Military academies are the answer for some

TUSCALOOSA | One is located just down the road, approximately 50 miles away from the University of Alabama campus, while the other would require a 600-mile journey.

The local high school has an enrollment near 2,400 students and is nationally known for being featured on a reality television show by MTV. The other, an all-boys prep school on a 214-acre campus in Southwest Virginia, was founded in 1909 and has just 400 students.

The first, Hoover, is known for being a football powerhouse in the state of Alabama. The other, Hargrave Military Academy, would probably crush the Buccaneers if they ever met on a field.

Yet both have the same number of players on the Crimson Tide roster this year, five.

“It was a real learning experience,” said senior defensive end Keith Saunders, who was a tight end for the Cadets in 2002 before landing at the Capstone. “There were 12 Parade All-Americans out of high school.”

“Good players, good coaching. That’s what got me ready for college.”

Likewise, the school also helped junior cornerback Lionel Mitchell, freshman running back Demetrius Goode, sophomore defensive tackle Lorenzo Washington and sophomore linebacker Brandon Fanney.

Similarly, freshman cornerback Kareem Jackson went to rival Fork Union Military Academy in Charlottesville, Va., last year, where he recorded five interceptions.

“I think it developed me, more as a person than a ballplayer,” said Jackson, who also compared it to being in jail.

For each, the extra schooling provided a needed second chance at playing big-time college football after initially falling short. While a school like Georgia Military is better known for handling student-athletes who have run afoul of the law, Hargrave’s reputation is on the academic side, aiding those who require help with test scores or securing the last couple necessary credits (or both).

Usually, the alternative is the junior-college route, which junior wide receiver Nikita Stover took at Itawamba (2004-05), but at the cost of college eligibility (and many coaches don’t want to sign a prospect just for two years). However, a one-year post-graduate prep school program like at Hargrave doesn’t cost years on the other end.

Overall, Hargrave’s main focus is a four-year boarding high school, and not a cheap one. This year’s tuition is $26,500, though some scholarships are available.

“I really didn’t have any other choice,” said Fanney, but not about the financial aspect, rather the school’s rank-and-file code.

“For me, it was a very different experience, going from a public school to a military-type school,” Mitchell said. “You have to be in uniform, and wake up at a certain point. They even tell you when to eat and do all that. It was real structured, but just something different.

“Going into it, I’m thinking military, not for me. That’s the worst thing I could have thought of. Coming out of it, looking back, it’s not so bad if you have to do it that long and it helps you get to where you want to be.”

Hargrave coaches are used to hearing that, especially considering when Washington attended in 2004 his head coach was also a former Hargrave student. This year Dave Tavenner, a Virginia Military Institute graduate, is running the program.

Actually, early formation, cleanliness (yes, they even learn the proper way to make a bed) and discipline were the easy parts one they got the hang of them. Much tougher was the football.

“We were up there two or three weeks before any of the regular school started, and it was straight three-a-days, every single day,” Washington said, grimacing at the memory.

“That was the first time I’ve been through that,” Fanney said. “In high school we never had two-a-days. It was just one practice a day. You get up there and it’s three practices a day. For three weeks, that’s all we did was practice.”

But it’s hard to argue with the results.

Hargrave’s annual post-season combine day alone draws hundreds of college recruiters from around the country, who not only want to see the players their schools already have verbal commitments from, but also who else might be on the Cadets.

That’s partly how Mitchell ended up at Alabama – that and Fanney twisting his arm.

“It helped me a lot,” Mitchell said. “It got me recognized a lot more. Too many people didn’t know who I was my senior year. After people knew who I was, following me from prep school, it got me a lot more scholarship offers.”

Just about every weekend the various Crimson Tide players see a former teammate on the opposing sideline, and they can hardly watch a college football game without seeing at least one player they know. The Hargrave coaches had made an effort to frequently point their former players, including in the National Football League.

First-round draft selections include Torry Holt (St. Louis, 1999), Charles Grant (New Orleans, 2002), Jon Sullivan (New Orleans, 2003), and Carlos Rogers (Washington, 2005).

Other recent Hargrave products to make the NFL are Solomon Paige (San Diego), Tony Scott (New York Jets), Robert Johnson (Atlanta), Anthony Davis (Tampa Bay), Ronald Fields (San Francisco), Jay Ratliff (Dallas), Danny Ware (Tennessee), Fred Bennett (Houston), Jared Gaither (Baltimore), and Jyles Tucker (San Diego).

Additionally, last weekend, Hargrave played Tennessee’s JV team in Knoxville (a 37-20 victory for the home team). Alabama recruit Kerry Murphy, a defensive tackle, was credited with a tackle.

But if it wasn’t for that second chance, it’s possible that none of the Alabama would be here this season.

“Probably not,” Saunders said.

Tide-bits

Junior quarterback John Parker Wilson said he felt as beat up after Florida State as any opponent he’s ever faced. “They hit pretty good,” Wilson said, while icing his shoulder. As for the Tide’s offensive woes, Wilson’s overriding message was the same as coach Nick Saban’s: “We have to be more consistent.”

Redshirt freshman defensive tackle Brian Motley (ankle) is hoping to be back up to full strength in two weeks. Motley sustained a broken ankle when freshman guard David Ross slipped and fell on his leg days before the season opener. He was supposed to be out 6-8 weeks, but briefly played Saturday against Florida State, calling his first game action, “a great experience.”

Sophomore defensive lineman Brandon Deaderick met with reporters for the first time since his preseason arrest for criminal mischief, resisting arrest and giving police a fake name following an incident along The Strip. Deaderick said the experience helped him mature, but also confessed that part of his punishment from Saban included working at an assisted living facility. With junior end Bobby Greenwood possible out due to an ankle injury, Deaderick could make his first start Saturday against Houston. Incidentally, all other players injured Saturday against FSU, including Travis McCall (concussion), Keith Brown (concussion), and Darren Mustin (thigh), all practiced Tuesday.

Although junior right guard Marlon Davis was noticeably absent the last two days during the brief time periods reporters were able to watch practice, with junior center Antoine Caldwell sliding over to guard and sophomore Evan Cardwell at center, a teammate indicated that Caldwell is still Alabama’s center and likely isn’t going anywhere.

Reach Christopher Walsh at christopher.walsh@tuscaloosanews.com or at 205-722-0196.