Walking A Straight And Narrow Path
posted by Scott Hood on Friday, December 14, 2007
His 75-yard sprint for the eventual game-winning touchdown against Clemson as a freshman in 1996 is a case study on how legends are made.
He finished his three-year Gamecock career with 1,586 rushing yards, and went on to play five seasons in the NFL, four with the Dallas Cowboys, compiling 2,179 career rushing yards with five touchdowns.
Granted, he left USC under a cloud of controversy when Lou Holtz permanently dismissed him from the team prior to the 1999 season. He concluded his college football career at Savannah State.
But that doesn’t take away the fact Hambrick, along with his older brother Darren, was a fairly productive player during his three years in Columbia.
Unfortunately, however, Troy Hambrick has been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons.
Hambrick, now 31 years old, was indicted Dec. 6 by a federal grand jury in Florida on three felony charges of selling or distributing crack cocaine last September.
If convicted, Hambrick faces between five and 20 years in federal prison.
It always saddens me when I see former great athletes fall by the wayside. Hambrick was once one of the biggest stars for the football team for the Palmetto State’s flagship university.
I’m sure lots of kids wore Hambrick’s jersey back then when he was at his zenith of popularity.
Sadly, the alleged drug transactions occurred at a time when it appeared Hambrick was on the comeback trial. He signed a free-agent contract with the Utah Blaze of the Arena Football League in November. Training camp was scheduled to begin Feb. 6.
But now, it appears, he’s thrown it all away. Hambrick was waived by the Blaze soon after the indictment became public knowledge.
The Hambrick brothers have a history of bizarre behavior. As you recall, Steve Spurrier booted Darren off the Florida team as a result of an incident before the 1995 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
A recent article in the St. Petersburg Times outlined alleged additional violent incidents involving the brothers in the last few years.
Fast forwarding to the present, I hope the Lindsey twins – Jordin and Dustin - won’t fall into the same trap that the Hambricks did.
Let me say first that I like the Lindsey twins. They’ve been great to work with over the last three years. Every time I’ve spoken with them for an article, they’ve always happily answered my questions.
When they stay focused on football and academics, the Lindseys are solid citizens on and off the gridiron. But when their attention is diverted, they seem to fall off the wagon.
As you recall, Dustin was ruled academically ineligible for the 2006 season shortly after the team returned from Shreveport for the Independence Bowl.
Two months later, while still residing in Columbia, he was arrested along with former teammate Shea McKeen following a late-night incident in - you guessed it - Five Points.
Jordin was the MVP of the last year’s Liberty Bowl but academic problems sidelined him for the 2007 season. The young Gamecocks defense sorely missed his presence.
Based on everything I’ve read, this latest incident (which occurred at 4 a.m. last Saturday morning) in Five Points could turn into a “he said, he said” situation.
It’s also apparent Jordin is lucky to be alive. Were it not for some quick thinking by Dustin, former QB Blake Mitchell and others, he might not have made it.
The person charged with striking Jordin with a broken beer bottle during an alleged fight, 18-year old Clifton Epps, a Midlands Tech student, will likely claim self-defense if you believe the comments of his attorney when the matter goes to trial.
The lawyer has also said Epps might file counter-charges against Jordin Lindsey.
Hopefully, the close call will inspire the Lindsey twins to walk a more straight and narrow path in the future. I hope so.
Their lives, as we’ve learned, could depend on it.
- Permalink, Discuss, Blog Home
Once upon a time, former South Carolina running back Troy Hambrick was a very good football player.
His 75-yard sprint for the eventual game-winning touchdown against Clemson as a freshman in 1996 is a case study on how legends are made.
He finished his three-year Gamecock career with 1,586 rushing yards, and went on to play five seasons in the NFL, four with the Dallas Cowboys, compiling 2,179 career rushing yards with five touchdowns.
Granted, he left USC under a cloud of controversy when Lou Holtz permanently dismissed him from the team prior to the 1999 season. He concluded his college football career at Savannah State.
But that doesn’t take away the fact Hambrick, along with his older brother Darren, was a fairly productive player during his three years in Columbia.
Unfortunately, however, Troy Hambrick has been in the news lately for all the wrong reasons.
Hambrick, now 31 years old, was indicted Dec. 6 by a federal grand jury in Florida on three felony charges of selling or distributing crack cocaine last September.
If convicted, Hambrick faces between five and 20 years in federal prison.
It always saddens me when I see former great athletes fall by the wayside. Hambrick was once one of the biggest stars for the football team for the Palmetto State’s flagship university.
I’m sure lots of kids wore Hambrick’s jersey back then when he was at his zenith of popularity.
Sadly, the alleged drug transactions occurred at a time when it appeared Hambrick was on the comeback trial. He signed a free-agent contract with the Utah Blaze of the Arena Football League in November. Training camp was scheduled to begin Feb. 6.
But now, it appears, he’s thrown it all away. Hambrick was waived by the Blaze soon after the indictment became public knowledge.
The Hambrick brothers have a history of bizarre behavior. As you recall, Steve Spurrier booted Darren off the Florida team as a result of an incident before the 1995 Sugar Bowl in New Orleans.
A recent article in the St. Petersburg Times outlined alleged additional violent incidents involving the brothers in the last few years.
Fast forwarding to the present, I hope the Lindsey twins – Jordin and Dustin - won’t fall into the same trap that the Hambricks did.
Let me say first that I like the Lindsey twins. They’ve been great to work with over the last three years. Every time I’ve spoken with them for an article, they’ve always happily answered my questions.
When they stay focused on football and academics, the Lindseys are solid citizens on and off the gridiron. But when their attention is diverted, they seem to fall off the wagon.
As you recall, Dustin was ruled academically ineligible for the 2006 season shortly after the team returned from Shreveport for the Independence Bowl.
Two months later, while still residing in Columbia, he was arrested along with former teammate Shea McKeen following a late-night incident in - you guessed it - Five Points.
Jordin was the MVP of the last year’s Liberty Bowl but academic problems sidelined him for the 2007 season. The young Gamecocks defense sorely missed his presence.
Based on everything I’ve read, this latest incident (which occurred at 4 a.m. last Saturday morning) in Five Points could turn into a “he said, he said” situation.
It’s also apparent Jordin is lucky to be alive. Were it not for some quick thinking by Dustin, former QB Blake Mitchell and others, he might not have made it.
The person charged with striking Jordin with a broken beer bottle during an alleged fight, 18-year old Clifton Epps, a Midlands Tech student, will likely claim self-defense if you believe the comments of his attorney when the matter goes to trial.
The lawyer has also said Epps might file counter-charges against Jordin Lindsey.
Hopefully, the close call will inspire the Lindsey twins to walk a more straight and narrow path in the future. I hope so.
Their lives, as we’ve learned, could depend on it.
- Permalink, Discuss, Blog Home
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Scott Hood. Since February of 2005, Scott has covered the South Carolina football, men's basketball and baseball programs for GamecockCentral. He may be reached by email at scottblog(at)gamecockcentral.com. Replace (at) with @.