Money talks, players walk

“I am definitely going to transfer.”

The words came quickly from The Sports Network All-American Division I-AA first team selector Jeff Gomulinski ’06, as he responded to Fairfield University’s decision to disband the football and hockey programs.

“It will be tough to start over,” said Gomulinski. “Everything happened so fast, right now I don’t know where I am going to be next year.”

Right now football players like Gomulinski and Brad Salvatore ’06, and hockey players like Ryan Murphy ’05 and Jack Devaney ’05 are going through a process like many of the freshmen and sophomore players on both teams … does their future lie here or at another school?

Gomulinski said he is looking to transfer to Central Florida, Southern Mississippi, Boston College or Western Illinois, and he is still in the process of getting contacted by other schools.

“Right now I have to weigh my options and get past this,” said Gomulinski.

Many football players said they had heard rumors of the disbandment, but the hockey players were shocked to hear that their team was getting cut.

“It was a complete and utter shock to all of us,” said Murphy. “We were thinking it may be good and maybe we were getting a new rink. Then they just dropped a bomb on us.”

Murphy, like many of his teammates, are now going through the process of finding another school to play at.

“I’ve been firing out emails everywhere, and basically waiting around to see what comes back,” said Murphy.

Freshmen players, who are going to transfer, are going to have to go through the whole transition process of a new environment all over again.

“The worst part is that we [freshmen] are just getting settled in,” said Murphy. “You’re nervous about getting in with guys on the team and making the lineup, now this happens.”

Sophomore hockey player Devaney also said he is going to transfer.

“My parents are all for me transferring,” said Devaney. “They want me to get out of here. I have a few contacts, but I don’t want to jinx anything yet.”

University President Rev. Aloysius P. Kelley, S.J. said in a press conference last Thursday, the decision to cut the two programs doesn’t mean Fairfield’s commitment to athletics has wavered in any way.

“The action taken will serve to strengthen our commitment to excellence in higher priority sports programs,” Fr. Kelley said.

The freshmen and sophomores have the option to transfer and to continue playing their sport, but for a junior it may be too late to transfer to another school.

After putting three years into the program, juniors are usually mostly excited about their senior year.

Now they will not get that chance to play and even the chance to finish their collegiate career.

Tom Unger ’00, and a member of the football team’s coaching staff, said the camaraderie of the team is what he remembered most about being apart of the program and what the current players will be no longer be able to experience.

“A special bond is formed when you’re apart of a team like this,” Unger said. “Now with the dismantlement of the program and the amount of transfers that is going to occur will ruin that bond.”

In 1996, Fairfield brought back the football team to increase the male population at the school. Now with the disbandment of these two programs, the male attendance at the school may drop again.

Most players wish the university had just extended them the courtesy of alerting the teams earlier in the year.

“The university didn’t handle it well at all. It’s late right now in the year,” Devaney said. “It would have been a lot easier if the decision was made earlier in the year.

Players like freshman football standout Salvatore do have the ability and better timing to transfer rather than his older teammates.

“I am definitely transferring, it’s not even a question,” said Salvatore. “Change is good sometimes, but I would have liked to stay here.”

Salvatore is looking to transfer and play at Sacred Heart, St. Peters, Georgetown, or Duquesne, where former Stags head coach Joe Bernard is now the offensive coordinator.

“It’s going to be hard to start over,” he said, “but I’m sure I will get comfortable.”