 "Photo: Todd J. Van Emst / The Associated Press")
When Kenny Irons left USC in winter 2003, few Gamecock fans thought he would be missed. A season later, missed would be an understatement.
The Carolina rushing game has been almost nonexistent this year without the suspended Cory Boyd and the dismissed Demetris Summers, the main reason Irons left.
"They wanted him to be that guy, and I felt there was no room for me at the university," Irons said this week. "One thing that really caught my eye was (former running backs) coach (Dave) Roberts really stressed my blocking. He always said if you want to play this position you got to be able to block ... Demetris comes along, not that great of a blocker, but coach was so impressed and it kind of blew me away and he said 'I don't care if he could block as long as he can run the ball.'"
After carrying the ball only five times for 19 yards during the 2003 season, Irons decided it was time for him to move on.
"Me and Lou (Holtz) sat in the office, and we talked. He said, 'Irons, you're a great athlete, and we want you to be a part of this team,'" Irons said. "He said 'stay during spring ball, and if you don't like it, then you can leave.'"
Irons decided to pass on the offer, and after being permitted to transfer, the Dacula, Ga., native decided to go to Auburn, where his brother Davis was a cornerback.
"Coach (Tuberville) gave me a second chance at being able to play ball, so that's a great thing," Irons said.
After sitting out a year, Irons began the 2005 season buried in the Auburn depth chart. The Tigers lost their season opener to Georgia Tech, but in a game against the Ball State Cardinals, Irons finally got his shot. The former Carolina back carried the ball 11 times against Ball State, gaining 147 yards in the first half. Last weekend against Western Kentucky, Irons continued to sizzle, carrying 18 times for 111 yards. The junior is averaging 6.8 yards per carry in 2005.
Now, he turns his attention to the team that spurned him two years ago, a team with a poor run defense in danger of losing three-straight conference games.
But Irons' experiences at USC were not all negative. In the past week, he has had conversations with Gamecock linebacker Ricardo Hurley, former Carolina receiver Troy Williamson and defensive tackle Stanley Doughty.
"Sometimes you wish he was still here, but at the same time you wish him the best," USC linebacker Lance Laury said. "We're gonna have to get after him this week, but we'll still be buddies after the game."
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