Has Marcus Lattimore Played His Final Football Game?
The South Carolina runningback is likely lost for the season after first-half knee injury against Tennessee.
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For the second straight season, South Carolina star running back Marcus Lattimore is done for the season following a knee injury.
Many are also speculating whether the athlete, lauded for his strong character and work ethic as well as his athletic skills, will ever be able to play football again. Draft analysts such as ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr., have picked Lattimore the top NFL running back prospect in 2013 if he decided to forego his senior year.
Here are some of what fans and media are saying about his gruesome injury. A massive outpouring of support from around the nation, including tweets from many college and pro athletes and coaches, made Lattimore the top trending topic on Twitter in the hours after his injury.
A community page on Facebook, Pray for Marcus Lattimore, had well over 42,500 "likes" as of Sunday morning. Another such site, the similarly named Pray for Marcus, had well over 52,000 likes by 8 a.m. Sunday.
How do you think the Gamecocks will fair without him?
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Cynthia l marsh
4:14 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
I pray that injury to his knee takes him out for the rest of the season, and that it want effect his chances with the NFL. Most important healing and recovery for his whole body. In Jesus name.
Gloria J Taylor
5:45 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
I am not a Gamecock fan but I hate to see any player get injured. Hope this injury doesn't effect mhis chances with Nfl. Marcus will be praying for a speedy recovery.
Mike Berry
10:25 pm on Saturday, October 27, 2012
Marcus, I don't have words to tell you how I feel,I ask God for His Grace to care for you. I know you and your family are in Jesus's arms.I will pray for you till you are healed in Jesus name. Brother in Christ, Mike Berry.
Kim Blevins
12:50 am on Sunday, October 28, 2012
I just hate that this happened to Marcus. He such a great person both on and off the field. I am praying that his knee will be alright. Marcus ALL of Gamecock Nation loves you and is praying for you. Please, do not give up!! I am wishing you a speedy recovery and pray you return to football!! Love, Kim Thanks for making the Gamecocks great!! You are the BEST!!!
Hal Millard
6:00 am on Sunday, October 28, 2012
I'm not ashamed to admit Lattimore's injury made me cry. It was about all me and my son, huge Lattimore fans, thought about the rest of the day. The idea that his entire football career, much less his USC career, is over is just devastating and too sad to comprehend. Not only is he a great athlete, he's a great young man that any parent would love to call their own. Please heal, Marcus, and go have a stellar and rich NFL career. You've already given everything you could possibly give to us USC fans, and we love you and thank you for it.
Wounded Warrior
8:32 am on Sunday, October 28, 2012
Well said. Being at the game in person, all you could hear in the stadium was prayers and hopes that Marcus would get up. I applaud Tennessee players and their fans for giving Marcus the respect he deserves. The moment both teams surrounded him was the most awe inspiring sports moment I can remember. That was respect he has earned as a person, and at this time in his life, a "true" student athlete and great representative for the Univerity of South Carolina. Get well Marcus.
PCC
8:47 am on Sunday, October 28, 2012
What an excellent young man and a phenomenal athlete. I have to believe that God will heal him completely and that he will still go on to play in the NFL. I've never enjoyed pro football as much as college ball, but I can guarantee that I will suddenly become a huge fan of whatever team is blessed with Marcus Lattimore. I believe he will recover, and we will see him play again! We love you, Marcus, and we are praying Jeremiah 29:11 for you!
Ambassador
9:10 am on Sunday, October 28, 2012
First off I would appreciate it if my following comment is not replied to and would be given some degree of respect that I believe it deserves. Having said the above let me just say----A knee in a football game today----a US military man's life in Afghanistan today. I appreciate and understand the above comments and replies but kindly put them into perspective. I never quite see the same emotional outpouring for a life in service for this country as for an injured football player.
AEKiter
9:36 am on Sunday, October 28, 2012
Comment absolutely respected. Request to be given free reign of dialogue not given. The reason for the difference in emotion evoked by the two scenarios is that fans have gotten to "know" the player and therefore can empathize, sympathize and identify with the individual. Through no fault of the general public, the anonymous soldier in Afghanistan is very often difficult to do the same with.... but you know that and we know that. What you said is unfair, out of line, and spoken in poor context. BACK OFF.
Tom Utley
9:25 am on Monday, October 29, 2012
That and the football player isn't occupying some desert half-way across the world that he has no business being in.
Wounded Warrior
10:50 am on Sunday, October 28, 2012
For those of you who would like to send a note of encouragement to Marcus Lattimore, the mailing address is:
Marcus Lattimore c/o
Rice Athletic Center
1304 Heyward Street
Columbia, SC 29208
Kaaren Mann
11:38 am on Sunday, October 28, 2012
AEKiter, I don't think the remark about our soldiers abroad is out of line. If anything, seeing the agony on Marcus' face --both physical pain and the emotional pain of realizing how devestatingly different his future will be -- causes me to imagine young men injured in Afghanistan, wearing a different type of uniform, must feel in similar positions. I understand that actually seeing someone hurt has more of an impact, but there is no need to get up in arms. Your opinion is not everyone's. So IMO saying Ambassador is 'out of line' is itself out of line. For all you know, there are people at this forum who've lost college-aged kids and would gladly have them back without a leg. And, even so, this in no way diminishes the tragedy of what happened to Marcus yesterday. Poor, poor boy....
AEKiter
2:03 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
Wrong. It is out of line because one has nothing to do with the other. Ambassador found opportunity to make the tragic injury that happened to Lattimore about the tradgedies occuring in Afghanastan to our great men and women in uniform. He also used the terrible thing that happened to Marcus as an opportunity to lecture and impose guilt on others with the unsaid but undoubtedly implied "they died for your freedom argument." The fact that bright young men and women are laying their lives down over in Afghanistan should not be used and does not justify or excuse Ambasadors attempt at a guilt trip. That's is disgusting and despicable. Again, he is out of line, needs to back off and additionally needs to keep it in perspective. This is not the time nor the place, nor the subject of focus. Two terrible and two totally different things.
John Williamson
12:17 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
I'm a lifelong Georgia Bulldog fan but sometimes,something happens that transcends sports rivalries and such is the case with Marcus Lattimore.It's a shame to see such a fine young man suffer such a terrible injury and my prayers are with him.I wish him the best and hope he'll make a full recovery.
joe rucker
12:55 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
Marcus Lattimore, just wanted you to know that the Razorback nation . Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family.. God bless you and youGod bless you and your family
Ambassador
1:52 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
Hey AEKiter: Bad knee and US soldier fatality and my comment is unfair? BACK OFF? And your momma.
AEKiter
1:59 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
Yes. Two different things. See my comment under Kaaren Mann's response to my comment for further.
Robrob
9:33 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
He's got a broken leg and torn ligaments, that's sad. but to sit there and pray over Lattimore while there are thousands of 1-4 year olds that will never make it to ten years old, due to cancer and other horrific diseases is who the public should be praying for. he got hurt playing football, but what about the one year old with leukemia, you all praying for her too? Didn't think so
AEKiter
10:29 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
Uuuuuugh.... really Robrob? HAAAAA! Where do you clowns come from??? That's what you think when you see compassion being expressed for a human being who had something terrible happen to him? You conclude that because someone shows compassion for one that they are incapable for showing compassion for another even fellow human being in a situation of even greater gravity? Quite the opposite in fact. I donate my time building wheelchair ramps for amputees on the weekend by the way.... I really do. What the h*ll do you do? You're an idiot.
Robrob
11:36 pm on Sunday, October 28, 2012
The truth is: the only reason you are showing any compassion at all for Lattimore is because he plays football. If he didn't play football for USC you wouldn't give a damn about him. You wouldn't give a damn about a college aged black kid on the street and what Happens to him at all. If it was Joe Shmoe on the basketball team no one would GAD but because of the jersey on his back we should all pray for him? Should I pray for everyone that breaks thier leg?
AEKiter
5:18 am on Monday, October 29, 2012
No buddy. You're way off again. Gotta give you credit though..... you don't just try to get on base, you swing for the fences. Good on ya... but, man..... you really need to work on your attitude. It's atrocious.
The truth is: Lattimore became a beloved figure in and outside of sports due to his incredible character. He sustained a "career ending" injury last year only to fight tooth and nail to get his dreams back.... and he did it. His talent on the field is easily eclipsed by his amazing work ethic.... but who he is off the field easily eclipses all of that.... and he is all the while so humble. He has won huge respect from people for so many reasons other than the jersey that he wears or the touch downs that he scores. Because of that and because of the extremely violent and shocking injury that we all saw, a visceral response has been evoked in people... a response to young dreams of the most deserving of people shattered. No Rob, we don't pray so much for his broken leg as we pray for his fighting spirit to remain whole and the happiness and success in life that he has attained to remain. That's what we have been rooting for all along. I don't care if the kid plays another down for Carolina as long as his spirit and love of life is not broken. He is a truly wonderful human being respected by all.... well, most let's say.... apparently you are unaware of who he is and have no respect for him. I guess he's just "some college age black kid on the street" to you.
cjsadlier
9:58 am on Monday, October 29, 2012
I don't understand why someone's prayers have to be exclusive. Just because I pray for Marcus doesn't mean that I am not praying for others also. I pray daily for those young men and women in Afghanistan, Iran and all over the world. I pray daily for children suffering from disease and hunger all over the world. I pray daily for our leaders and other world leaders to have the intelligence and courage to do what is needed in this world to end war, hunger and diseases. I pray for those young people that serve the world through organizations like the Peace Corp. I pray for a whole host of people known to me and those not known to me. I pray everyday that God will give me tolerance and understanding of others. So yes, just because I am praying for Marcus and his family I am praying for all those others too, on a daily basis.
Wounded Warrior
9:59 am on Monday, October 29, 2012
Just to add to my .02.
Just check out how many athletes and celebs have shown their respect. From Abby wambach to LeBron James. This is type of character in a man you want your daughter to bring home.
He will be back. Trust me. He has said himself that he has a higher calling than just playing football. He will prob graduate early and become just as successful off the field as he is on the field. Get well Marcus and we all applaud you as a great football player and better person. Go Cocks!
http://www.adventureswithmarty.com/2012/10/thank-you-marcus-lattimore.html?m=1
Carolyn Farr Smith
10:43 am on Monday, October 29, 2012
I don't know Marcus Lattimore, at least not personally. Many of my friends and colleagues have covered him throughout his high school career at Byrnes and now at USC. I've seen him play football, but only on television. He's nothing less of a remarkable athlete, but from what I understand he's also a pretty remarkable young man. Someone mentioned earlier in this thread that we should pray for soldiers, and for children, and not just injured football players and I believe that is also true. But, I believe with some certainty that Lattimore would also tell you to pray for everyone. After all, he signed with USC at a signing ceremony held at his church. There's not too often you read a story that quotes Lattimore that he doesn't give praise to someone else. I don't think he realized how much attention he would garner as the result of a gruesome hit. I hope he fights his way back from this injury and that one day I see him playing in the NFL. And, if his recovery goes as well as one hopes, perhaps Coach Spurrier will get to do the Cha-Cha Slide with Lattimore's Mama one more time!
Ambassador
11:08 am on Monday, October 29, 2012
Mr. Utley: I will give you the benefit of the doubt on your comments and assume you are really referring to the current piece of garbage in the whitehouse and his predecessors who, as Stupidity in Chiefs, ORDERED our men into these hell holes for reasons that they do not even know anymore and that you were not referring directly to the men and women in our military. If that is not what you meant and are referring to our soldiers, I can only say that you are, without a doubt, the biggest piece of garbage I have ever read comments from.
Cathy Weisner
11:13 am on Monday, October 29, 2012
Thanks to everyone for your outpouring of support to Marcus Lattimore. Even from the Clemson fans (class act right there). No one wants to see a player get hurt like that.
And for Ambassador, no one wants to see ANY soldier come home in a casket - ever. In January, I went out along with many many others to show support to the family of PFC. Justin Whitmire in Simpsonville. It was amazing to see the show of love and support and all of our hearts broke for this family who no longer will get to hug Justin, laugh with Justin, touch his face. All they have are memories now. So I don't feel your comment was justified. All of us hate to hear of any soldier that gave it all for our country.