'Oh what, really? You're writing about me?' Wesley athletics photo

Demetrius Stevenson distinctly remembers hearing the voice of Wesley coach Mike Drass as it thundered across the field before practice during his time as a defensive tackle during the mid-1990s.

“You don’t walk on my field!”

Now that field will bear the veteran coach’s name when the Delaware school dedicates the playing surface of Scott D. Miller Stadium to the veteran coach before their game against Christopher Newport on Saturday.

Mike Drass Field.

“You definitely gotta move with a purpose when you are out there,” said Stevenson, who earned All-America honors and now works for the Dover Police Department as the School Resource Officer at Dover High School.

Ironically, on a day that he will be honored, Drass also has the chance to accomplish something few college coaches have --- win 200 games. His record currently stands at 199-54-1 and includes six NCAA regional championships.

Drass is a bit uncomfortable with all this. Having known Mike since I was a 13-year old freshman trying to make the varsity at North Penn High School in Blossburg, Pa., back in 1983, he has always been someone that puts the team ahead of himself. So a ceremony to recognize him, before a game?

That just isn’t him.

He would rather I wrote about how Joe Callahan is one of  the best quarterbacks in the nation or the Wolverines two new starters at cornerback, who might be the best duo he’s ever had. For along as I can remember (and it’s been more than 30 years,) his teams have always broken down in huddle on “TOGETHER.”

“He really doesn’t want anything to do with this,” said assistant head coach Chip Knapp. “He doesn’t want any attention. He just wants to do his work.”

Well, sorry coach. Not this week. Those of us how have been involved with Wesley community the past 23 years want to take the time to give you a little love and appreciation.

“You can’t talk about Wesley without thinking about Coach Drass,” Stevenson said. “He’s made a huge impact on the whole school, not just football. It’s fitting to name the field after him.”

Knapp chuckles when thinks back to the first time he met Drass back in 1989. After their first day of work, he and another assistant invited him out for a beer. Drass declined saying he had to get sleep so he could go out and sell ads for the game program. At the time, Wesley didn’t even have a game program and was just a year removed from a 25-game losing streak upon entering Division III from the junior college ranks.

“You could tell, he was all in from day one and passionate about college football,” Knapp said. “He would go out and recruit and use his own money for expenses.”

As an assistant at Wesley, Drass and Knapp helped turn the program around in just a couple years, while sleeping on each other’s couches when the other couldn’t afford rent. A bond developed between the former offensive lineman from Media, Pa., and the quarterback from Kent, Ohio.

“You didn’t have to worry about any hidden agendas with him,” Knapp added. “You knew what you were getting. All in, and he’d do whatever he could do to help you.”

Not surprisingly, when Drass when hired as Wesley’s head coach in 1993 in age 33, Knapp became his offensive coordinator and right hand at age 28.

“The relationship between us has been great.” Knapp said, who played at Division I-FCS Cornell. “We came to Division III not really knowing much about it.”

But they shared the same attitude. Do whatever it took to win. They lined fields, did laundry and built lockers among other menial tasks.

“It wasn’t a matter of what we got paid,” Knapp added. “We just focused on what we could do to make this program better.

“When he became head coach we sat down to discuss our general philosophy. It had nothing to do with winning a game. That was secondary. We’ve followed through on that over the years. It makes you feel good when you see in culminate in a great day for him because we did things the right way. We didn’t take any shortcuts and it’s paid off.”

Drass has also been there for his friend in times of need. Knapp’s son Ben, suffered heart failure on a team road trip during the 2011 season. An honors student, athlete and musician, Ben now has physical limitations affecting his sight, ability to speak and walk. Happily, his sharp mind and sense of humor are still intact. He graduated from high school last June and the Knapps are currently trying to figure out the logistics and how to make it possible for him to go to college. He will audit a class this fall at Wesley.

“I’d probably be out of coaching without his support,” Knapp said. “I’d be home with Ben. Mike’s done everything he can to make our situation workable.

“There are not too many jobs where I could come and go based on the needs of my son. I am still able to coach and do things I love to do. We have that trust in each other. It’s been a great situation for me, that’s why I’ve stayed here a long time. Why leave a great situation?”

Stevenson is one of the players who benefitted from that philosophy. A local product from Caesar Rodney High School just south of Dover, he was raised by his mother and grandmother.

“He was more than just a coach to me,” said Stevenson, who was a freshman on Drass’ first team in 1993. “He was more like a father figure. “I learned more than just the game of football. I learned life lessons. He made an impact on my life and so many other guys I played with.”

One of the things that makes Drass a successful coach is his ability to make connections with players and draw the best out of them.

“We had a lot of guys that just fed off his energy and enthusiasm,” Stevenson said. “He knows how to motivate players, how to get you ready for a game. He just knows the right buttons to push to get the most out of you. I’d run through a wall for the man.”

And finally, on a personal note:

I played for Drass in his first season when he was a 22-year old high school assistant coach back at North Penn in 1983 and has followed him around on most autumn Saturdays as a player, coach, broadcaster or writer for over 30 years. I know my life would be much different, less complete, without his guidance and the opportunities he provided for me. I have gotten to fulfill dreams such as coaching college football, writing about sports, broadcasting games and traveling (always a lot of traveling at Wesley).

So I think I speak for my fellow former teammates, coaches, players, parents, and colleagues in saying that “together” we want Miller Stadium’s playing surface to carry your name! Enjoy it! (At least for a second.)

Now, let’s go win a game.

Trending up

Cortland State. The Red Dragons are off to their first 2-0 start since 2010 after beating Framingham State 62-49 on Saturday. Cortland is averaging almost 44 points and over 400 yards a game on offense. That’s the good news. The defense is a work in progress, allowing over 470 yards and 36.5 points. Despite starting two different quarterbacks, receivers Jon Mannix and Jake Smith are each averaging more than 22 yards a catch with five touchdowns. This week they’ll play their first Empire 8 conference game against that’s had to stew for two weeks after a shocking 48-0 loss to Thomas More. While disappointing, the Cardinals have plenty of time to right the ship after winning at least eight games each of the past five seasons. Running backs Tony Fusco and James Chambers combined for over 1700 yards last season but were held to 32 and less than two yards a carry in their opener. Trying to follow Tyler Fenti, the E8 player of the year at quarterback in 2014, are seniors Matt Naton and Danny Caton. The duo completed just 50 percent for 128 yards against TMC. Can the Cardinals keep up?

Alfred. It’s easy to forget that the Saxons have won at least eight games eight times since 2004. They haven’t had a losing season in that time either. Pretty impressive in a conference as deep as the E8. After two solid wins over Husson and RPI, they face their biggest test to date this week against Buffalo State. Buffalo State is another team that could end up on top of the E8 at the end of the season. The Bengal notched an eight-win season last year and shut down Otterbein 29-0 a couple weeks ago. They allowed just 114 yards. These are two teams with as good a chance as any to be the last team standing in the E8.

Stevenson. The Mustangs dumped Lycoming for the first time 38-14 to improve to 2-0. Look out for receivers Neil Harps and Seth Jordan. Jordan, a junior, is developing into one of the top big-play threats in the MAC by averaging nearly 30 yards a catch with 50-yard touchdown catches. Harps, a senior, has three scores and 25 yards a catch. They’ll face another challenge when they travel to Lebanon Valley this week. The Flying Dutchmen, MAC champions in 2013, could be 2-0 but had a game winning touchdown called back in an opening week loss to Franklin and Marshall. Saturday they mashed Misericordia 37-7. The LVC offense is averaging 40-plus points and 500-plus yards a game. The feature an explosive duo themselves in running backs Brendon Irving and Jon Jones. The pair has combined for 491 yards and six touchdowns.

Trending down

Lycoming. A 0-2 start after falling to Stevenson last week is disappointing even with number of new players stepping into major roles for this traditional power. Both those losses were on the road, so the Warriors will be happy to back at Pearson Field when they take on Wilkes in their home opener.

Delaware Valley. One week after a big win over Montclair State, the Aggies offense struggled to finish drives against a veteran Wilkes defense despite 370 yards of offense in a 12-7 loss. They should bounce back this week against winless Misericordia, though according to one MAC coach I talked to defending Cougar quarterback Jeff Puckett “is a pain in the (@$$).” Puckett is second in the MAC in rushing while completing over 60 percent of his passes.

Top 25: Ithaca in, Cortland State knocking

Wesley stays at No. 5 after topping Frostburg State 44-3.

Hobart drops a spot to 16th (passed by Thomas More, who leads by three points in the poll) despite a 28-17 win over Endicott. The Statesmen started the season at number 16.

Rowan jumped to No. 18, despite being idle, after a knocking off then 12th-ranked Widener 24-10 in Week 1.

Ithaca, also with a week off, entered the poll at 23 and faces Hobart this Saturday.

After second straight nonconference victory, Cortland sits just two votes away from entering the poll (38.) Widener picked up six votes after whipping King’s 43-20. Morrisville State has five votes like last week. Alfred picked up its first vote of the year and is 2-0 after beating RPI. St. John Fisher was idle and fell from 10 votes to just one.

Looking ahead to this week

No. 16 Hobart (2-0) at No. 24 Ithaca (1-0). A top 25 matchup between the defending champions of the Liberty League and Empire 8. Yes, please. Enough said. 

Salisbury (0-1) at Montclair State (0-1). The loser of this game will be 0-2 and probably have to win out to take the NJAC title. Both have had a week off after disappointing opening loses in their openers. The intensity in this game should be ferocious!

Widener (1-1) at Albright (1-0). The Pride, defending MAC champs, bounced back from an opening loss to Rowan with a convincing win over King’s. Albright has had two weeks to prepare after a stunning fourth-quarter comeback victory over Salisbury.

Contact

Feel free to send me your comments at jason.bowen@d3sports.com. You can also find me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at D3jason.