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Marcus Lattimore: What SEC Media Days is like for a Gamecock student-athlete

UVA BIO PICby:Mike Uva•07/13/22•

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photo: Chris Gillespie

In less than a week, the circus that is SEC Media Days will return to Atlanta.

On this week’s episode of BLEAV in South Carolina, former South Carolina running back Marcus Lattimore shared what it’s like to go to SEC Media Days as a Gamecock.

“It really is a big deal,” said Lattimore, who attended the spectacle in 2011 as a sophomore. “It’s a huge deal just because of how gigantic the SEC is.”

After learning that he would be joining coach Steve Spurrier and teammates Travarian Robertson and Alshon Jeffrey, it’s off to BP Skinners.

“You get a nice suit. You get suited and booted by Brent Skinner (which is) through the university.”

But even before you walk out onto Tarmac to board the private jet that’s waiting for you, you’re being coached up on how to talk. The man who plays the biggest role in all of this is longtime South Carolina Sports Information Director, Steve Fink.

“Coach Fink. He’s no longer the SID. At that point he becomes coach Fink and he gets you right. He’s the most punctual human being I’ve ever been around in my life. Has he ever been late to a meeting before in his life? I don’t believe so. He’s probably always five minutes early to meetings,” Lattimore said with a smile.

“I think we got about three or four sessions in with Fink on the basics: the dos and the don’ts. Taking a sip of water just to take your time. You don’t have to rush into answering questions. The (media) is firing (questions) back-to-back-to-back. You can take some time by moving in your chair. Make sure you’re sitting up straight. Just all these things that put your mind back in the present moment is what I think he was coaching us on.”

The flight feels funny since it’s the first time you’ve ever flown in a private jet. Lattimore recalls that it took them less than 90 minutes before they arrived in Hoover, AL.

“You get off the (jet) and hop on a bus and 15 minutes later you’re (at SEC Media Days). You’re greeted by SEC fans. Not just Alabama and Auburn fans (when it was held in Hoover) but SEC fans. They have their mini-helmets and jerseys and you’re signing (them). You literally jump right into it. It’s a speedy process but you better have some energy when you show up. You do that for about ten minutes. I don’t know what it’s like now but media members could pull us into different rooms (to do one-on-one interviews) at any time and write a story right there.”

While the setup in Atlanta is different, players and coaches will hop around to several rooms to field questions. Those rooms include a digital room for writers, a TV room, and radio row. In addition to that, CBS Sports and the SEC Network can grab players and coaches for a couple minutes as well.

“There’s so much that you want to say. There’s so much that (the media) is asking you. Your answers could be emotionally charged and you say some stuff that is egotistical or self-serving… (You) might say some things that you didn’t necessarily mean. It’s a day where you need to be ready. It’s like going into a game.”

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In all, Lattimore said the day takes about three to four hours.

“I went through, at the minimum, 20 interviews that day. By the fifth one, I was good and warmed up. My mind is a little bit open. I can talk about more things and my teammates. But, when you get to that point when it’s the third quarter, fourth quarter, you’re taking pictures and asked questions, (you get) tired and hungry… If we were there for four hours we probably had about 45 minutes of downtime.”

Admittedly, he said by the end you need to be more focused than ever. Something he still remembers about his SEC Media Days experience.

“Somebody asked me if I wanted to win the Heisman and I said, ‘Hell yeah I want to win the Heisman. Is it on my mind? Yes.’ I should’ve probably redirected my answer to something that was more focused on the team. It was a topic of discussion but coach Spurrier and I had a conversation after that. He sat me down and said, ‘Look. It’s all good to want to win the Heisman. But let’s not publicize that you want it.”

It’s moments like that where a young Lattimore learned lessons that he would carry with him for the remainder of his college days and beyond. One that stays with him to this day.

“I remember Fink saying this. ‘When you don’t know how to answer a question, always reflect to back towards your teammates. Always put it back in a selfless position.”

After dozens of interviews, it’s time to go home. But not before making a quick stop at Arby’s.

“I don’t know why (coach Spurrier) loves Arby’s so much. They should sponsor (him) because he loves Arby’s. But we definitely stopped there and he got the roast beef. We all got the roast beef. I don’t know what his love affair with Arby’s is.”

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