FB: New Jersey Athletic Conference

[Gray Fox]

Things we feared were likely but only today is the news coming out:

https://www.d3sports.com/notables/2021/02/delaware-state-pulls-plug-on-wesley

Sad.

[BSCpanthers]

Hate to hear this for the kids that have put the sweat into their sport for their school, for it to be pulled out from under them. 

Unfortunately, when it's all over, I feel there are more schools that will be effected by the financial crunch caused by COVID.  Either by sports being dropped, campuses closing, or schools being bought/combined with other schools.

[Gray Fox]

Hate to hear this for the kids that have put the sweat into their sport for their school, for it to be pulled out from under them. 

Unfortunately, when it's all over, I feel there are more schools that will be effected by the financial crunch caused by COVID.  Either by sports being dropped, campuses closing, or schools being bought/combined with other schools.

Also, demographics are working against the schools.   Fewer students heading their way.

[gordonmann]

Wesley was in trouble before COVID-19 but it certainly didn't help.

I feel really bad for the people around that program. As I posted before, Wesley football is a community of players, coaches, alums and fans. It's very sad that community doesn't exist anymore.

[Caz Bombers]

not unexpected but sad news nonetheless. I hope Wesley can send all the student-athletes out on a high note this spring with a few games and all the best to those that will continue their athletic careers elsewhere.

[Bob.Gregg]

Unfortunately, when it's all over, I feel there are more schools that will be effected by the financial crunch caused by COVID.  Either by sports being dropped, campuses closing, or schools being bought/combined with other schools.

BSC--I believe we are significantly closer to the BEGINNING of this process than we are to the END of it. I believe, when it's all over, MANY more schools will be impacted by this process.

[BSCpanthers]

Unfortunately, when it's all over, I feel there are more schools that will be effected by the financial crunch caused by COVID.  Either by sports being dropped, campuses closing, or schools being bought/combined with other schools.

BSC--I believe we are significantly closer to the BEGINNING of this process than we are to the END of it. I believe, when it's all over, MANY more schools will be impacted by this process.

Unfortunately, I completely agree with you.  This isn't the first DIII program that has been shut down, I know the only DIII football in Florida called it quits months ago, and seems like one in California shut it down as well. 

[Teamski]

As mentioned, this wasn't a big surprise, but it doesn't diminish the pain in losing a program that achieved so much with so little.   While I am so sad that Coach Drass left us way too soon, I am happy that he isn't here to witness his world being taken apart in one fell swoop of the pen.   I do understand the economics of it.  It makes sense.  But having spent over 10 years being the videographer with the team, witnessing many of the highs and lows on the roads to Alabama, Maine, Ohio, South Carolina, Georgia and many locations in between, forgive me for feeling that deep sadness that goes along with seeing an end of an era.  This wasn't just any era, but one where a small school in the middle of Delaware; on a field that once was a pock-marked dirt lot that passed for a football field; with stands that were dwarfed by the local high school; with facilities that were mocked by visiting opponents with just how inadequate they were, two coaches made the decision to fight it all out.  Coach Drass and Coach Knapp were Division I/NFL level coaches who wanted to settle their families and create a winning program with very little to work with.   And you know what, they pulled it off!  You could write a book on just how they did it....recruiting?....mentorship?....charisma?   It was that and a lot more.

So, here I am looking over at my wife and she asking me if I am ok.  I will be, but things will never be the same here in Dover.  That magic that a football program belonging to a tiny, tiny college in the middle of a Victorian neighborhood had is going to disappear right before my eyes.  Walking over to Drass Field from my house, seeing the lights illuminate the nearby houses (and the cemetery across the street) was an incredible feeling.  I distinctly remember that first time walking past the football field when We first moved here to Dover when I was in the USAF, mentioning to my wife, "Hey, Wesley has a football team!  We oughta watch a game at some point."  The rest is history.

Thank you Coach Drass and Coach Knapp.  And thank you Wesley for some great memories I will always cherish.  I retired from the USAF in 2009 after 20 years and immediately started on my  History Degree at Wesley.  Even before I started, the head of the History Department, Dr. Fox, notified Coach Drass that she had a huge Wesley football fan in her program and could he use him.  Coach Drass, with his big smile didn't waste any time and I started that summer, 12 hour days, no days off.  Whew!

Yeah, I know, I am rambling on, but hey, I only get to do this sort of thing once in a lifetime.  Thanks D3F for being a home to all of us in the DIII world.  We would be nowhere without you.  And thanks to all of my fellow DIII fans.  You guys really put the "F" in fun! 

-Eric

[Pat Coleman]

Unfortunately, when it's all over, I feel there are more schools that will be effected by the financial crunch caused by COVID.  Either by sports being dropped, campuses closing, or schools being bought/combined with other schools.

BSC--I believe we are significantly closer to the BEGINNING of this process than we are to the END of it. I believe, when it's all over, MANY more schools will be impacted by this process.

Unfortunately, I completely agree with you.  This isn't the first DIII program that has been shut down, I know the only DIII football in Florida called it quits months ago, and seems like one in California shut it down as well.

There are no D-III schools in Florida and haven't been any in decades, but yes, Occidental in California shut down football.

[BSCpanthers]

Unfortunately, when it's all over, I feel there are more schools that will be effected by the financial crunch caused by COVID.  Either by sports being dropped, campuses closing, or schools being bought/combined with other schools.

BSC--I believe we are significantly closer to the BEGINNING of this process than we are to the END of it. I believe, when it's all over, MANY more schools will be impacted by this process.

Unfortunately, I completely agree with you.  This isn't the first DIII program that has been shut down, I know the only DIII football in Florida called it quits months ago, and seems like one in California shut it down as well.

There are no D-III schools in Florida and haven't been any in decades, but yes, Occidental in California shut down football.

You're right, I was thinking of Florida Tech, a DII program that shut down in May.  That left only UWF as the only DII football program in the state.  I had to do my research to figure out what I was talking about.

[gordonmann]

Eric:

That was beautifully said. Thanks for sharing

[CNU85]

I figured this would be the eventual outcome. It is indeed sad to see. I was hoping for a Spring game at CNU in March. That's probably not going to happen either.
I remember going to some blowouts against CNU. And I also remember the close games and the CNU victories. When you beat Wesley, that's a good year!

But mostly I am thankful. For the memories and the friendships. Most notably WelseyDad. I've been to the Stagg Bowl with WD to watch one the seemingly endless string of Mt Union v UW-Whitewater games. I've been to his hometown and hung out at his favorite watering holes. That's pretty cool.

Cheers mate!

[gordonmann]

Same here.

Wesley was the closest this region has had to a "purple power" for years. Beating them -- and sometimes just playing them close -- always felt like a special achievement. That's how I felt as a DelVal guy.

[Hawks88]

We always enjoyed playing Wesley when we were both Independents and seeing how we matched up. We came close to knocking them off the last two times we played in '12 and '13. Had the lead in the 4th quarter both times but couldn't hold on. Hate to see the program end. 

[bluestreak66]

When you lose a program like Wesley, it leaves a very large hole in the entire D3FB landscape.
We only got to play them once, but that was a mighty fun game (overtime in the '16 playoffs, 2nd round)
Hopefully their athletes can catch on somewhere else and finish their careers they've worked hard for.

Ski:
That was really well put. I can't even imagine what it might feel like. Not quite like a death in the family, but pretty close. To have something you cared so much about to be taken away without fanfare, but with a whimper. No chance for a final game, no last time to watch team take the field and say goodbye. you have my deepest sympathies.