HAMILTON —The past two years, Colgate Football has hosted an Alumni of Color event where former players headed to Hamilton to engage with and support current student-athletes of color. As echoes and memories of years prior linger, anticipation for the third-consecutive Alumni of Color event continues to build in and around the program.

"This is one of the most important things Colgate Football offers to us student-athletes," sophomore wide receiver Treyvhon Saunders said. "I'm looking forward to reconnecting with these alumni and sharing the experiences that I've had since last year. I'll also get more knowledge from them that I can continue to use for the rest of my time here."

The idea for a football Alumni of Color group derived from Fred '50 and Marilyn Dunlap Head Football Coach Stan Dakosty back in 2020 as the program sought to add another avenue of support for its current players. Since then, the football program has hosted events ranging from zoom calls to weekend-long engagement opportunities for current student-athletes of color as well as the entire Colgate Football team. 

"As a coach you want to do whatever you can to support your players in all aspects of their lives, but I also understand there might be times where my players experience something that I might not fully relate to. I'll listen and support the best I can, but I'll also try to pull in other resources to help in certain situations," Dakosty said. "I've been here a long time. I've played with and coached a lot of great guys, and I started thinking about former teammates, and many other alumni I've met over the years, who are great people and would be great mentors to our players, specifically our players of color, and that led to this idea." 

Last April, alumni returned to their old stomping grounds for a weekend of fellowship, fun and football, all arranged by the Maroon Council Alumni of Color, a program that provides support for student-athletes of color by connecting them with players from years past. 

"It's a fun opportunity for us alumni to connect with current student-athletes that come from all around the United States to do the same thing that we did, which is love Colgate and love playing football," Carlton Walker '10 said. "We recognize how isolating being a student-athlete can be at times, and as alumni, knowing that we went through similar things, we know we have a lot to offer."

These alumni were given an opportunity to attend a spring practice with on-field access where they were introduced to the team. They gave their insight on the best ways to successfully represent the maroon and white as a member of the Colgate Football program, using their influence to help guide the next generation of Raider alumni. 

"To see and talk to these guys is miraculous because we're seeing ourselves 20 years in the future and they're seeing themselves 20 years in the past," senior defensive lineman K2 Dickens said. "This event shows us that we can be successful in environments that have impediments, rigors and complications. It gives me hope for my future talking about shared experiences with these guys that were just like me doing things I'm doing now 20 years ago."

After practice, the Maroon Council Alumni of Color hosted a dinner for current student-athletes where the former players made themselves available to provide wisdom on topics not necessarily related to football. 

"It's important because in the times current student-athletes are living in there's a lot more complications," founding member of the Maroon Council Alumni of Color Rich Grant '01 said. "Having to navigate this environment while focusing on school and competing at the highest level on the field, it's important for them to know that men have come before them, done similar feats, and found ways to thrive."

The weekend wrapped up on Sunday morning when the entire team attended networking sessions with alumni to understand how they can best succeed in life post-football.

"We're not punting on any conversations about race here," Dakosty said. "We believe in our locker room, there is a culture and a brotherhood there, but we want to make sure all our guys have support in all aspects of their life here at Colgate. We're excited to put more programming together and continue to grow this part of our program, and knowing we have the alumni willing to support and care about our guys, it makes putting these events together that much easier.