Despite a passion and love for the sport of football, Darius Tate was ineligible to play in the first seven weeks of PC football this season.
Darius began his education in Platteville before moving to Potosi in 2017 for fourth grade. Later that same year, he relocated to California, but by fifth grade, he was back in Wisconsin, living in Cuba City. Although Darius and his family eventually bought a house in Potosi, he attended school in Platteville during his sixth-grade year. His freshman year marked a return to Potosi, where he truly enjoyed his time. As a sophomore, he moved to Dubuque, then back to Platteville for his junior year, and finally returned to Potosi for his senior year to finish out high school where he had started.
Darius knew he would end up back in Potosi Schools. “I always knew I’d find my way back to Potosi. There’s just something about this place, the air feels lighter, the people feel like family, and the motivation to do your best is everywhere. Nowhere else compares to the sense of belonging and opportunity that Potosi gives.”
Darius experienced many emotions while waiting to see if he would be able to play football again this year. “There were times I felt completely defeated—bad, miserable, and unsure if I’d ever play again. I was ready to walk away. But Coach Segert, Coach Edge, senior William Tobin, and freshman Dylan Schuaff from Cassville stood by me. They lifted me up when I couldn’t find the strength myself.”
He kept working toward his goals. “Knowing I was unable to play would affect me throughout the school days, not being able to find a reason to do my assignments, and messing with my overall mood throughout the day.” He added that being a part of the team was the motivation he needed though. “It was a lot of fun at practices; I just had to keep reminding myself why I would keep coming to practice, unsure if I was even going to play again.”
Darius had moved in with the Tobin family over the summer of 2025. Darius’ mother signed over guardianship to William Tobin’s family so that Darius could be eligible to play football for the PC football team. WIAA rule F.6 states “For varsity eligibility, public school students are basically eligible to participate in the district in which their parents reside in their primary residence. A transfer of guardianship, or reaching 18 years of age, does not set aside this rule. Parents may not establish a secondary residence, in a second district, and gain athletic eligibility. Nonpublic school students, with the exception of boarding schools, must reside full-time with parents in their primary residence.”
District administrator Kurt Cohen explained how this rule applied to Darius’ unique situation. “The transfer rule is not an issue if the transfer is a result of a ‘complete family move.’ If that is not the case, the transfer rule is all about timing. If an athlete makes a transfer decision after the start of their junior year, the athlete is only eligible to play at the non-varsity level for one calendar year. In Darius' case, once the paperwork was filed correctly with all the corroborating circumstances [and] evidence, it was determined that the move was considered a "full family move" since guardianship was moved to the Tobin [family].
After waiting many weeks for approval, his eligibility to play was finally approved on the day of Potosi’s homecoming football game. Darius learned that we would be allowed to suit up for the homecoming game during the Friday pep rally. The news was revealed as Darius stood on the auditorium stage with his teammates during the traditional pep rally. The entire student body of the district learned the heartwarming news at that moment. There were plenty of happy tears among the friends Darius had made upon his return to Potosi. That night, he was finally able to suit up and represent PC football.