Marcus Lattimore is done for the season due to a knee injury. It’s a nightmare, and it’s heartbreaking. As one writer put it, Lattimore is not only a great representative for the University of South Carolina, he is a great representative for the game of college football.
He is the current cornerstone of our football program. All-SEC. All-American. Heisman candidate. Good guy…check that, GREAT guy. He is the best running back we have seen in a Gamecock uniform in 30 years, and has a chance to be the best ever. Even better, he is the epitome of a team player – humble and willing to do whatever it takes to help bring home a victory.
The good news is he will be back in 2012, and based on the work ethic and determination he has shown since coming to USC, he will be better than ever. The bad news is he is done for the 2011 season.
Which leads to a question for the rest of the Gamecock players and coaches…
What are you going to do about it?
These are the times when you get the full measure of a football program. Adversity has come upon you like a cold rain the last two weeks, and even so, you are still in the driver’s seat to win the East and get back to Atlanta.
The media is already building in the excuses for your demise – the dismissal of Garcia, your tough schedule, Georgia’s easy schedule, and now the loss of #21. You have no shot.
Well screw that. You didn’t come to South Carolina to finish second. You have enough talent to compete and defeat anyone on the schedule, even without Garcia and Lattimore.
Connor Shaw – this is your team. Don’t go “manage the game”, go win the game.
Brandon Wilds – you came to South Carolina to be a feature back, right? Well, here’s your shot, and a lot sooner than expected.
Bruce Ellington – you saw the success of the football program and decided, “I want in.” Now stop being a part of the success and start being a reason for it.
Kenny Miles and Eric Baker – rub some freakin’ dirt on it and let’s get on the field and make a difference.
Dameire Byrd and Ace Sanders – be game breakers. Be back breakers.
Jason Barnes – you’re running out of time to make a difference. Now is as good a time as any, what do you say?
Offensive line – put a hat on somebody and push them out of the way. EVERY TIME.
Defense – you guys need to…well, you need to keep doing what you’re doing, and we’ll be in every game.
Steve Spurrier and staff – COACH. THEM. UP. HBC, if you are still truly and offensive “genius”, now is the time to show it. You have the talent, now maximize it.
We had a whole day to have a pity party on Sunday – coaches, players and fans alike. But it’s time to define a season. It’s time to move on and expect nothing less than a complete effort in every game going forward. Three phases on the field, and one united phase in the stands.
Win anyway.
Win any way.
The Rubber Chickens Blog 
Besides brandon wilds, who else do we have at runningback that can step up, if kenny miles, and eric baker dont get well in time? Do you think spurrier might change a players position?
Just an uneducated opinion, but I think we probably start using Ellington in a similar role that Auburn uses Onterrio McCalebb – speed sweeps, wildcat, etc. He’ll get 8-10 touches per game running the ball. Wilds will get 15-20 carries. After that, whoever is healthiest between Baker and Miles will spell Wilds.
Maybe I’m missing somebody, but I honestly don’t know who we have after that. Barring a position change, I think we get into walk-on territory.
Maybe give Ingram a couple carries (and I’m only half-joking).
Amen…….I hope your intended audience is reading (while watching the workout scene in Rocky II).
Let go Gamecocks! You can do this and we are behind you all the way!
if kenny miles and eric baker are not healthy to play by then, do you think that joshua blue #34 and josh hinch #24 might get a chance? I watched them get snaps during the garnet and black game this year and they didnt look to bad at all. They both are smaller backs.
Spurrier said today Hinch would be the guy behind Wilds if Baker and Miles couldn’t go. I hope it doesn’t come to that. I expect both Baker and Miles to be ready whether they’re 100% or not, they’re running out of chances.