CSU seniors set to cap successful run

It was not long ago that a reference to the Charleston Southern football program produced chuckles and one-liners. Things have changed quite a bit in the last four years. A Big South Conference title, back-to-back winning seasons, and a win over city rival The Citadel have been clear indicators of the program's ascent.

A win over Coastal Carolina on Saturday in the final game of the season would mean a third straight winning season and a fourth consecutive season with a non-losing record.

Saturday will be the final college game for 17 CSU seniors, the most in head coach Jay Mills' five-year tenure. While all seniors in any program are special, CSU seniors Rick Howell, Jada Ross, C. J. Hirschman and Nick Ellis stand out above the rest.

All four have been on the field for most of CSU's games over the last four years, mostly as starters. Ellis, the team's place-kicker, is the school's all-time leader in field goals and points scored and made game-winning overtime field goals in wins over Coastal Carolina (2005) and The Citadel (2006).

Howell will be making his 35th career start on the offensive line this Saturday. Hirschman is making his 33rd career start and Ross, the all-time leader in tackles in Big South and Charleston Southern history, is making his 40th career start.

"We have two groups in terms of seniors that are very special," said CSU head coach Jay Mills. "The redshirt seniors that were here in that 1-11 season (2003) weathered the storm and stuck with it and I'm so proud of those young men. They saw the future when there was no visible evidence in front of them that we could turn this program around.

"The true seniors, who have been here four years, were the guys who jumped on board after that 1-11 season so they entrusted their college careers to a program that had not shown much the season before. They deserve a lot of credit for making that decision to come to Charleston Southern, purely on faith."

Howell came to CSU hoping for an opportunity to turn a program around after playing on a largely unsuccessful high school team.

"I'm proud of what we have accomplished over the last four years," said Howell. "The last three years have been really fun. We feel like we've started a tradition. I played at a high school that didn't win and I wanted to come here and try to make a change. To think we have a chance to have a third straight winning season is pretty remarkable and we're all very proud of that."

Hirschman, an all-conference defensive back and punt returner, has yet to experience a losing season at CSU and says closing out with a win on Saturday would be icing on the cake of a great career.

"Being here has definitely been a satisfying experience for me," he said. "To come into a program and be a part of turning it around and winning a championship, it's really special. Coach Mills brought in a group of guys that believed they could win and we did it. It would be very special if we can win Saturday and go all four years without a losing record."

The seniors have spent some time this week reflecting on their time together but as Ross puts it, the heavy reflection will come after the game. For now, the focus is on football.

"I'm trying not to think much about anything but Coastal right now," said Ross. "Our main focus is to win the game. It would be a great way to end my career, beating Coastal Carolina in my last game on my home field. Hopefully I can play well and contribute to a victory. I'm going to play hard and have fun, the way I've always played. After it's all over I can sit back and think about everything."