Lattimore, speaking in Washington, clarifies comments on health, safety

Marcus Lattimore has a voice in college football, and spent Tuesday using it.

Lattimore spoke at a meeting of the Knight Commission on Intercollegiate Athletics in Washington, discussing his views on amateurism and support staff in college football. Some thought-to-be controversial comments were clarified, as Lattimore said his words on strength and conditioning coaches were about all such positions in college football, not just at South Carolina.

“I was asked to speak about health and safety for the Knight Commission for student-athletes and give some insight on what I think should be of importance,” Lattimore said in a statement to several media outlets. “I said we should take a look at the people we spend the most time with during our four years, which is the strength coach.”

Lattimore, according to Tweets from CBS’ Jon Solomon, said he and other players questioned the strength and conditioning staff in college, hearing that some were hired only because of a previous connection with the coach, and that of 15 players he spoke with, nine had gotten hurt in the weight room. The Gamecocks’ all-time leader in touchdowns was referring to 15 players from five schools, and not questioning the jobs of former USC strength coaches Craig Fitzgerald and Joe Connolly.

Strength coaches, he said, are the coaches who are around players the most in their four years. Players should get to know them the best since they’ll be spending most of their time with them. Fitzgerald, who left USC in 2012 for the same job with the Houston Texans, was replaced by his assistant, Connolly. Lattimore was under Connolly for his final season.

Connolly was fired when Will Muschamp was hired at USC, and replaced by Jeff Dillman. Connolly was hired for the same role at Massachusetts.

The victim of two knee injuries, Lattimore also spoke about not feeling comfortable speaking to a sports psychologist employed by USC after his injuries, and suggested he might’ve been more comfortable speaking to a non-USC related doctor.

The Knight Commission is in its third decade of operation and is dedicated to recommending reforms that emphasize academics in an area that is often overshadowed by the commercialization of athletics. It is chaired this year by Brit Kirwan, chancellor emeritus of the University of Maryland System.