COLUMBIA, SC — The defending SCISA champions have a new quarterback. First year starter Jackson Muschamp. He replaces record breaking quarterback Corbett Glick at Hammond. Huge shoes to fill on top of being the son of a SEC head coach. Sounds like way too much pressure for a kid but you don't know Jackson.
"I think it's really cliche' to say that I don't think about it all and stuff like that but I really don't. It's just not really something that really effects me at all. I don't feel any pressure from it," Jackson said.
Being looked at as Muschamp's son has been Jackson's story since day one.
"It's been like that my whole life. My dad has been either a coordinator or head coach my whole entire life so I've always had that in my background and I really don't feel any pressure at all. People at Hammond don't really talk about it at all, the coaches don't, so I just kind of go out and play my own game."
Jackson's dad is Will Muschamp, USC's head football coach or Coach Boom as some would call him.
Will has been coaching a long time and he feels there is some pressure on his son but he sees Jackson taking charge of his own decisions.
"I think he's got a lot of pressure on him and it's unfortunate because of his last name but he's handled it extremely well," Will said.
Jackson is Will's oldest son and Whit is Jackson's little brother. Will never put any expectations on his sons that they had to follow in his footsteps.
"There was never one time, whether it was Jackson or Whit, that I ever told them that they had to play football or play anything. I just said you need to be involved in something-something outside of just going to school. Because I do think sports are a great teacher of character and work ethic and teamwork and I think those things are really important as you go further in your life. So I'm extremely proud of what he's accomplished and where he is," Will said.
Hammond's head coach Erik Kimrey totally relates to Jackson. Erik's father, Bill, coached him at Dutch Fork and now Erik helps Jackson handle everything that comes with being a son of a coach. The good thing, Erik says, is that you gain an edge over competition.
"I think it's an extreme advantage because you understand the game a little bit deeper than most people do and you probably care about it a little bit more," Erik said. "So Jackson not only has been around his dad who's extremely successful but he's been around a lot of elite football players. He understands how to work hard and the type of effort they put into their craft."
Will has been a great resource for Jackson since he's a defensive minded coach. Jackson played safety last year at Hammond and with that experience and his dad's advice he understands both sides of the ball now. But Will will always be his dad first.
"If I have any questions or anything I go to him and ask him. He's always there for me. But you know he's not going to make me do any extra work or anything like that. He's going to be a dad," Jackson said.
Hammond won their season debut last Friday as Jackson threw his first career touchdown pass in a close 15-12 win over Charlotte Country Day.
Hammond will go for their 14th straight win as Jackson leads the Skyhawks offense against Trinity Byrnes this Friday night on the road.