Alumni raise discussion on state of SAC athletics

Maurice Demers '66 and Ed Moquin '72 are two alumni who say they share a "concern over the sad state of affairs in the football program" at Saint Anselm College.
Rather than just complaining about how, in their opinion, not enough is being done to advance Hawks' Football, Demers and Moquin have started a petition to garner a serious discussion "to make Saint Anselm College athletics as strong as Saint Anselm College academics."
Demers believes that "despite the best efforts of the players and the coaching staff [on the football team], we feel that the college administration simply is not giving the program and athletics in general, the support they need to be successful."
Father Jonathan DeFelice, O.S.B., President of the college, said "What I want is the best possible athletic experience that students can have, but students are here for education."
In response to Demers's call "to make athletics as strong as academics," Father Jonathan responded, saying "that is like comparing apples and oranges. Our facilities and resources [for recreation and collegiate athletics] are significant."
Demers, a resident of Goffstown, NH, started the petition at the Hawks' football game at Saint Anselm College on October 20; he received over 50 signatures in what he called "a short amount of time."
The petition document states: "The undersigned alumni and interested parties herein petition the President of Saint Anselm College to schedule and advertise a meeting of alumni and all interested parties to discuss the role and status of intercollegiate athletics at Saint Anselm College."
Demers questions why the football cheerleaders have been eliminated? Why there is a sign for "no tailgating" when football fans enter the campus? Why does the college prohibit alumni from using the picnic grove next to Grappone Stadium? Why were football players ordered to stop selling "Coach Knapczyk Country" t-shirts? The college's simply saying the college bookstore owns all rights to Saint Anselm College merchandise was not an acceptable answer to Demers.
"Those t-shirts," says Demers, "showed initiative and passion for the coach and the football program."
"Saint Anselm College always does things first rate - only the best," says Demers. "Geisel Library is one of the best libraries for a college of this size, and Grappone Stadium is the best stadium in the league. We have the best facilities, now why can't we put the best product on the field?"
Demers also question why the seating at Sullivan Arena has not yet been completed.
"The only thing that needs to be finished," said Father Jonathan, "is the seating at Sullivan Arena. We have many other imminent priorities right now, and the incomplete seating does not affect the arena."
Father Jonathan said Demers's claim that the Administration is not giving enough to the football program is "false."
Father Jonathan continued, "We obviously are doing something right when this past year we had 45 freshmen recruits for football. Those students chose to come here, they were not forced."
Ed Moquin '72 said "the football team has a Pop Warner attitude. It is only the parents who show up in the stands to watch their son's games. [The Administration should] develop an intramural sports program if they are not going to support a collegiate program."
Meanwhile, Demers commends Coach Ken Knapczyk's passion.
"Knapczyk is a fine individual who has a way of pulling students, not pushing them; coach is busting his butt." It is "easy for the Administration to blame the coach," stated Demers, "but if you got [Bill] Parcells, you would still have the same result."
Demers believes that the Hawks' football games are not just for football fans, rather they should be social outlets for alumni and present students. Additionally, Demers points out that Saint Anselm College is one of four colleges in the state of New Hampshire which offers collegiate football.
"We have experimented this year with using the picnic grove for tailgating, and there have been some issues" said Father Jonathan. "There are town regulations with tailgating, but that does not mean that it [tailgating] will not expand to every home game."
Demers "acknowledges that the President [of Saint Anselm College] is juggling a lot of balls, but [wonders], why is the College President's box always empty at the football games?"
In response, Father Jonathan stated, "He may not see me, but I am at every home game when I am on campus. His [Demers'] statement is not true.