Bobby Cremins was the only coach who could have made South Carolina players and fans so happy-and he’s the only coach who could have shocked and saddened them so.
Cremins spurned his alma mater Saturday and decided to quit a job he’d had for only three days and return to Georgia Tech.
Cremins, who starred at South Carolina in 1968-70, was welcomed with a festive news conference Wednesday that resembled a homecoming more than a hiring.
This time, a simple handwritten statement to his agent, Richard Howell, outlined what Cremins said was his desire to live up to the values he had preached to his Georgia Tech players.
“I made a mistake and this is the most embarrassing moment of my life,” said Cremins.
He said he was amazed at his reception in Columbia but spent the next two days thinking of his players at Georgia Tech.
“I felt I had broken my promise and had deserted (the players). Everything I preached to them about, I went against.”
South Carolina Athletic Director Mike McGee said he got a call from Cremins at 8:30 a.m. Friday, and the coach said he was offered the chance to come back to Georgia Tech by Athletic Director Homer Rice.
McGee said he and Cremins met most of the morning. McGee also talked to Rice and asked Cremins be given more time to decide about returning to Atlanta.
