Day two of my journey with the Soccer Academy started five-and-a-half hours after day one ended. The players were tired, but eager to meet the coaches from the College of Charleston.
We were met at the TD Arena by Men's Assistant Coach Keith Wiggins. Coach Wiggins explained how vital the $50 million arena was to not only the success of the athletic program, but more importantly the academic success of the school's athletes. The arena houses the academic support center, where the student-athletes have six hours of study hall a week and an academic specialist on hand to help the players study.
For the next two hours, Coach Wiggins took the Academy on a tour of the college. It was unlike any tour I had ever been on. Keith not only talked about the school, also but helped explain how this institution was similar and different to other universities throughout the Southeast. He also touched on the historical significance of the city and its architecture.
Throughout the tour, our Academy players learned about college life, from Title IX to meal plans and living in co-ed dorms to choosing a major at liberal arts institution. Coach Wiggins talked with the teams about the importance of small classes and the relationships you can build with your professors. He described how the president of the College of Charleston is actively involved in the lives of the students.
Throughout the tour, we saw students studying. At 11:30 a.m. on a Friday, the library was jam packed with students. The Cistern, which houses the oldest three buildings on campus and serves as a campus green space, had dozens of students studying as well. In every building, from the TD Arena, to the library, to the student center, there were signs and posters explaining all of the community service opportunities available to students. I hope that our students noticed that despite being 400 miles from Darlington's campus, learning with passion and serving with respect are prevalent throughout academia.
At the end of the tour, Coach Wiggins talked with the athletes about the school's recruiting calendar. It was eye-opening for the younger players. "We have 9.9 scholarships for 30 players. Some players get full rides, others get partial and many get nothing," Keith told them. He added that they are constantly looking for players and while they are still looking for one or two Class of 2016 graduates, they are also actively looking for players who will graduate in 2017 and 2018. "We recruit at the tournaments your Academy plays in," he told them. (And it was great to see him at the U19 championship game on Sunday afternoon. I guess Honor Above Everything also applies in Charleston.)
Before we left, Keith gave the players one last piece of advice. "If you're interested in a school, reach out to the coach and introduce yourself to them," he said. "Find the few schools that you really like. Get to their ID camps. We partner with nine other schools for our camp. You'll get lots of exposure. Everyone thinks they can play at the Division 1 level. Not everyone can. There is lots of good soccer and schools at every level. How do you separate yourself in the eyes of a coach? By showing a demonstrated interest." I'm pretty sure I've heard Darlington Dean of College Guidance Sam Moss use that same line!
We could not have left the historic city without a trip to the open air market and lunch at Sticky Fingers.
The great thing about parking a 44-passenger bus on Meeting Street with Darlington School Soccer Academy emblazoned on the side of it and a purple bus with the school's mission statement all over it is that anyone with a connection to the school will come by and say hello. We saw alumni who graduated in the 80s and 90s as well as the parents of a former faculty member. All these folks had a passion for Darlington, but no one's love for the school ran deeper than one married couple who have matching purple paw tattoos on their ankles that they proudly showed us.
The rest of the day was spent in and around the soccer fields, but there was just enough time to enjoy a brief stint at the beach where Academy coaches Kevin Ray and Chad Liddle attempted to relive their glory days and dominate a game of spikeball.
