Sept. 26, 2014
This writer was surprised earlier this week when it appeared to be news that doctors and not our coaching staff determine if quarterback Patton Robinette is cleared to play in Saturday’s game, and for that matter, practice sessions. This is standard operating procedure and has been for many years. The public may be cynical enough to suspect that a powerful head coach can influence a medical staff into letting someone play that medically shouldn’t but that is an absolutely false assumption. Coaches – in every sport, not just football – have no input into practice or playing status if one of our outstanding doctors or trainers deems the individual unfit for any reason. It must be a decade ago that Slant asked the football docs in a confidential setting if they would waiver on a star player’s status if the game was on the line and they were actually offended we’d even ask that question.
South Carolina’s fans made a favorable impression on Vandy fans at last week’s football game when they gave our national championship baseball team a standing ovation and broke into an “SEC-SEC” chant as the Commodore team was receiving their rings at halftime. They know how hard it is to win the title. Programs compete hard on the fields of play but there is much more “family” in intercollegiate sports than meets the eye.