TM4C123GH6PM: Pin configuration question for the use of SSI1

Hello,

I am using SSI1 on my tm4c123gh6pm to drive serial LED s.  In order to do so, I initialize the SSI1 peripheral like:

    MAP_SysCtlPeripheralEnable(SYSCTL_PERIPH_SSI1);
    MAP_GPIOPinConfigure(GPIO_PF2_SSI1CLK);
    MAP_GPIOPinConfigure(GPIO_PF1_SSI1TX);
    MAP_GPIOPinTypeSSI(GPIO_PORTF_BASE, GPIO_PIN_1 | GPIO_PIN_2);
    MAP_SSIConfigSetExpClk(SSI1_BASE, ui32SysClkFreq, SSI_FRF_MOTO_MODE_0, SSI_MODE_MASTER, 2400000, 8);
    MAP_SSIEnable(SSI1_BASE);

Although I am only using SS1TX pin, I have to initialize also clock, or the spi module will not function, and also although I have not configured the SSI1_CSS pin, when the spi transfers, the value of this pin changes.

There is also the SSI1RX pin, which I don't know how it behaves. Is there any way to configure this pin (SSI1RX) as a general purpose input pin? Is there any way to use remaining SPI pins as gpio's?

Best Regards,

Can Altineller