The DSU archives is celebrating yet another landmark achievement! For the first time ever, the archives and I, by name, have received acknowledgement in a book.
Last year Mr. Mike Gastineau visited the William C. Jason Library to conduct research regarding the 1981 DSC football team and its controversial coach, Mr. Joe Purzycki. At that time he examined Board of Trustee records, news clippings, and sports media guides. These records, in conjunction with conversations with Mr. Purzycki, led to a book.
Mr. Townsend and the Polish Prince tells the story of the racial tensions that resulted from an unprecedented move by Delaware State University to hire a white coach football. After a embarrassing 1980 season, concluded by a 105-0 loss to Portland State University, the then-athletic director, Nelsen Townsend, decided a radical change was necessary. Townsend hired Purzycki, the assistant football coach at University of Delaware.
When Purzycki came to work on his first day, he had to force his way through a picket line of students protesting his presence on campus and seventeen scholarship players immediately quit the team. Despite these and numerous other challenges, Purzycki won the admiration of the DSC community and ultimately turned the team around.
I haven't read Mr. Townsend and the Polish Prince, yet, but I am eager to begin. This a chapter of University history that I was hitherto unaware of, and I'm grateful to Mr. Gastineau for bringing it to the limelight.
If you'd like to learn more about this story you can checkout the book's website at https://thepolishprince.com/ or you can purchase the book on Amazon. It is available in both paperback and kindle editions. https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Townsend-Polish-Prince-redemption/dp/1728922488
Congratulations Mr. Gastineau and Mr. Purzycki!
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