12/18/24
October 27, 2012
South Carolina's Marcus Lattimore Suffers Knee Injury: A severe injury to South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore against Tennessee Saturday led to an unexpected show of sportsmanship. Lattimore, considered a likely first round NFL pick if he leaves college early, suffered a hit to the right knee as he was tackled and it swung awkwardly (and gruesomely) as he fell to the turf. As he was being tended to, both teams came out to wish him well.
ESPN showed an end-zone camera view of it several times and warned of its gruesomeness each time. I didn't really see it. Then they found a sideline camera shot of it, and woo, you could really see it flopping around as he rolled over. I hope he had insurance, because I don't see him coming back from that.
posted by Etrigan at 08:40 PM on October 27, 2012
UGA fan so obviously I dislike SC, but damn that sucks and wish him the best. Nobody deserves that.
I have a little twinge in my heart when a player of Lattimore's talent, on the road to making millions, has that earning potential possibly ripped away in an instant.
posted by jmd82 at 09:02 PM on October 27, 2012
This injury shows why no athlete should ever be faulted for entering the pros early.
posted by rcade at 09:29 PM on October 27, 2012
That is quite literally the most insane chop block I've ever seen. I've seen fingers break like that. Not entire kneecaps. I can't understand how he's not screaming like a little baby.
posted by phaedon at 10:10 PM on October 27, 2012
This injury shows why no athlete should ever be faulted for entering the pros early.
I saw someone else point out how this is also a good illustration of why some sort of living stipend is in order for players. After all the success that SC has had and will still have this year (and thus $$$ made) in large part off of his efforts, it seems a shame that compensation (in addition to his education) will likely never come his way, regardless of how tiny. Regardless, I genuinely feel for the guy, and hope he can find a way back, although I wouldn't blame him for hanging 'em up now-you want to be able to walk when you're 50.
posted by brainofdtrain at 10:30 PM on October 27, 2012
How bad can this injury really be?
*click link*
*watch video*
*curl up in fetal position*
*rock slowly in place on the floor*
posted by grum@work at 02:12 AM on October 28, 2012
I can't understand how he's not screaming like a little baby.
There was a point in the video where he takes off his helmet and you'd SWEAR he was going into shock for a few seconds. He's saying something to the people who are helping him, but it doesn't look coherent, and then he covers his face with his hands.
posted by grum@work at 02:14 AM on October 28, 2012
posted by brainofdtrain at 03:04 PM on October 28, 2012
It's just hyperextended with some ligament damage but nothing beyond that. They're saying he can recover from it and play again. Might take awhile, but considering what it looked like, this is fantastic news indeed. Get well soon Marcus!
posted by NerfballPro at 08:13 PM on October 28, 2012
That's great news.
I don't follow the SEC religiously so this is my first time hearing of Lattimore. Looking at the video again I have to say he is extremely skinny for a running back. Maybe I'm wrong. NFL RB's have huge frames and bulky legs. Part of what made the video so incredible was how thin and floppy that hyperextended leg looked.
posted by phaedon at 02:24 AM on October 29, 2012
McGahee was also a blade of grass when he took his devastating injury at Miami. He's bigger now after a few years in the pros, but still has the undersized legs.
posted by beaverboard at 09:03 AM on October 29, 2012
Horrible.