Letter from the president
Dear McDaniel Community,
According to “Fearless and Bold” by James E. Lightner ’59, Hon. Litt.D. ’17, the very first football game of Western Maryland College was played on Oct. 31, 1891, against Pennsylvania College. That inaugural season ended with more losses than wins, but the 1893 Aloha yearbook may have described the fledgling team best:
“... enthusiasm fully atoned for inexperience … we are not ashamed of our beginning, and are confident once firmly established, our college will win no meagre honors.”
Over 100 years of athletics here on the Hill have proven that prophecy true time and again. McDaniel has been home to many talented student-athletes and coaches whose hard work, dedication, and perseverance in competition have translated into continued personal and professional successes long after graduation.
In this issue, we celebrate Green Terror alumni who have found ways to turn their passion for sports into careers. Dustin Jeter ’05, M.S. ’15 was a three-time Centennial Conference Champion during his years on the Hill, playing both defensive and offensive line. As a teacher and coach in Montgomery County Public Schools, he now also serves on the board for the Montgomery County Education Association.
Another Green Terror football champion, Justin Sheridan ’99, has worked as a national crosschecker for the Los Angeles Chargers since 2014, after spending eight seasons in Tampa Bay as both a college and pro scout. Dan Gadd ’00 also found his way to the NFL, serving as the senior director of digital strategy for the Atlanta Falcons before joining the WNBA’s Atlanta Dream as senior vice president of growth in 2022.
Chloe Allen Gorman ’16, used her time on the Hill to lead Green Terror women’s soccer and break numerous indoor women’s track and field records. She now plays professionally for Aalborg BK in Denmark. Closer to home, Murphy Luatua M.S. ’14 works with the Washington Capitals as an assistant athletic trainer.
My hope is that this issue will serve as a reminder of the unique and immeasurable value the Hill community places on athletics across the generations — past, present, and future. Like the humble start to Green Terror football so many years ago, there is no limit to what our alumni can do once firmly established.
Sincerely,
President Julia Jasken