My column for tomorrow's front page on Lattimore. Great day to be a Gamecock.
DUNCAN, S.C. - College football fans know about The University of South Carolina.
They've seen the garnet and black Under Armour garb implanted on ESPN Thursday nights over the last few years.
They imitate the way former coach Lou Holtz speaks and laugh in cynical undertones when Steve Spurrier slams the visor to the ground, frustrated at his team's latest offensive blunder.
But in actuality, they really don't care.
Fans of the increasingly popular sport would rather watch the "other" USC air-it-out on the West Coast or be entertained by Southeastern Conference big wigs going to war in Gainesville, Fla. or Baton Rouge, La.
Maybe Tuesday night's pledge from a five-star prospect with national significance will change that.
In front of family, friends and a horde of local and national media outlets, Byrnes High School (Duncan, S.C.) running back Marcus Lattimore committed to South Carolina at Silver Hill Memorial United Methodist Church in Spartanburg, alleviating the year-long headache that marred Gamecock and Tiger fans.
This can't miss phenom could have easily followed in the footsteps of Bo Jackson and Stephen Davis at Auburn, the other school in the Marcus Lattimore sweepstakes.
But he didn't.
He decided to turn the other cheek to Auburn, who signed fellow five-star back Michael Dyer, in favor of the home team.
A squad he rooted for as a child. A campus he has seen ample times with his family.
Lattimore brings a much-needed physical presence, something the Gamecocks haven't seen since Cory Boyd in 2006.
Most importantly, Lattimore provides Spurrier's offense with a new dimension: An every-down running back with speed and size.
Before deciding on South Carolina, Lattimore told
Sportingnews.comthat he watched film of Spurrier's offense at Florida. He noticed theintricacies of a well-oiled speed machine and how he could fit intosimilar roles that Fred Taylor and Eric Rhett once vacated in years past.
Therunning back position seems to be the missing link during Spurrier'su-and-down success at South Carolina. Too many times the Gamecocks haveappeared on national television without a running threat.
Days of 2.9 yards per carry are gone with Lattimore's arrival.
Hisability to shed tacklers brings a welcome wrinkle in South Carolina'srushing attack. Standing at 6-1, 210 pounds, Lattimore is on par withother bruising backs of his caliber in the nation.
The Gamecockswere forced into a running back by committee mentality during lastseason's disappointing 7-6 campaign, with 5-9 freshman Kenny Miles and5-10 junior Brian Maddox sharing the bulk of the carries. Toward year'send, Miles was the feature back with Maddox available for receiving andblocking duties while Giles contemplated transferring due to benchduties.
It remains to be seen if Lattimore makes the splash he's expected to in Columbia or if he will even see playing time as a true freshman this fall. But one thing's for sure.
He is everyone's favorite Gamecock before he even steps on campus.
