Gamecocks’ graduates celebrate accomplishments with future in mind

Most of them earned other rings over the last four or five years – bowls games, SEC titles, even a Final Four. Those represent a specific accomplishment.

The rings each received on Tuesday encompass their athletic careers, a simple thank-you from South Carolina for balancing the responsibilities of being a student with the relentless demands of being a collegiate athlete.

The Gamecocks’ latest group of athletic graduates received commemorative rings on Tuesday, tokens inscribed with the university’s Block C logo on top and the athlete’s name and sport on the side. Many clad in the black robes and mortarboards they’ll wear for graduation next month, spoke of how proud they were to be USC graduates and how fortunate they were to be able to represent the school on the field.

“I’m thankful to be in this position,” Gerald Dixon Jr. said. “I’m the first on my mom’s side to get a college degree. I’ve thought about that a lot and it means a lot to me.”

Dixon Jr. has one more season of eligibility and is slated to start at defensive tackle this fall. He stood with several football players who have earned their degrees but will return to USC for the 2015 season.

Dixon Jr. has a degree in Interdisciplinary Studies. Fullback Garrison Gist majored in Art Studio. Kicker Landon Ard pledged to Sport Entertainment and Management, with a minor in Business Administration.

Each knows that football as a profession may not be there in a year. They’ve already made plans to proceed without it.

“I’m going to take a couple more classes in the fall, Art History and so on, and it feels really good that I won’t be as stressed,” Gist said. “I’ve already talked to people in Orlando, with Disney and animation companies, looking for internships.”

Ard, an avid outdoorsman, would like to get into the business end of hunting and fishing, such as running or sponsoring tournaments. A walk-on like Gist, Ard spoke of the difficult task of not being on scholarship and still being a football player.

“It definitely is a lot of stress,” Ard said. “Now that I’ve graduated, there’s a lot off my shoulders, although I’ll still take classes in the fall. But now I can have a little more fun.”

Dixon Jr. may have a pro football future after next season and is committed to being in tip-top shape. He’s about to head to Tennessee to train with his cousin, Chris Hope, an 11-year NFL veteran.

“I’ve worked out with him before and I want to train with him this summer,” Dixon Jr. said. “I want to take my football to a whole new level.”

Mike Matulis spoke of getting his shoulders and knees into the best shape possible so he can last throughout next season. Former linebacker Marcquis Roberts talked about his future trip to Kansas, where he’ll be able to play right away. They were surrounded by fellow athletes who may be heading to the professional ranks – women’s basketball’s Aleighsa Welch was drafted by the WNBA – or starting life as a non-athlete.

“I’m going to head home for a while and then see what I want to do, maybe work for Under Armour,” men’s basketball senior Austin Constable said. “I’ll never forget this, though – I’ll be back a lot. This was the best time of my life.”

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This story was originally published April 28, 2015 at 2:57 PM with the headline "Gamecocks’ graduates celebrate accomplishments with future in mind."