There is no question that Marcus Lattimore’s season-ending knee injury in South Carolina’s defeat of Mississippi State two weeks ago was the shot heard ‘round Gamecock nation.
Although it occurred on a somewhat lackluster rushing attempt by Bruce Ellington, Lattimore’s fourth quarter injury against the Mississippi State Bulldogs seemed to be almost the “perfect” way to end the Gamecock’s multi-week stint in the Twilight Zone. All in the span of a couple weeks the lid was blown off Gamecock football: Gamecocks’s fifth-year senior and long-time starting quarterback Stephen Garcia was benched in favor of sophomore Connor shaw; Steve Spurrier refused his weekly press conference, confronting a media member for reporting misinformation; Stephen Garcia, following Shaw’s stellar showing against Kentucky, is dismissed from the team for a violation of his terms of reinstatement; and finally with the season-ending injury of star running back and Heisman candidate Marcus Lattimore.
If Gamecock fans are beginning to grow uneasy, I don’t know that there is really anyone that would blame them. What had started out as one of the most highly anticipated seasons in recent Gamecock football history now appears to be slowly but surely turning out to be just another trademark season, front-heavy with excitement. If you’ve followed Carolina football at all in the past decade or two, you know the drill. The season starts out well, the players begin finding a rhythm, and the team’s biggest questions begin to look as though they’ll soon find answers. Then, somewhere in the middle of the season – usually on the week of a “lesser” opponent – the team comes out flat and remains out of sync for the rest of the season, crushing all the illustrious hopes of postseason grandeur. It’s the age-old story of the Chicken Curse.
So what about this year? Will another football season be overcome in the chokehold of the ‘Chicken Curse?’ Will the team fold under this sudden blow to team morale, or will the Gamecock football team be able to follow of their back-to-back National Champion baseball brethren and, “Win Anyway?” Only time will truly tell, but I would argue that the fate of Gamecock fan-hood rests in the hands of the injured sophomore running back out of Duncan, South Carolina.
It is by no means a secret that Marcus Lattimore means a great deal the University of South Carolina and the city of Columbia. Ever since his arrival on the team, Marcus has been the embodiment of the ideal football player: fast, strong, hard-working, humble, and sacrificial. He has quickly earned the respect of teammates and fans alike in his first two years, running over and around seasoned SEC defenses, gaining 30 touchdowns and over 2000 yards rushing in only 21-games with USC. Although not necessarily a big vocal leader, Lattimore’s strength and consistency have bolstered team morale, often anchoring an inconsistent-at-best offensive unit. His influence is such that the coaches have even asked him to travel to Tennessee for the Gamecocks‘ game against the Volunteers, crutches and all – that even having him on the sidelines brings an extra boost. Watching the Columbia headlines these past few months, it seems that this inspiration and “extra boost” is contagious, extending to the rest of the Columbia and the whole of South Carolina.
Marcus has made no secret about his Christian faith and the role that is relationship with God plays in who he is both as a man and a football player. He continually attends church with a handful of fellow teammates and has spoken alongside team chaplain Adrian Despres at various events, including a “Real Men, Real Talk” event attended by several thousand men and boys of all ages. He’s not afraid to be frank about his beliefs, and often speaks on the importance of cultivating discipline and good character – notions that are, in today’s world, increasingly more elusive. Of course, I don’t mean to hoist up Marcus Lattimore as some sort of perfect “saving grace” for the city of Columbia and Gamecock fans abroad, but I do think that his impact on Gamecock culture – both now and in years to come – is something worth exploring.
If you really look at continuation of the idea of the Chicken Curse over years past, you have to admit that the fan-created culture has played the primary role. Sure, the players are ultimately responsible for both their performances and outcome of the game, but the collective fan base certainly plays a predominant role. It’s as if Carolina fans hope for the best, but always expect the worst. Sure, the team may be having a good season so far, but as soon as something goes remotely wrong fans are quick to throw in the towel, victimize themselves, and grumble their laments over the Chicken Curse. Fans get fed up and leave the game early, leaving their beloved Gamecocks to fend for themselves. They distance themselves with “they’s” and “their’s” on radio call-in shows, and passively wait to restore their fanhood until something begins to go right again – regardless of how many weeks/seasons it takes.
So what does Marcus Lattimore have to do with all of this? Everything, I would argue. Because he has won over the hearts of Gamecock fans everywhere, I think he has the unique opportunity to set in motion a shift in this ridiculous, long-standing “cursed” culture. Fans of all ages respect and/or look up to Marcus, and I believe his personal reaction to this season-ending knee injury could very well deal the fatal blow to the security blanket that fans always seem to fall back on. Getting news of a season-ending injury is a terribly bitter pill for anyone to have to swallow, but Marcus has mentioned several times that although he is heavy-hearted over the matter, his life isn’t over, because he trusts that God has a reason for allowing it to happen.
In the face of some of the worst news an athlete can receive, Marcus Lattimore has responded with faith, trusting that his tragic injury was a tool that God could use to accomplish His purpose. He could have felt sorry for himself and given up, and I guarantee you that Gamecock fans wouldn’t have blamed him a bit, but he didn’t. He chose to have faith – both in God’s purposes and in his fellow teammates to continue to fight and get the job done without him – to “win anyway.” He chose to travel to Knoxville Tennessee and crutch around for three hours to support and encourage the team, despite the pain of not being able to participate.
I think it’s time for us Carolina fans to follow in Lattimore’s footsteps. Maybe we should begin working to create a new culture of responding to adversity with faith, trusting both in the larger purpose and our team’s ability to pull through, despite whatever daunting circumstances may have arisen. Maybe it’s time to let go of this “cursed,” victim mentality and take responsibility, choosing to support and encourage that which we claim to represent, regardless of what happens. It’s easy to encourage and support when things are going well, but it takes character to keep encouraging and keep supporting, even when things go horribly wrong. Will we be forever known as a blame-shifting fan base who feels sorry for ourselves, or a community who rallies around the rough spots and supports no matter what?
