Let me be blunt. Quitting on your team in the midst of a game is an unforgiveable sin in the world of sports. Period.
For me, there’s no wiggle room here. You can throw all the excuses you want at me, but I can not accept an athlete, a paid one no less, walking out of his teammates for any reason, NFL Draft be damned.
There are touchy ssues swirling around college sports these days we all have had to accept as part of the new world, like NIL payments and the Transfer Portal. Your favorite player is here today, gone tomorrow in his new luxury sedan you helped pay for. But walking out on your team after 30 minutes of a game, whether pre-planned or spontaneous, is a bridge too far for me.
In the span of four days, in the same stadium, Miami quarterback Cam Ward and South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori hung up their helmets at the half and said “no mas.” At that point, for whatever reason, each player felt his own self-interests were greater than the good of his own team.
Ward is a national figure, a Heisman Trophy finalist, and a projected top five pick in the draft. He apparently told his coach Mario Cristobal that he would play just the first half of the bowl game, and Cristobal signed off on the scheme. A pox on both their houses.
I don’t really care about the Miami situation; got no dog in that fight. That was just another emabarrasment for a program that is accustomed to clandestine operations.
But I do have an interest in what happens with schools in our state.
Emmanwori had a great regular season and earned All-SEC and All-American honors. He had been an exemplary member of the team throughout his career, a physical presence at the backend of the defense, and was having an excellent bowl game with five first half tackles. And then he quit.
Why? Was he hurt? Was he sick? Did his agent advise him to do so, or maybe a long lost uncle? To this simple question we have no answer.
Emmanwori said after the game, when he confirmed he would be entering the NFL Draft, that he told his “coach” during halftime that he was not going to play in the second half. And there he stood on the sideline, for at least the first two defensive series as far as I could tell, with no helmet in hand.
Apparently, Shane Beamer was not aware of Emmanwori’s opt out through at least the first two defensive series as I spied Emmanwori standing on the sideline. At some point after that, Beamer had a conversation with his star safety, and according to pictures and social media comments from fans in the stands, Emmanwori was escorted into the locker room by a staff member.
I applaud Beamer for his action. He has said repeatedly that players who opt out have no place in his locker room and on his sideline. He took the appropriate action and showed the rest of his players that he means business when it comes to playing for the name on the front of the jersey, not the back.
Thousands of Gamecock fans made the trip to Orlando. Some of them probably helped foot the bill for Emmanwori’s NIL invoice. Others perhaps saved up their money for months so they could support their team at the bowl game. All they wanted in return was 100% effort by all those wearing the Gamecock uniform, and then let the chips fall where they may.
They got that from every player and coach involved in the game, except one. Emmanwori.
Nick, you owe the people that suppoprted your career and funded your NIL contract an explanation. Nick, you owe Gamecock Nation an apology.
1000% Correct!!
Agree..hope the NFL asks him about quitting on his team..total crap
Always a great player for the Gamecocks until he makes this disrespectful move. I lost all respect for him for doing this to his football family. I will never be a fan of his again. Totally a terrible decision!
Thought it was just me who hates this opt out nonsense ! If you commit to play for a team, you need to finish the damn season !
Thank you Phil, I couldn’t agree with you more. Maybe things would be different if they had to pay back all NIL money for not participating in all games including post season. The NCAA has completely screwed up college sports for me. I no longer consider myself a fan.
Well said.
Nick was a Quitter just like Spurrier, don’t wish either one the best in life.
100% and without question should be removed as a permanent team captain for the 2024 team.
Yes he shud be
If they take NIL money and don’t play, they should be made to pay some of the NIL monies back, about 50%?
Disappointing. He was my favorite player, but I can’t say that I feel that way now.
Terrible thing for a guy to tarnish his legacy for a selfish reason. You hit nail on the head. These players are now getting paid. Honor your paycheck for a honest days work. How would you feel if your coach walked out on the team in middle of a game. He got some bad advice from someone
Nothing but selfishness on his part Hope he gets what he deserves in the NFL all the love,
support, and $$$$$$$$$ He got from the Gamecock nation means nothing to him.
I really hope he doesn’t get drafted I hope every NFL team looks at him as a quitter. The same way gamecock nation does ….