[Blank] helps those, that helps themselves.

There is an old saying that "God helps those who help themselves." I, personally, believe that whole-heartedly after you subtract out the God part.

We all have problems. Yes, some are more major than others but I feel strongly that people can overcome anything, if they want to. (Orphans have become doctors, etc.) What a lot of people seem to not understand or just won't accept is that you have to help yourself for this to change. People in a bad spot seem to think they will never get out of it while in fact it can be as easy as a change of mind that can catapult one out of their current squalor.

I constantly observe people that I have known for years that seem to be stuck in their own self fulfilling prophecies. For one reason or another they have had a rough couple of years recently and they feel that those years have dictated the path of their lives for the foreseeable future and that nothing can change that. These individuals often embrace such characteristics as instability as the norm when they don't have to be. Because these individuals believe that they can do no better than their current state they do nothing to advance themselves in anyway and therefore are stuck in that state.

I have wished many times to just grab these individuals and shake some sense into them so that they can see what everyone else sees but I don't think that would solve anything. They have to want to change, want to have a better way of life for anything real to take place.

What I am trying to say is that nobody is going to help you if you don't want help. Sometimes you have to swallow your pride and ask for it. We all need help at times.

Welcome to Columbia, Marcus Lattimore.

Okay, I may be getting ahead of myself by saying that Marcus Lattimore, the No. 2 rated running back in the nation, is a Gamecock for sure but I don't see why he wouldn't be at this point. The Lattimore family has officially announced now that it has come down to South Carolina and Auburn as the two schools vying for his services and furthermore they have adopted a code of silence until Feb 2nd. Now before I say why it should be a done deal for the Gamecocks I would like to say as far as SEC programs go that I respect, Auburn is in the Top 3. Okay here are my reasons:

1. Location: Lattimore is a local boy. He has elevated Byrnes High School of Duncan, SC to national prominence the last few years. There is nothing more appealing to a close-knit southern family than knowing their son is right in their own back yard.

2. The Dyer Effect: Auburn University has already had the No. 1 running back Michael Dyer sign with them. Why would Lattimore want to share time with an equally gifted runner for the foreseeable future when he could play substantially as a freshman (and for years to come) at South Carolina.

3. Playing Time: Listen I'm not delusional. I know that South Carolina has had an abysmal running game in recent years but they want that to change. Lattimore could be that change in every way and with no real front runner at the RB position already on the team he could step in immediately and make an impact.

Those are my thoughts on this high profile recruiting battle. Take them or leave them. I'm sure my close friend at The Pigskin Pathos would disagree or at least put up an argument as to why Lattimore should stray from his home state and go to his beloved Auburn. I feel it will be all for not. Go Gamecocks! Suck it Auburn! Respectfully, of course.

Change

Individuals deal with change in many different ways and with varied amounts of success. I, historically, have dealt with change fairly well and fairly poorly at the same time. I am stressed by the proposition (I'm a stressful person by nature) but at the same time I take pride in the fact that I can deal with a certain amount of change, good or bad.

I have noticed that change can present itself in many different forms throughout life. Whether it be your parents divorce, graduating from school, moving, the ending of a personal relationship of your own, or any of a myriad of other circumstances, change is difficult and often unforeseen. But how you handle that change can determine the path you end up on in the long and short run.

Currently I feel almost listless. Right now there is an abundance of change in my life. More than I have ever encountered. I'm truly scared of what's ahead of me in my life because I honestly don't know what lies ahead. Are the decisions that I am making the right ones? Am I successfully dealing with all this change in my life? I don't know. I think I am on the right path. Well, I hope so.

The First Post: Lets Keep it Light

Tonight is a good night. My University of South Carolina Gamecocks beat the No. 1 ranked Kentucky Wildcats in a sold out Colonial Life Center in Columbia to hand the Wildcats their first loss of the season. Devan Downey led the Gamecocks with 30 points but had a very strong supporting cast behind him, which is not often the case. Congratulations to the team, the coaching staff, and my fellow fans.