‘It hurts to end this way’: Gamecock seniors reflect on final football go-round
Reality started setting in early on Saturday for Donell Stanley.
The thought of playing his final game in a South Carolina uniform weighed on the senior offensive lineman as he went through the Gamecock Walk. Karen Allen, a friend of Stanley’s from high school at Latta High and devout Clemson fan, was sporting his No. 72 jersey Saturday. She there to great him and the rest of the USC players as they entered Williams-Brice Stadium hours before USC’s game against Clemson.
Stanley took his time leaving the field following the Gamecocks’ 38-3 loss to Clemson. It was the sixth straight loss to the rival Tigers and ended USC’s season at 4-8.
It wasn’t the ending Stanley and the rest of the seniors hoped, but it didn’t put a damper on their love of playing at South Carolina.
“Playing here was great and taught me to be a man in certain situations,” said Stanley, who appeared in 50 games at USC. “I will always be a part of this university. No matter where I go, I will always be welcomed back here.. But it hurts to end this way.”
Stanley wasn’t alone in his feelings as other USC seniors like TJ Brunson, Rico Dowdle, Tavien Feaster and Javon Kinlaw made their way in and out of the postgame press conference. Each one reflected on their time with the Gamecocks.
Brunson, who was one of Will Muschamp’s first recruits at USC, said he was trying to savor it all from the pre-game to when he walked off the field after the game.
“First thing I did was look around, take it all in, the scenery and everything,” said Brunson, who played locally at Richland Northeast High. “I was flooded with emotions for the most part. I’m proud that I’ve been able to be with these guys for so long. It was a lot of emotions and everything.”
Kinlaw reflected on his journey from his time in high school at Goose Creek High to junior college in Mississippi and the last three years in Columbia.
While at USC, Kinlaw has become a father and transformed himsefl into a potential first-round pick in the NFL Draft. Kinlaw said he will take some time off before getting ready for Senior Bowl on Jan. 25 and then on to NFL Draft preparations.
“Being at this university, I have become a man with all my coaches around me with things that don’t even have to do with football,” Kinlaw said. “I just owe this university everything. I couldn’t do it without everyone who is involved. … I love this university.”
Remembering McKissick
There was a moment of silence before the game former Summerville High football coach John McKissick.
McKissick died on Thanksgiving at the age of 93. The Presbyterian College graduate coached the Green Wave for 63 years and won 621 games, most in football history of any level.
South Carolina coach Will Muschamp and Dabo Swinney both talked about McKissick during their postgame press conferences and the interactions they had with the late coach.
“He was first class to me,” Muschamp said of McKissick. “He called me early in the year and told me not to listen to any of y’all (media). I really appreciate the short time I was around him. He is the greatest coach of all time. You are what your record is. He has won more games than anybody, 621.”
Briefly
Announced attendance was 80,580. … Former South Carolina receiver Robert Brooks was the honorary starter for the game. Brooks played in the NFL for the Green Bay Packers from 1992-2000.
