About 1,500 fans attended an afternoon rally for Marcus Lattimore on South Carolina’s campus yesterday. Lattimore was lost for the season on Saturday when he sustained the second major knee injury of his career. Speakers included teammates, school president Harris Pastides, and US Senator Lindsey Graham. Well wishes and proclamations came in from US Vice President Joe Biden and Palmetto State Governor Nikki Haley.
That’s a darn big show of respect for a college running back who tore up his knee. It says a lot about Lattimore’s reputation off the field, as well as on it. You can see video from the rally by clicking here.
On a positive note, Steve Spurrier said that Lattimore wanted him to tell the crowd, “I’ll be back.” The coach added: “We’re going to get Marcus for our or five years instead of three. That’s one positive we know of.”
Lattimore’s injury was so severe that he might have to miss then entire 2013 season in order to return to the field in 2014 (if he can return at all). While we’re glad he’s planning to return to the SEC, any true well-wisher of Lattimore would hope that he turns pro and tries to make as much money as possible as soon as possible. And save the emails, that’s not an anti-Carolina statement… that’s pro-Lattimore.
While the rally was a nice show of support for Lattimore, Spurrier sadly wound up making headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Over the weekend a number of Clemson players tweeted kind words to and about Lattimore. On his Sunday teleconference, Tiger coach Dabo Swinney — who made the mistake last year of engaging Spurrier in a war of words — said of Lattimore’s injury:
“Just absolutely took my breath away… I was watching it, and it breaks my heart. I am sorry for him and his family. This is a guy that represents all the good things that college football should be about. He is a class young man and so is his family and I know how hard he worked.”
Did Spurrier respond with kind words toward his opponent? Surely with the story being Lattimore and not his own ego or the Carolina-Clemson rivalry, Spurrier could say something nice, couldn’t he?
Nope:
“A lot of quotes came across the nation. I read one today from the head coach of our Upstate school. You know that school that used to beat us a lot but doesn’t beat us much anymore. Usually, when that coach up there talks about South Carolina, it’s a bunch of garbage and a bunch of BS, usually. But I have to agree with him on what he said the other day. He said ‘Marcus Lattimore stands for what’s right about college football.’”
Informed of Spurrier’s comments last night, Swinney told his radio show audience: “I don’t really have a comment other than I’m embarrassed for him. That would be about the only thing I have to say about that.”
If Swinney’s smart he’ll keep it that way. You don’t win a war of words with the Ol’ Ball Coach. And if you stay quiet long enough, he’ll say something ugly at the wrong time in the wrong place and draw negative attention back to himself. He’s one of the greatest coaches in college football history, but several times a year his mouth brings to mind Karl Malden’s speech to George C. Scott during the movie “Patton.” Hushing a loud-mouthed general George Patton, general Omar Bradley says:
“You are loyal, dedicated. You’re one of the best I’ve got, but you don’t know when to shut up. George, you’re a pain in the neck.”
At an event at which Lattimore should have been the sole focus, Spurrier managed to insult a rival coach who had had nothing but nice things to say about Spurrier’s injured star. When given a choice between showing class or showing his ass, it’s not hard to guess which option Carolina’s coach will choose.
Here’s video of Spurrier’s comments:
