It was a momentous day for the Central Virginia Homeschool Disciples, as Augie Conte and Jerome Wright became the team's first two alumni to sign Division I scholarships. But at the same time, a bill in the state legislature that threatens the Disciples' very existence took a decisive step forward.
Conte, a 6-foot-6, 270-pound lineman now at Blessed Sacrament Huguenot, and Wright, a 6-2, 220-pound running back from Highland Springs, signed national letters of intent with Virginia Tech.
"It shows some people that may have felt that home-schoolers were a bunch of nerds with pencil protectors in their pockets that we've got some athletes," Disciples coach Dave Hollis said.
Hollis and his wife formed the team when his home-schooled son had nowhere else to play. With a coaching staff of volunteers, the Disciples have played seven seasons. Most of their opponents are other home-school teams, many in other states.
"The coaching there was above what you would expect from a volunteer coaching staff," Conte said.
Chris Bullock, a Disciples running back, had 1,459 rushing yards, the most of any home-school back in the country.
Conte had never played organized football before joining the Disciples. He attended a camp, and the next thing he knew, he was on the team.
Wright joined the Disciples his sophomore year, because, like many others, he had nowhere else to play. He called his experience with the Disciples a blessing. Now, he and Conte are Hokies.
"I think Dave Hollis and the Homeschool have a lot to be proud of," BSH coach Mike Henderson said. "It shows that home-school football and private-school football has improved greatly in the past 10 to 15 years."
As Conte and Wright signed their letters on opposite ends of the city, a bill that would allow home-schoolers to play public school sports was approved by the House education committee.
If the bill becomes law, students may choose to play for their own school instead of the Disciples. Some members of the team who come from an hour or more outside Richmond could join a team just minutes away.
But Hollis, who is in favor of the bill, is confident the Disciples will continue to play. Conte, who lives in the George Wythe district, said if he had been given the choice to play for a public school or the Disciples, he would have stayed with the Disciples.
"As far as losing kids, I don't really concern myself with that," Hollis said. "The Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away. Whoever he brings our way, we'll have."
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