the greater campus community.

While we are not mandating the COVID-19 vaccine for participation in intercollegiate athletics at this time, student-athletes were informed last month that we will restrict the travel of unvaccinated individuals for the time being. As the leader of this division, the health and safety of each student-athlete rests squarely on my shoulders. It's not a responsibility I take lightly. I can't in good conscience send unvaccinated individuals on the road. However, I am happy to report that our coaches and staff are 100% vaccinated, and our student-athlete vaccination rate is 96%.

The "new normal" also includes a more robust fan experience than what we were able to have last year. Just this past Saturday, I had the opportunity to attend a tennis match, a cross country meet and a soccer game. It was beyond thrilling to see many family and friends out to support our Wildcat student-athletes, and I'm hopeful that we'll continue to see great fan interaction throughout the season.

While we look forward to everything that is yet to come this semester, I'd like to take a moment to briefly reflect on what was a busy summer. Our annual golf outing was a huge success, thanks in large part to a sold out field of 144 golfers. Thank you again to each participant and sponsor for choosing to invest in The Wildcat Way. Fundraised dollars make a huge difference, as evidenced by work recently completed along the ramp entrance into the Lumsden Gymnasium lobby. This project, which pays tribute to the history of our division and highlights the values we choose to live by, was funded entirely by external revenue sources and it gives a much-needed facelift to an overlooked part of our complex.

We wrapped up the summer by welcoming NCAA president Mark Emmert to campus in late August, and we were honored to be his first on-campus visit since the pandemic started. Dr. Emmert often takes the brunt of whatever negative publicity the NCAA happens to be facing, but he was nothing but positive, charismatic and transparent in answering some really good questions from student-athletes and coaches.

As the NCAA prepares for its constitutional convention later this year, we too are making plans to take our program to the next level. In the coming months, we expect to finalize plans for a re-launch of the Daemen Athletics Hall of Fame. Re-engaging our alumni is critical to the long-term success of Daemen Athletics.

In closing, the next several months are sure to be filled with highs and lows. Teams will win, teams will lose. The key is to remain calm and steady.

Thank you for the opportunity to update you on the status of Western New York's Premier Division II Team. I hope to see you in the very near future. Go Wildcats!

Sincerely,

Traci Murphy
Director of Athletics

THIS IS THE WILDCAT WAY!

The Daemen College Division of Athletics has entered into a formal two-year partnership with Team IMPACT, a non-profit organization that tackles the emotional trauma and social isolation experienced by children facing serious and chronic illnesses. Learn more about the partnership, and Daemen's newest Team IMPACT child, Cole Huson, who was recently drafted into the Wildcats' cross country/track & field program.