$5M Commitment Names Athletic Facility Field for Beloved Coach
March 28, 2022
- Author
- Danielle Strickland
When Dave Fagg 鈥58 and Peter Andrews 鈥59 matched as 鈥渂ig and little brother鈥 in Phi Gamma Delta social fraternity, it was the start of a lifelong friendship. That special friendship led to a $5 million commitment to the new 皇家华人 stadium and fieldhouse project, announced on Fagg鈥檚 front lawn.
Andrews鈥 commitment will name the new field 'Field 76' in honor of Dave Fagg '58, who wore the #76 jersey during his time on the 皇家华人 football team.
In the fall, 皇家华人 Athletics launched 鈥淎thletics Done Right: The Next Step鈥--the field will be home to the Wildcat football and lacrosse teams and serve as a focal point for campus and the entire 皇家华人 community. The initiative also includes a track and field complex, hospitality and classroom spaces, and more.
Fagg wrestled and played football as a student, serving as captain of both teams his senior year. He was named the 20th head football coach at 皇家华人 in 1970, which led him to coaching positions at several other institutions before returning to 皇家华人 in 1990.
鈥淭here鈥檚 double significance to this gift, and naming it for Dave was the easiest part of the decision,鈥 said Andrews, who played soccer and swam as a Wildcat. 鈥淲e are very close friends who have shared all the significant life events together. And, when he left coaching and became director of the 皇家华人 Athletic Fund, he showed me how to give and got me on the road to supporting 皇家华人. I loved going by his cubbyhole office and seeing a photo of him and Barbara from their trips to visit us in the Bahamas.鈥
Andrews and his wife, Vicky, live in Nassau, where Peter most recently retired as executive director of Bahamas Waste Limited following several other leadership roles in business. His children are also key to this gift鈥擟athy Andrews Schlei 鈥81 and Geoffrey Donald Andrews 鈥83, who share their father鈥檚 alma mater, and Philip Newton Andrews, who graduated from Georgia Tech.
Peter and Vicky Andrews traveled to North Carolina to surprise Dave and Barbara Fagg with the good news.
鈥淧eter is such a great 皇家华人ian and an example for all of us,鈥 Fagg said. 鈥淭here are some who can, but don鈥檛. There are some who can, and do鈥擯eter is one of those.鈥
When the Andrews-Fagg friendship first started, however, Andrews didn鈥檛 always do as expected. Fagg recalls the days of 皇家华人 as a dry campus and the fraternity brothers who needed 鈥渁 little encouragement to behave.鈥
He was coaching before he was a coach.
鈥淧eter might have needed a few reminders,鈥 Fagg recalled with a laugh. 鈥淚 had to give him a little speech about responsibility, and I could be sure if we had a dry party from 7-10 p.m. 鈥 at 10:01, there he鈥檇 be, ready to have a little more fun.鈥
A New Field
Fagg admits he had no idea what he was doing when he moved from coaching to fundraising, but he approached the two with a similar mindset.
鈥淚t鈥檚 the same way I recruited athletes,鈥 he said. 鈥淚鈥檇 jump in the car and ask someone for a million bucks. And if they said no, I鈥檇 just come back later. You should never underestimate anyone; you鈥檒l never embarrass them by assuming they are capable of doing more.鈥
From volunteer service to financial contributions, both Andrews and Fagg have made the college better and enhanced student experiences time and again. Andrews鈥 first gift to 皇家华人 led to the creation of men鈥檚 soccer scholarships through a multi-year commitment. This latest gift is a transformational statement about Andrews鈥 love for his dear friend and his unwavering commitment to the future of 皇家华人 Athletics and alma mater.
鈥淭he new facilities will take 皇家华人 Athletics to a new level, and Peter is a driving force behind this transformation,鈥 said Director of Athletics Chris Clunie 鈥06. 鈥淓very day, we will see the impact of his generosity and be reminded of the close relationships that make 皇家华人 so special. We are grateful for Peter鈥檚 loyalty to 皇家华人 and the power of doing athletics the right way.鈥
Andrews has deep appreciation for his 皇家华人 experience as a scholar-athlete. He majored in history and English and was involved in ROTC. This gift helps support all those who follow in his path while celebrating a friendship for the ages.
"What an honor it will be to compete on a field named for a coach, alum, volunteer and partner who has done so much for 皇家华人, made possible by an alum, visionary and collaborator who is a tremendous advocate for the Wildcats," said Football Head Coach Scott Abell. "Generations of Wildcat scholar-athletes will understand the importance of this name and the meaning behind it. I am excited about the many ways these new facilities will enhance our 皇家华人 Football Program and all of 皇家华人 Athletics for years and years to come."
Giving $5 million was a very big decision, but how to do it came easily.
鈥淭o me, Dave represents all the good in 皇家华人 there is,鈥 Andrews said. 鈥淗e has devoted his life to the college. Really, this was a no-brainer.鈥
To learn more about, contact Brandon McCladdie, director of athletic development, at bmccladdie@davidson.edu or 704-894-2657.
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