Charleston Southern begins season dealing with death

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Third-year Charleston Southern coach Jay Mills took his team from a 1-11 season his first year to 5-5 a year ago, and returning players and fans had high expectations for this year.

Then, during the offseason, the program suffered an unexpected setback.

The team lost its top receiver Eddie Gadson when he was killed in a June automobile accident near his home in Stockbridge, Ga.

"This is a period of transition for the team," Mills said. "We don't move on, but we move forward."

Gadson set an example for others, Mills said. He was a walk-on who earned a full scholarship and quickly became a team leader for the Buccaneers. He had 69 catches for 792 yards a season ago to lead the Big South Conference and received All-Conference honors. The 20-year-old would have been a sophomore this year.

"We describe him as Charleston Southern University's 'Cinderella' man," Mills said. "While you certainly can't replace Eddie... we hope that the coaching staff and team, and I believe we are united, take the lessons that Eddie taught in his short time here."

The tragedy at the small Baptist school offers insight into how the close-knit football program is run. Each player was contacted by a coach, and Mills even spoke at Gadson's funeral.

Gadson will be memorialized again on campus Aug. 31 (the week of the Bucs opener at The Citadel) because some players who wanted to attend the funeral service couldn't.

"He was such a dynamic and charismatic young man," Mills said. "He had such an impact on other athletes in other sports and members of the student body."

Other things will be done to honor and remember Gadson this season, though Mills didn't want to talk about them publicly until he had a chance to meet with entire team.

"I don't think there's an easy way to handle this," Mills said. "But I believe that the grieving process will be extended longer because for some it won't be evident until they arrive on campus and see his absence."

It's hard for Mills to talk about Xs and Os and season expectations without mentioning Gadson.

But he did say the Bucs can improve at almost every position.

The team lacks experience - Charleston Southern will only have a half-dozen senior starters.

"We're going to be young still," Mills said. "Last year, two-thirds of the team were freshman and sophomores."

But players are getting used to coaches and their systems. It has taken three recruiting classes to get the right numbers at each position.

"We're still a year away from where our program needs to be," he said. "Now we're aligned with the proper number at positions, it's just a matter of maturing."

One player who has matured quickly is quarterback Colin Drafts, who holds nearly every passing record in school history after just two seasons.

Drafts led an offense that set school records for points (268) and passing yards (2,599). The junior is back for his third season as the starter. He completed 62.4 percent of his passes for 2,532 yards and 21 touchdowns last season.

Mills said Drafts isn't motivated by the records or recognition, but rather the wins.

"His goals are to continue to take the program to the next level," the coach said.