Wednesday was National Signing day. Five years ago on that day, I watched my future brother-in-law sign for a full athletic scholarship to Coastal Carolina University. As Ben put on that teal and white ball cap and signed on the dotted line, I saw the relief in his parents’ faces as they realized his college education was paid in full. He will graduate in May and enter the work force; his football career is over. But, thanks to football, he has an education to start a traditional career. Last year, five West Rowan football players signed full athletic scholarships; This past Wednesday, four more young men were awarded the same. Several more players were not ready to commit, but have offers on the table and will play collegiately.
Playing football at West doesn’t just make you a better athlete; it makes you a better student. It motivates you to keep your grades up. It makes you believe in yourself. It gives you role models to look up to if there aren’t any at home. It gives you somewhere to be afterschool from August to December that keeps you out of trouble. It gives you an accountability and support system as big as a football field.
As a teacher, it doesn’t matter if a kid gets a scholarship for being an underwater basket weaver, it’s a great moment. But few, if any, of the kids that signed on Wednesday would have gone to college on scholarships without athletics. Having taught some of the boys, I would venture to say that one or two of them were at risk of not graduating at all before they got involved with football. Now, they are going to college- for free!
So, how do I like working at a football school? I love it. Go Falcons.
