(Editor's Note: This update was submitted by Steve Patrick on September 30, but was posted on October 1)

Hello Red Dragons!

Let's focus on the good news happening around campus and inside the program right now:

• While all athletic programs are currently being 'paused' at SUNY Cortland, it appears as though that strategy has been helpful to limit the number of cases on campus. Even with our expanded pool testing – something we recently started – we are seeing our overall number of cases go down, and are currently not in danger of being transitioned to full virtual learning this semester.

• The student-athletes are having a much better experience this semester than they did at the end of the last semester when we went into 100% virtual learning to finish the semester. Every single returning member of the team is happy to be here right now, even though we wish for things to be 'back to normal.' The change to virtual learning last spring was necessary, but didn't work out as well as we might have hoped. For the most part, the time over the summer has allowed the faculty to deliver a much better educational experience this fall!

• The practices we held before our 'pause' were great – it is such a privilege to be able to work with these young women and women! We're seeing a lot of motivated XC/TF athletes right now, that are working hard on their own to be ready for when we can have a season. Yesterday was a prime example: nearly every day since our pause when I leave campus, I see student-athletes from a wide range of sports working to stay active. Yesterday it was in the 50s and rainy all day. None of you will be surprised to learn that when I left campus, I only saw one group of student-athletes out in the deluge: ours. That's a great example of the type of student-athletes we have associated with our team! Even though they aren't able to compete right now, they are making you proud!

• Since we are able to meet still, we are working individually with new team members on our 'responsibility modules,' as well as engaging in some leadership development opportunities. We will do everything we can to be ready once we get the chance to get going!

This summer, we received a tremendous amount of financial support through both the Red Dragon Run and the Cortland Challenge, for which we continue to be grateful! At this time, I am once again going to ask for your support – but this time, it is for your encouragement and memories (although we won't turn down donations if you feel so inclined).

We'd love to hear from you reminiscing about your experience here, and how being a part of the team shaped you. It's hard for the current team (and, frankly, the coaches) to focus on anything but the competitive opportunities being lost, but your perspective about what you learned, and who you connected with, are incredibly important reminders right now. Besides, they are tired of hearing my stories! Please email me a short statement or story about how Cortland and the team impacted you – bonus points if you can share a picture from your time here – that I can pass on to our current team to read.

As always, we thank you for your support and interest! Stay Safe and Sane!

Steve
 
Steve Patrick '97
Head Cross Country/Track & Field Coach
SUNY Cortland

BONUS ITEM FOR ONLINE UPDATE ONLY - Link to Cortland sport-specific mobile phone wallpapers

Previous Updates:
August 2020
July 2020
June 2020
May 2020
April 2020
March 2020
February 2020 (PDF)
January 2020 (PDF)
December 2019 (PDF)