Of pancakes and commitments: The story behind Markee Anderson’s sweet decision day
With a public announcement looming, Lance Robinson was brainstorming for a unique way for his son Markee Anderson to reveal his college choice.
Then, it hit Robinson as the family was driving down to Folly Beach last week for a vacation.
“Why not do a pancake theme for a commitment?” Robinson said Sunday shortly after Anderson announced a commitment to play college football for the South Carolina Gamecocks. “It would be good because you are an offensive lineman. It can all go together. He liked it, my wife liked, so she all put it together and we had it going down today.”
Anderson, a four-star offensive tackle for Dorman High School, revealed his decision Sunday for South Carolina by pouring a bottle of syrup onto a stack of pancakes — that syrup bottle boasted a Gamecocks logo.
“We tried to do something different,” Robinson said. “Most kids, they have hats or shirts and they do the deal. We figured, since he is an offensive lineman, let’s do something different.”
Recruits are known to get creative with their college announcements. On Friday, four-star receiver Aidan Mizzell pulled out two live Gators to announce his commitment to Florida.
But pulling out a live Gamecock to reveal his choice didn’t seem to fit the hulking 6-foot-5, 305-pound Anderson.
Pancakes and offensive linemen are synonymous with each other. Linemen don’t record stats like most offensive and defensive players, so pancake blocks — in which a lineman delivers a block so big that a defender ends up flat on his back — are one way to measure their production.
According to SportsRec, “pancake block” was first used by the University of Pittsburgh to describe All-America offensive tackle Bill Fralic’s blocking prowess in the 1980s. The school’s media relations department labeled the blocks as “pancakes,” and high schools, colleges and the NFL still use the term.
Dorman assistant coach Jake Morris wasn’t sure how many pancakes Anderson recorded last season for the Cavaliers as a junior, saying, “It was a lot.” But Morris thought the pancake-and-syrup idea went perfectly with Anderson’s personality.
“It fits. He likes to eat,” Morris said. “South Carolina is getting a great offensive lineman, but they are getting a great young man. He leads on and off the field.”
Anderson is ranked the No. 2 prospect in the state and No. 136 nationally, according to the 247Sports Composite. The Gamecocks’ class moved to No. 22 in the rankings with his commitment.
About an hour before Sunday’s ceremony, four bottles of syrup with the logos of each of his final schools — South Carolina, Clemson, LSU and North Carolina — were onstage with him at Kingdom Builders Baptist Church.
The bottles were opened and seals were removed minutes before the ceremony. Then, a small stack of pancakes made by Anderson’s mother, Tawana Robinson, was put on the table as the family took their seats.
After remarks were made by a few speakers, Anderson announced his choice by grabbing the Gamecocks bottle and pouring the syrup over the pancakes and saying, “Go Cocks.”
“We tried to think of stuff on the fly, and I liked this idea the most,” Anderson said. “My dad came up with it and we just rolled with it.”
Cooking is an important part of Anderson’s family. Lance Robinson runs the popular 365 Grillin & Seafood food truck in Spartanburg. Anderson said he doesn’t help out too much on the cooking; he assists mainly in prep and set-up. His specialty comes in making breakfast, especially omelets, he said.
Gamecock fans should get used to seeing the truck make it down to Williams-Brice Stadium on gamedays starting in 2023 once Anderson is officially on the South Carolina roster. Robinson even joked about a possible name, image and likeness deal with Markee for the business.
“We’re already are making plans,” Robinson said. “Gamecock Nation, when you see that truck, pull up. We have great food, great seafood. We have it all. Great tailgate, all day. We are very excited that Markee is a Gamecock.”
This story was originally published July 31, 2022 at 6:38 PM.
