With son Jackson going to Georgia, Will Muschamp has different role on National Signing Day
Will Muschamp was part of many signing days as a coach or player through the years, just never as a dad.
But the South Carolina football coach was like any other parent or family member Wednesday inside Hammond’s Fawcett Gymnasium. Muschamp strolled across the gym floor to the stands to watch his son Jackson Muschamp get ready for the next chapter of his career.
Jackson Muschamp, the quarterback for Hammond’s last two state title teams, was part of six Skyhawk players headed to play college football. Jackson is walking on at Georgia where his father played his college ball and many of his family go to school.
Will Muschamp, his wife Carol and son Whit sat next to Jackson at his assigned table as he gave a speech along with his other teammates. The Muschamps took pictures after the ceremony and then watched as Jackson met with the reporters.
“I didn’t like the hat at all.,” Will Muschamp joked of his son sporting a Georgia hat Wednesday afternoon. “But, nah. You know, Jackson.. We had a discussion probably five or six years ago, you know, and that’s young. He said, ‘Dad, I want to play Division I college football.’ And I said, ‘Well it’s gon’ be really hard. You’re going to have really work hard. Take advantage of the opportunities you have, but you got to really put in the time.’
“And at that time he really started, kind of, going into eighth/ninth grade, really put in the time. We weren’t even here at that time. Really started working toward wanting to be a Division I quarterback.”
“I didn’t like the hat,” Will Muschamp joked of his son sporting a Georgia hat Wednesday afternoon. “We had a discussion five or six years ago. Jackson said, ‘Dad I want to play Division I college football. I told him you got to put in the time. He started putting in the time and wanting to be Division I quarterback.”
Muschamp threw for more than 5,000 yards and 63 touchdowns the past two seasons. And like Wednesday, his father was in the stands for most of his son’s games at Hammond.
“He is recruiting guys left and right, so it is special for him and the rest of my family to sit next to me while I sign a paper to go to college,” Jackson Muschamp said. “It is pretty special for everybody.”
Jackson committed to play for Colorado State and new coach Steve Addazio on Jan. 26 Addazio offered Muschamp before he was fired at Boston College and extended an offer after he got the job at CSU.
But Jackson admitted he got caught up in the moment on his official visit and never should have committed. He called his parents the day after the commitment to tell them it wasn’t the right decision.
“ I said if that’s the way you feel, you need to call these coaches immediately,” Will Muschamp said. “I mean, this was ... a mistake and we owned it, and we called the coaches immediately and let them know exactly what was going on in the process.”
Jackson always has loved Georgia and has friends and family that have attended the school. He has a good relationship with Bulldogs coach Kirby Smart, who has known him since he was an infant.
Jackson also camped at Georgia over the summer and took another visit to the school last weekend. He didn’t consider USC or any place where his dad wanted to coach. He wanted to blaze his own path.
“My family was great. They were going to let me do what I wanted to do,” Jackson said. “They were going to be excited whatever decision I made. He is super happy, and my whole family is happy I am going to Georgia.”
He did say it will be a little weird to be on the opposite sideline from his father. Next season the Gamecocks host Georgia on Nov. 7.
“Whether I’m playing or not, I am going to be waking up at 4 a.m. working out for Georgia,” Jackson said. “I definitely want Georgia to win.”
This story was originally published February 5, 2020 at 7:15 PM.
