College signees will miss being Trojans
Published 12:00 am Thursday, February 3, 2005
They're going to miss the games, but there are more games ahead for them.
What the four Charles Henderson football players who signed scholarships Wednesday will miss most can't be replaced.
To a man, they said they will miss their teammates.
Marquino Siler, who is headed to Gulf Coast Community College in Mississippi, already misses it.
&uot;We're like a family - a bunch of brothers,&uot; Siler said. He's been around long enough to know that hasn't always been the case. But a senior-led team - there were 20 on the team that was eliminated in the second round of the state playoffs by eventual champion Homewood - grew tighter as their careers evolved.
Siler and his teammates remember the wins and losses, but what stays with them is that feeling of being part of a team. It never got better than the game-day atmosphere.
&uot;I'm going to miss Trojan Walk - and Coach (Tyrone) Black's pregame speeches. I'm going to miss Coach Black,&uot; Siler said.
Micah Brown, the two-way lineman headed to Southern Mississippi, didn't realize he was paying his program a compliment when giving his reasons for choosing the school.
&uot;They made me feel at home there,&uot; Brown said. That familiar sense of belonging is what he sought, and found, in Hattiesburg.
&uot;I'll miss being out there with my teammates.&uot;
Joey Moultry, who likely will play cornerback at Middle Tennessee, smiled when asked about what he'll miss the most from his senior season.
&uot;I really miss coming out of the locker room on Friday nights,&uot; Moultry said. &uot;Listening to music, getting pumped up. The pep rallies, my teammates, my classmates, everything.&uot;
Quavian Lewis, who is headed to Vanderbilt and likely will play outside linebacker, didn't dwell on game days.
&uot;The camaraderie is what I'll miss the most,&uot; Lewis said. &uot;Those are my boys. Just working together. Practicing down in the mud bowl. Lifting weights together in the summer. Just being together.&uot;
Those responses added to the pride coach Hugh Fountain felt on Signing Day.
&uot;This bunch of kids really did like each other, cared for each other,&uot; Fountain said in the school's library after the signing ceremonies. &uot;I know that winning makes it easier to get along with each other. This group won a lot of games in the last few seasons for us. But really, I think it's the other way around. I think winning is a product of these guys enjoying being with each other.&uot;
As far as the game day atmosphere, Fountain said the program does want to make that special for every Trojan.
&uot;We've asked kids about game days - and it's surprising how important that is to them,&uot; the coach said. &uot;They love Trojan Walk. They love running through the sign. I've told them, 'There's nothing like game day,' and they all say, 'Coach, you're right.' That's really what's unique about football. Before a game you don't know just what is going to happen. You can't take away how you feel in the minutes before you're about to go to war with somebody.&uot;