Wesley grid foundation holding its first event

By Andy Walter
Posted 7/21/21

DOVER — It took coach Mike Drass and company three decades to build Wesley College into one of the best small-college football programs in the country.

Chip Knapp didn’t want that …

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Wesley grid foundation holding its first event

Posted

DOVER — It took coach Mike Drass and company three decades to build Wesley College into one of the best small-college football programs in the country.

Chip Knapp didn’t want that all to be forgotten overnight.

That’s why Knapp has started the Wesley Football Foundation to help keep both Drass’ and Wesley’s memory alive.

The organization now has a website (www.wesleyfootballfoundation.org) and is holding the second annual Coach Drass Memorial Golf Outing on July 30 at Smyrna’s Garrisons Lake Golf Club. Registration for the event is available at the website.

“We set out to make an impact on people’s lives,” said Knapp, who was Drass’ long-time offensive coordinator and the Wolverines’ head coach for the past three seasons. “Being there 30-plus years, we felt like we accomplished that mission. We had a lot of great accomplishments, and a lot of great memories and a lot of great relationships.

“Looking at it, we had two options. We could just let it die on the vine or we can remember it, memorialize it and continue to help the community. That’s what we want to do.”

Knapp, who has been assisted so far by former Wesley trainer Chad Kragh, is envisioning the foundation funding a Mike Drass scholarship for a local high school football player. It would not only assist deserving student-athletes but give Knapp the chance to continue to tell people about Drass, who died unexpectedly in 2018 at the age of 57.

Drass led Wesley to the NCAA Division III national semifinals six times between 2005 and ‘14. The foundation website includes a video memorial to him.

There is also talk of putting up some kind of permanent marker for Drass and the Wolverines in Dover.

At the moment, the foundation is only in its infancy with Knapp looking for more people to support it and help it grow.

The Wolverines have long held a golf tourney to raise money for the program. Now, without Wesley football, the event can also be a reason for former players and coaches to still get together.

Organizers are also planning on auctioning off Wesley memorabilia at next week’s tournament.

“We’re trying to get as many people there as possible to kind of kick this foundation off,” said Knapp, who is now the head coach at Dover High. “And it’s going to give our alumni and friends of Wesley football a reason to come together for a good cause.

“It’s going to take the efforts of everything that was involved in Wesley football to keep it going.”

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