Athlete Appreciation And Recognition Day Held At Lake View First Baptist Church

By Betsy Finklea
Athlete Appreciation and Recognition Day was held on Sunday, January 15, at Lake View First Baptist Church.
After a prelude by Barbara Ann Arnette, the Youth Choir performed the call to worship, “You Are Good”.
Rev. Lyn Anderson, pastor of Lake View Baptist Church, gave the welcome. Rev. Anderson said they were very fortunate in Lake View to have a school system committed to the development of young people mentally, physically, and socially. He said they celebrate the partnership of parents, school faculty and officials, and local and state government officials, all who help make their young people the best they can be.
Swampy, the mascot of the Lake View Wild Gators, made a grand entrance. This was followed by Cocky, the University of South Carolina mascot, who entered to the USC Fight Song.
Cocky and Rev. Adrienne Anderson made a special presentation to T.F. “Buzzy” Finklea, Jr., Dillon County Council District Four councilman. He was presented a special football autographed by Marcus Lattimore.
The congregation then sang the hymn, “O Worship the King,” which was followed by the offertory prayer and offertory.
Carol Edwards, the youth minister at Lake View First Baptist Church, recognized all of the Lake View coaches in every sport. She said they were leading by example in love and duty and were developing young men and women of character before athleticism. She spoke of the dedicated service of the coaches and also recognized their spouses. Rev. Anderson spoke of Edwards’ impact on the youth. He said she was also a coach.
Rev. Anderson said Lake View has a tradition of great athletes. He recognized Darius Leonard, who plays for South Carolina State. Leonard was voted the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year.
Rev. Anderson then recognized the Lake View Wild Gators State Football Champions and all J.V. and Varsity players, and everyone present who had ever worn the Lake View uniform.
The scripture reading, Philippians 4:6, 7, & 13, was given by Duane Nichols, the Lake View High School quarterback.
Randall Washington, a Lake View High School running back, gave the prayer.
Rev. Anderson recognized Brenda Suggs, the Lake View First Baptist Church secretary and program coordinator for this special day. A balloon release was held as a symbol of appreciation and thanksgiving to God for Suggs’ hard work.
The congregation sang the first and last verses of the hymn, “Oh, How I Love Jesus.”
The Honorable Judge Mackie Hayes introduced the guest speaker, Marcus Lattimore. Lattimore played high school football at James F. Byrnes High School in Duncan. He was the South Carolina Mr. Football and was a star running back at the University of South Carolina where he earned All-American status. He was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers. In 2016, he was named the head football coach at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia.
After the introduction, the Youth Choir performed “Brother” while a slideshow of the Lake View football players aired.
Marcus Lattimore then took the podium. Lattimore spoke briefly about his foundation, the Marcus Lattimore Foundation, which educates student athletes and prepares them for life after football. They also do outreach activities in small areas. They fed over 1,000 people for Thanksgiving in Jasper County. He said he and a helper were out delivering meals when they came upon a man that hadn’t had a meal in two days. The helper asked Lattimore what he thought happened to that man. “Life happened,” Lattimore said he told him. He said life tends to throw a curve ball sometimes.
Lattimore said the one advantage he had over other players was that he knew what he stood for and what he represented and that everything he did was “bigger than me”.
Lattimore grew up in Duncan. He said there were two seasons there -football season and waiting for football season. By his junior year in high school, he had 35 schools offering scholarships and was the number one running back in the country.
He said his coach, Coach Miller, called all of the seniors in and talked to them about their legacy. He used a tombstone as an illustration. He said there is the year you were born, a dash, and then the year it ends. He said you control the dash -it is a symbol of everything you have done, everything you go through, and how you handle it.
Lattimore said his final decision between the University of South Carolina and Auburn. He said the coach told him that he had the opportunity to be the face of USC. He said he was scared at first. He said “if it does not challenge you, it won’t change you.” He said the only way to grow is through challenges, difficulties, adversities, and setbacks.
Lattimore was the SEC Freshman on the Year. He worked hard. He was dedicated. He always went the extra mile. He knew what he represented. He did everything as if he did it for the Lord.
On October 16, 2011 in the fourth quarter against Mississippi State, he felt a guy coming and was hit directly in the left knee. He felt a sharp pain. He knew something was wrong. He had a torn ACL. He knew his season was over with along with the things that he wanted to accomplish personally, such as winning the Heisman Trophy.
Lattimore said that God laid it on his heart that it was not about him. “The game of football causes us to show who we are,” he said. Adversity shows yourself who you really are.
Lattimore said he knew he had the opportunity to go to the NFL. Growing up in a home with two bedrooms for seven people, he knew what the NFL could mean for him and his family. They would never have to worry again.
On October 24, 2012, Lattimore was named team captain as a junior. Lattimore said on October 26th, the night before the game with Tennessee, he told the players to play every play as if it were their last.
It was October 27, 2012, it was a normal day, and Lattimore was having a good game. There was three minutes left in the third quarter. He took the handoff and went left. As he crossed the line of scrimmage, he felt somebody hit him directly in the knee.
Lattimore said his whole knee was outside of his leg. He felt like there was nothing below his thigh. His whole leg was numb. The trainers and the doctor said to take him directly to the hospital. He was about to lose his leg. Lattimore burst into tears. They put him on the Gator and took him immediately to surgery. The whole time he thought to himself -I never cheated; I was driven. I was self-motivated. I did the right things. His NFL dreams were stripped away in an instant.
A few days passed by. He got the diagnosis that he would probably be able to play again.
Lattimaore was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round. He retired after two years, but he retired at peace.
Lattimore went back to school and finished his degree. At graduation, ESPN came to his house. He took them to various places. He took them to the 30-yard line where his career ended.
Lattimore said his plans did not go the way he wanted them to go. He said the interviewer asked him if he had to do it all over again would he change anything. Lattimore said not in a million years. He said he would not change one thing that happened. Lattimore said he was worth more than if he played in the NFL.
Lattimore said you have to be committed to succeed in whatever you do. He asked how much would you be worth if everything was stripped away.
Lattimore said he is working every single day to secure his legacy. He said at the end of the day, you have to realize that it is bigger than you. You have to realize there is a bigger picture because everything that you obtain in life can be gone in an instant.
“It’s not what you have,” said Lattimore. “It’s what you do with what you have.” He said the moment that you realize that it is bigger than you, you can defeat anything.
Lattimore said life is a gift and a blessing. It’s not about you. He said he hoped that they knew the Lord and knew his promises.
Lattimore said the game gave him the opportunity to grow and made him a better person. It taught him sacrifice, trust, and commitment. He asked what you would do with the rest of your life if everything was stripped away. He lived it.
After Lattimore’s comments, Swampy and Cocky returned for a celebration. Rev. Anderson gave the benediction and the prayer for the meal.
The departing hymn was “The Bond of Love.” The postlude was played by Barbara Arnette.
After the service, several people had pictures made with Marcus Lattimore and enjoyed a covered dish meal in the fellowship hall.

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