Connor Shaw suffered a scary health situation almost two weeks ago while he was coaching a youth football game.
He was able to go back home last Saturday, as Shane Beamer gave him a shoutout during the game against Missouri.
Just a week after being discharged from the hospital, former South Carolina quarterback Connor Shaw made an emotional return to Williams-Brice Stadium as the Gamecocks’ celebrity starter for Saturday night’s matchup against Kentucky.
Shaw, accompanied by his young son Decker, took center stage before kickoff and fired up the crowd with the traditional “GAME! … COCKS!” chant.
“Praise Jesus!” Shaw shouted to the fans. “Gamecocks fight until the very end.”
The 34-year-old had been hospitalized on Sept. 17 after collapsing on the sideline while coaching his son’s football game in Simpsonville. He remained at Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital for three nights, where he was initially listed in stable condition in the ICU.
Witnesses said CPR was administered on the field before Shaw was rushed away by paramedics.
A source later confirmed to The State that Shaw left the hospital in good spirits, feeling fortunate to be alive. While he had shared brief updates on Instagram, Saturday’s pregame ceremony marked his first public appearance since the health scare.
Shaw was a legend during his time as the quarterback at South Carolina from 2011-2013. He had the ability to make plays with both his arm, as well as his legs. In his career, he passed for 6,074 yards and ran for 1,693 yards. Not only did he put up big numbers, but he was a part of one of the best runs in South Carolina history, as the Gamecocks went 27-5 in those three years.
For all of college football, seeing him on Saturday night healthy is something that everyone is happy for. The Gamecocks entered Saturday night on a two-game losing streak, and having Shaw in attendance gave the stadium some added inspiration.
