Football coach Mike Drass eulogized as the 'epicenter' of the Wesley College family
The record books will reflect that Wesley College football coach Mike Drass won more games than most, but players and friends said his influence on the lives of those he led will be his greatest legacy.
"I'm sure Coach Drass' vision of heaven is what we see here today: his family, his football team, his coaches, all together, on this field where he made his legacy," said Chip Knapp, who coached at the school with Drass for decades.
Hundreds of fans gathered at the field that bears his name Saturday to say farewell to Drass, who died suddenly Monday morning. A beloved figure at the school, he was 57.
Fans wore blue and white shirts with No. 73, the same Drass wore as an offensive lineman and captain of the Mansfield University team in the '80s.
He was described as the "epicenter" of the Wesley family, the funniest guy in the group text message thread and "born to be a coach."
"Coach Drass has a lot of best friends," Knapp said. "He made everyone feel like their best friend."
Jennifer Drass, his sister-in-law, said he grew up working construction as a child with his father and he always loved football. He spent his first summer savings on a bicycle to get to practice.
She described him as the "protector" of his siblings.
"Watching Mike under the lights on Friday night was the highlight of the week for his siblings," Jennifer Drass said.
Jason Bowen, a longtime friend, said football was always going to be a part of Drass' life.
"He always knew this is what he was supposed to do," said Jason Bowen, a longtime friend.
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But life isn't always straightforward, and Drass delivered pizzas; worked at a beer distributor; and published a magazine, the Pennsylvania College Football Report, before he got his big break with Wesley in 1989.
He was remembered for his "pedal to the metal" intensity on the field. Coaching colleague Ernie McCook recalled his pregame speeches to his players and him beating on the door and "letting the other team know we are coming for them."
"Every time a Wesley football team took the field, it took it with passion and awesome energy," McCook said.
Drass began his career as defensive coordinator at Wesley College in 1989 and became head coach in 1993. His tenure saw Wesley transformed into a Division III football powerhouse. He led the team to 14 NCAA Tournament berths, including each of the past 13 seasons.
He tallied 229 wins, 69 losses and one tie during his career at Wesley, putting him second all-time in the number of victories achieved by an active Division III coach.
Players said a better measure of the man is the positive influence and emphasis on education he passed to them and that they will pass on to others.
"That is the greatest attribute; he was not afraid to say I love you," said Bernie Nowakowski, a captain on Drass' team as head coach. "He loved his players. They loved him."
Steve Scanlon said his dreams of playing football were jeopardized first by his poor school performance and then a rare form of cancer. He said offers from big schools never materialized.
He explained his health situation to Drass and told him he was ready to get serious about school. Drass told him that "when, not if" he got better, Wesley would "love" to have him.
Nine weeks of chemotherapy followed, making him "violently ill" and testing his self-belief, he said.
"Coach Drass was the one standing on the other end of the tunnel telling me I could do this," Scanlon said. "I walked through hell because Coach Drass told me I could."
Rocky Myers is one of Wesley's two Gagliardi Trophy winners, the Division III equivalent to the Heisman Trophy. He recalled marveling at how Drass could recall details from players' lives, even after they had been gone.
"How could he do that?" Myers said. "The answer is simple: He genuinely and sincerely cared about us. He loved us. You can't fake that."
Drass was remembered as hard and loud on the field but eulogized as a softy at home.
"Despite what came out of him on the football field, he never raised his voice at home," Jennifer Drass said.
Most commented on how his daughter was his dearest love. Jennifer Drass spoke of his love for playing with Barbie dolls and belting out Disney songs with his daughter.
Knapp said: "I'd never thought I'd see Coach Drass rocking out to Hanna Montana."
Joe Callahan was one of Wesley's two Gagliardi Trophy winners under Drass. Callahan recently signed with the Philadelphia Eagles after spending most of the previous two seasons as the third-string quarterback with the Green Bay Packers.
He said Drass continued to be a positive influence in his life and credited him with his current position with the Eagles. When he was released from the Green Bay Packers, Drass called him before sunrise to tell him a quarterback had left the Eagles roster.
"He cared so much," Callahan said describing the phone call. "He told me, 'I love you, brother.' I said, 'I love you, too, Coach.' I wish I could say it one more time."
In lieu of flowers, his family asks contributions be made to the Wesley Football Program, Box B4, 120 N. State St, Dover, DE or online.
Contact Xerxes Wilson at (302) 324-2787 or xwilson@delawareonline.com. Follow @Ber_Xerxes on Twitter.
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