How's Marcus Lattimore coming

[Senior Rooster]

Originally Posted by FloydTheBarber

What makes you say that?

I didnt realize there were that many football players who immediately blow out their surgically repaired knee to make one feel this way.

I remember Sturdivant, the OT for UGA, but thats the only recent player I can think of off the top of my head.

I AGREE!!! Why even think such a thing. I would pray it never happens. Not just for the team's sake, but for a fine young man.

[blackcock1]

Originally Posted by Flameout12

Such a fine young man...I'd love to meet his mom one day and tell her.

mothers day 2011, he and his family sat beside mine at Outback in spartanburg. fresh outta church, everyone in the family took every free shot that the waitress came by with. most of them ordered more alcohol to go with their meal. his mother even went as far as to say, "you know we baptist, come skrate outta church and start drankin, hahahaha". I will say that the whole time, Marcus was very quite and never got overly loud like the rest of the family. He also never even laid his hand on an alcoholic drink, not even to pass it over to another family member from the waitress( yes, I know he's not old enough to drink, just saying). it might be because he saw my camera phone pointed at him as I whispered, "ESPN", lol. just kidding, I really do like the guy, I think he's good young man. true story, though.

[garnetmike]

Originally Posted by blackcock1

mothers day 2011, he and his family sat beside mine at Outback in spartanburg. fresh outta church, everyone in the family took every free shot that the waitress came by with. most of them ordered more alcohol to go with their meal. his mother even went as far as to say, "you know we baptist, come skrate outta church and start drankin, hahahaha". I will say that the whole time, Marcus was very quite and never got overly loud like the rest of the family. He also never even laid his hand on an alcoholic drink, not even to pass it over to another family member from the waitress( yes, I know he's not old enough to drink, just saying). it might be because he saw my camera phone pointed at him as I whispered, "ESPN", lol. just kidding, I really do like the guy, I think he's good young man. true story, though.

I have to be honest and respond to some that will probably call BS on this post...that contrary to what some say, there is a time and a place for everything. Not to get drunk, but going to outback and having a beer or two is not all that bad. Doing that and driving is, but simply having some alcohol with your meal is not. As per Marcus not doing so, glad to hear that a parent wouldn't allow their 19 to 20 year old drink at least in public.

I consider myself a Christian and yet I am certain at times someone at a table next to mine (if we were important enough to pay attention to) would potentially think badly about we so-called Christians having drinks. Again, there's a time and a place, but good to hear Marcus wasn't doing so...and I would think very poorly toward mrs Lattimore if the kid was drinking in public.

FYI, I allow my own 19 year old to have a fuzzy navel at the lake. Much like everything else, you're better to teach your kids control and rational thinking...rather than be all about total abstinence and see them off to college and THEN they see thereof first interaction with alcohol.

That said, I'd expect a bunch of negative responses to your post...as well as mine.

However, Ive raised two older daughters and have a third going off to college and one still at home and they've all be outstanding students, young ladies and successful in life...with the last one (12 years old) still the jury out on how she will turn out... Just kidding.

[garnet_black215]

I say he gets the first carry of the game against Vandy.

[ucan'tlickourcocks]

Originally Posted by MillerTime843

That knee will be fine, his big hurdle is mental. Will I get hurt again if I cut or if I try and run through this hole? All mental head games.......

Considering he was not injured while running, cutting or hurdling......... I believe IF he has mental concerns, it may have to do with turning his back to the ball and blocking........ you have no control and are somewhat vulnerable....

Having said that, Marcus will have faith, true faith that he will be fine, thus I expect 100% effort, and 100% results!

Sure, it would only be human to give it some thought the first few practices or games........ but once he gets the results he is used to, I believe it will be laid to rest!

Could he have a "pitch count", or some soreness early in the season? Sure....... but by mid-season....... I truly believe Marcus Lattimore will be able AND feared!!!

[GarnetGoggles08]

Originally Posted by blackcock1

mothers day 2011, he and his family sat beside mine at Outback in spartanburg. fresh outta church, everyone in the family took every free shot that the waitress came by with. most of them ordered more alcohol to go with their meal. his mother even went as far as to say, "you know we baptist, come skrate outta church and start drankin, hahahaha". I will say that the whole time, Marcus was very quite and never got overly loud like the rest of the family. He also never even laid his hand on an alcoholic drink, not even to pass it over to another family member from the waitress( yes, I know he's not old enough to drink, just saying). it might be because he saw my camera phone pointed at him as I whispered, "ESPN", lol. just kidding, I really do like the guy, I think he's good young man. true story, though.

Worked at multiple outback restaurants for 5+ years... Never heard of waitresses walking around with "free shots"...

[I Bleed Garnet]

Originally Posted by FanofCarolina1

I used to have respect for Mark Schlabach (ESPN reporter). He said that Marcus will be running on one leg come this season and won't put up nearly the #'s as before and thinks the HBC is stupid if he plays Lattimore at the beginning of this season.

This coming from a guy, who is a UGA alum, talking about a player who has dominated his team the last two years.

Craig James LOVES him

[thebigspur33]

Originally Posted by CoverTwo

From what I read earlier this year, he wants to play at 215-220 this year.

C2 why does he want to play at 215 he was at about 231 when he got hurt against state

[lilhornet]

Originally Posted by thebigspur33

C2 why does he want to play at 215 he was at about 231 when he got hurt against state

Not C2 but for 2 reasons mainly:
1) Less weight on his knee means less pressure.
2) He will be more explosive without the excess weight.

[MEL]

He puts his faith in God, so I bet he'll be fine mentally.

[jch81]

Some ppl say that when an athlete tears one acl they tend to try to protect it therefore putting more pressure on their other knee and increasing the chance of hurting it as well. It happened to Tony Steward from Clemson this past year. Just had recovered from a torn acl in hs and was practicing and tore his other knee up.

Hopefully Lattimore is fully recovered and has a great year (except vs Clemson of course lol).

[Rebel4ever]

Originally Posted by MEL

He puts his faith in God, so I bet he'll be fine mentally.

Amen.

[ElectricCock]

he'll be fine, not worried one bit.

its weird, kinda like in gamecock baseball, im not too worried about latti i know he's gonna just fine

the only thing i care about, is that he scores a TD against clemson. I can't have George Rogers and Marcus Lattimore never having a TD against Clemson

[gamecockfan]

he was chilling at the Woodlands pool a few weeks ago with other college kids (college off campus living) I live in, and everyone had a bunch of fun with him He's a genuine person and really nice and down to earth!

[Lake Murray]

What don't kill ya makes ya stronger !!!!Go Lattimore

[crowcutta]

Originally Posted by Gamecock0310

BUT it seemed early in the year last year we were giving Marcus the ball to much bc we thought he was just going to carry the team to a victory every week and the defenses knew it and Marcus wasnt as effective.

thats not exactly accurate. he had 23, 27, 37 carries the opening 3 weeks. all 3 big games though the latter 2 were his most productive. then his carries went 20, 17, 22, 17.
i certainly agree that its about feeding our backs as a whole rather than just lattimore. because its been shown time and time again since hes been here that our backups have performed well when given the carries. theres probably a tendency for the opposition to relax a bit when lattimore is out of game, when we dont keep the playcalling balanced we're playing into their hands.

[OfficeLinebackerCock]

Originally Posted by CoverTwo

I meant the swelling. Blow up is too harsh of a term I guess.

LOL!!! In THIS forum, a word like that is downright inflamatory!! :)

[yazoo]

Originally Posted by blackcock1

mothers day 2011, he and his family sat beside mine at Outback in spartanburg. fresh outta church, everyone in the family took every free shot that the waitress came by with. most of them ordered more alcohol to go with their meal. his mother even went as far as to say, "you know we baptist, come skrate outta church and start drankin, hahahaha". I will say that the whole time, Marcus was very quite and never got overly loud like the rest of the family. He also never even laid his hand on an alcoholic drink, not even to pass it over to another family member from the waitress( yes, I know he's not old enough to drink, just saying). it might be because he saw my camera phone pointed at him as I whispered, "ESPN", lol. just kidding, I really do like the guy, I think he's good young man. true story, though.

I choose to believe blackcock1's story is a work of total fiction.

Accepting Lattimore at face value, the question then transitions to another: Why?

The answer is found at the very center of that support structure. It starts with Momma.

Lattimore was 4 when he fell off a slide at day care. He broke his leg.

Suited with a full body cast, Lattimore needed a week in the hospital.

After a day or two, doctors and nurses told his mom that she could head home and get some rest.

The look back from Yolanda Smith likely wasn't a pleasant one. She wasn't about to be separated from her immobilized son.

"I wasn't going anywhere," Smith said. "I never did."

No, she didn't. Presence has always been a big deal to Smith.

She gave her kids a lot of attention and, Marcus being the baby, a lot was saved for him.

In some respects, even USC is too far away from her - so you can see why Lattimore didn't wind up going to Oregon or Penn State, two of his other final five schools.

"I tried to convince him that, in Chinese custom, the youngest child stays home with the parent until they die," Smith said.

A family friend in the room, Valida Foster, interjects.

"If she had it her way," she said, "he'd just play football in the back yard. And not ever be tackled again for the rest of his life."

Considering he was addicted to Barney and wouldn't sleep by himself until he was 10, let's just call it like it is: Lattimore is a momma's boy.

But he's a cool, tough momma's boy. Because he's got a cool, tough momma.

Yolanda's got an edge to her, now. It's not all hugs and kisses and the sunny side of love.

She's matter of fact with everyone she encounters, so you can imagine that's the case with her own children.

She says she'd flip mattresses over, to make sure they weren't hiding anything. She'd open closed doors. She was, in her words, the eye in the sky.

The rules were clear. Break the rules? Not a pretty picture.

Controlling? Maybe. Effective? Definitely.

All her kids, Marcus still pending, have ended up with college degrees. They're happy and successful.

"I've had to be the villain," Smith said. "I've had to be the villain so long that sometimes I wondered if they'd end up hating me."

Inner Strength: USC’s Lattimore a powerful runner with a powerful support system