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FRANK PASTORSpringstead's Jose Yearwood and Joe Vitale will play in college after stellar prep careers.
SPRING HILL - The occasion was bittersweet for Jose Yearwood.
With his mother, Emilia, at his side, the Springstead senior announced Tuesday he will attend Brown University during a ceremony in athletic director Bob Levija's office.
The announcement marked the fulfilment of a lifelong dream: Yearwood will study education at an Ivy League school and play football on the school's dime.
But one thing was missing.
His father.
Carlos Yearwood Sr. died after a year-long battle with cancer two years ago, and Jose would have liked nothing more than to share the moment with him.
"Not having my father here with me, that's been the hardest part," Yearwood said. "These past two years have been amazing with my accomplishments in football and socially, and he can't see any of this, so that really bothers me."
Yearwood was joined by classmate Joe Vitale, who will attend Jacksonville University. Both will receive grant money.
Yearwood and Vitale were Times' All-Citrus/Hernando First Team selections as seniors. Yearwood, a 6-foot, 180-pound defensive back, had 44 tackles and a county-high three interceptions. Vitale, a 6-0, 250-pound center, anchored the county's top offensive line.
"These guys have tremendous character and a tremendous work ethic," Springstead coach Bill Vonada said, "and it pays off for them."
Yearwood's athletic and academic record made him a perfect fit for Brown. He has a 3.85 cumulative grade point average and an ACT score of 27. He lettered in football, basketball, track and weightlifting and is a member of the National Honor Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
He said his father, who pushed him to always try his hardest, was an inspiration.
"If I ever have his strength, I'll be prepared for life, because he never used to complain," Yearwood said. "Even though he was sick, he used to still do things around the house, and that's courage right there."
Brown started following Yearwood in the spring and kept in touch after Springstead's county-best 7-3 season. Yearwood visited the Providence, R.I., school Jan. 16 and committed shortly after returning home to discuss the matter with his mother.
He said Brown's persistence won him over.
"I want to be someplace I feel like I'm wanted," Yearwood said, "and I felt like they wanted me."
Vitale follows in the footsteps of former Springstead lineman Matt Arcarola, who played at Jacksonville from 1998-2001.
"Seven years of hard work finally came together," Vitale said. "A whole bunch of hours in the weight room, conditioning on the field, a lot of good coaching, it just came together, and now I'm going to a great school and have an opportunity to keep on playing."
Vitale became a starter as a freshman but said a decision to concentrate on football over baseball two years ago was important.
"I opted for football because I just love the sport and I was pretty good at it at the time, and now I'm really good at it because I'm going to a Division I college," Vitale said. "I know I have a lot of hard work ahead of me, and I'm prepared for it."
Wanting to stay close to home, Vitale didn't apply to a school any farther than Georgia Southern. He said he chose Jacksonville over Florida International and Florida Atlantic because of its sports management program.
"I went down there and looked at those schools, and they were great institutions, really beautiful schools, great football teams," Vitale said. "But I felt with my situation, Jacksonville has a direct sports management program with a small enrollment size and I felt they were the best fit."
Vitale expects to be redshirted as a freshman and compete for a starting spot as a sophomore.
"I'll have some competition," he said, "but I'll be working my butt off trying to get in there."