The Curious Case Of C.C. Whitlock
posted by Scott Hood, Wednesday, April 08, 2009
Whitlock, as you recall, was one of the highest rated prospects in the Palmetto State during the 2008 recruiting cycle. When you saw him play football, you knew right away why he was so coveted by a number of major programs.
He arrived at USC with a lot of fanfare after graduating early from Chester High School in December of 2007, and impressed the coaches from the first snap of last year’s spring practice. Soon, the coaches were describing Whitlock as the “next Kenny McKinley.”
But Whitlock was moved to defensive back after the Wofford game last season and ended up appearing in nine games with one tackle and one pass breakup.
On the football field, most people felt Whitlock was a star in the making.
Off the field, though, was a much different matter. His home life among family and friends back in Chester wasn’t the best. Then there were the three children he fathered while he was still attending high school.
In short, away from the football field, Whitlock’s life was a daily soap opera. Not surprisingly, it began to negatively impact his status with the USC football team.
Frequent trips home to Chester forced him to miss practice time with the team, as well as weight room workouts and team meetings.
But it also affected his work in the classroom, as well. Whitlock found himself on the academic reform team last season.
Soon, head coach Steve Spurrier tired of dealing with Whitlock and his troubled personal life, which is a major reason why he was placed on indefinite suspension a couple of weeks ago.
Coaches hate to suspend players, and use it only as a matter of last resort. By all accounts, football was one of the few positive things in Whitlock’s life. If you recall, his high school coach convinced him to enroll early at USC as a way to escape the bad influences in his life lurking around Chester.
But Whitlock found it difficult - if not impossible - to run away.
Whitlock was suspended because he simply wasn’t doing what he had to do to remain a contributing member of the football team.
While it might be easy to point the finger entirely at Whitlock, there’s also a part of me that feels sympathy for him as well.
If you believe the recent reports, Whitlock and his father met recently with Steve Spurrier to ask for a second/third/fourth chance (take your pick). Will he get it? It’s a 50-50 proposition right now.
Here are my questions: where has the father been before? Has he provided the parental guidance and strong discipline every child needs? Where has the rest of the family been?
But even if he’s reinstated to the football team, Whitlock has a ton of work to do in the classroom in order to get academically eligible.
Between getting his personal life and academics in order, as well as the need to improve his work ethic, the chances of Whitlock stepping on the field for the Gamecocks this upcoming season are slim.
One thing I’ve learned, though, during my few hundred years on earth is never say never. So, I won’t count Whitlock out, just like I wouldn’t do that for any player.
In my few opportunities to interview Whitlock, I found him to be a charming individual. He was more than willing to discuss his situation and usually had a smile on his face.
Yet – I'm ignoring the blame game here for a minute - Whitlock provides a good case study about an individual who simply sought to grow up too fast. He turned 20 seven days ago. Trying to raise three children is a Herculean task for any adult, let alone a young man who just reached the third full decade of his life and who is trying to play major college football and fulfill enormousd academic obligations.
Let’s hope Whitlock turns around his life, both personally and athletically. Frankly, I think he needs football to thrive. And possibly survive.
I shudder to think of his future without it.
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The saga of C.C. Whitlock teaches us again that you can’t rush to become a man.
Whitlock, as you recall, was one of the highest rated prospects in the Palmetto State during the 2008 recruiting cycle. When you saw him play football, you knew right away why he was so coveted by a number of major programs.
He arrived at USC with a lot of fanfare after graduating early from Chester High School in December of 2007, and impressed the coaches from the first snap of last year’s spring practice. Soon, the coaches were describing Whitlock as the “next Kenny McKinley.”
But Whitlock was moved to defensive back after the Wofford game last season and ended up appearing in nine games with one tackle and one pass breakup.
On the football field, most people felt Whitlock was a star in the making.
Off the field, though, was a much different matter. His home life among family and friends back in Chester wasn’t the best. Then there were the three children he fathered while he was still attending high school.
In short, away from the football field, Whitlock’s life was a daily soap opera. Not surprisingly, it began to negatively impact his status with the USC football team.
Frequent trips home to Chester forced him to miss practice time with the team, as well as weight room workouts and team meetings.
But it also affected his work in the classroom, as well. Whitlock found himself on the academic reform team last season.
Soon, head coach Steve Spurrier tired of dealing with Whitlock and his troubled personal life, which is a major reason why he was placed on indefinite suspension a couple of weeks ago.
Coaches hate to suspend players, and use it only as a matter of last resort. By all accounts, football was one of the few positive things in Whitlock’s life. If you recall, his high school coach convinced him to enroll early at USC as a way to escape the bad influences in his life lurking around Chester.
But Whitlock found it difficult - if not impossible - to run away.
Whitlock was suspended because he simply wasn’t doing what he had to do to remain a contributing member of the football team.
While it might be easy to point the finger entirely at Whitlock, there’s also a part of me that feels sympathy for him as well.
If you believe the recent reports, Whitlock and his father met recently with Steve Spurrier to ask for a second/third/fourth chance (take your pick). Will he get it? It’s a 50-50 proposition right now.
Here are my questions: where has the father been before? Has he provided the parental guidance and strong discipline every child needs? Where has the rest of the family been?
But even if he’s reinstated to the football team, Whitlock has a ton of work to do in the classroom in order to get academically eligible.
Between getting his personal life and academics in order, as well as the need to improve his work ethic, the chances of Whitlock stepping on the field for the Gamecocks this upcoming season are slim.
One thing I’ve learned, though, during my few hundred years on earth is never say never. So, I won’t count Whitlock out, just like I wouldn’t do that for any player.
In my few opportunities to interview Whitlock, I found him to be a charming individual. He was more than willing to discuss his situation and usually had a smile on his face.
Yet – I'm ignoring the blame game here for a minute - Whitlock provides a good case study about an individual who simply sought to grow up too fast. He turned 20 seven days ago. Trying to raise three children is a Herculean task for any adult, let alone a young man who just reached the third full decade of his life and who is trying to play major college football and fulfill enormousd academic obligations.
Let’s hope Whitlock turns around his life, both personally and athletically. Frankly, I think he needs football to thrive. And possibly survive.
I shudder to think of his future without it.
Link to this entry - Discuss this entry - Return to 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 @.