Coach Beamer readies Gamecocks for visit from No. 1 Georgia (With videos with coach Beamer and selected players)
Sept. 13, 2022Coach Shane Beamer addressed the media, Tuesday, ahead of this week’s home game against top-ranked Georgia. There are connections between the two coaching staffs as Beamer worked under Kirby Smart at Georgia and former Gamecocks head coach Will Muschamp is now the co-defensive coordinator for the Bulldogs.
Beamer fielded several questions about how they plan to move the ball against one of the nation’s best defenses. South Carolina hasn’t gotten much out of its rushing attack, so far, gaining 3.48 yards/carry from the combination of Marshawn Lloyd, Juju McDowell, and Jaheim Bell. The Gamecocks can expect tough sledding again, Saturday, as the Dawgs have surrendered just 3.31 yards/carry through two games.
With that in mind, the Gamecocks may be forced to rely on the capable arm of Spencer Rattler (61.8%, 603 yards). But protecting Rattler long enough for Antwane Wells, Jr. (244 yards) and Jalen Brooks (117 yards) to work themselves free is a big hurdle facing the Gamecock's veteran line. The receiving corps will get a boost as the versatile Dakereon Joyner is expected to be fully healthy. Beamer said, “Last year Georgia was no. 1 or no. 2 in stopping the run. We’ve got an NFL-caliber quarterback and I’d be an idiot to say we’re going to run it 60 times.”
Defensively, the Gamecocks are facing a resurgent Georgia pass attack led by Stetson Bennett. Bennett has been nearly flawless in two outings, hitting 75% of his attempts for 668 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions.
Beamer anticipates another great atmosphere and encouraged the fanbase to play their part, “We set the standard against Georgia State. No one cares that it’s a noon game. If you need more time to tailgate, wake up earlier. We need that place to be absolutely rocking.”
Georgia leads the all-time series 53-19-2. The Gamecocks got the better of the Bulldogs during the height of the Steve Spurrier era, winning four of five between 2010 and 2014 before Georgia reasserted its dominance with double-digit victories in six of the last seven meetings.
The South Carolina-Georgia game has produced some memorable moments for Gamecocks fans including Mike Hold’s game-winning touchdown run in 1984, Brandon Bennett’s 1993 dive over the pile and into the end zone, Marcus Lattimore’s SEC debut (182 yards) in 2010, Melvin Ingram’s punt-fake touchdown run in 2011 and Ace Sander’s electrifying 70-yard punt return in 2012. Cornerback Israel Mukuama added his name to the list with three interceptions in 2019’s upset “Between the Hedges.”
Beamer’s plea for Gamecock fans to show out for Georgia game
South Carolina fans might have wanted Saturday’s game against No. 1 Georgia to kick off at night but Shane Beamer had a simple response to those wishes. “Wake up earlier,” he said. The Gamecocks will face the Bulldogs at noon Saturday, and the game will be televised on ESPN. The game time was set by the SEC and TV networks back in late May.
“I know there are a lot of people who wanted this game to be a night game. Frankly, no one cares,” Beamer said. “It’s a noon game. We set the standard for what Williams-Brice Stadium should be like against Georgia State. We’re not going to all of a sudden be less than that on Saturday at noon because we’re disappointed it’s not a night game.”
Beamer cited how impressed he was with that atmosphere at Reynolds Razorback Stadium, and he wants Gamecock fans to replicate that this Saturday. “You can start preparing at 5 a.m., 6 a.m., 7 a.m., whatever time the (tailgating) lots open over there,” Beamer said. “But we need that place to be absolutely rocking.” This week’s game, at $110 per ticket, is the most expensive game on USC’s home schedule.
South Carolina only recently made the contest against Georgia available for single-game purchase as of Tuesday afternoon, roughly 2,500 face-values, and upper-deck tickets were available through Ticketmaster.
“An amazing atmosphere” helps to recruit a lot, Beamer said, as does playing well. A typical home game can attract upwards of 100 recruits and their families. “If you follow recruiting at all here at Carolina, you know how important this weekend is from a recruiting standpoint,” Beamer said.
That comment was a subtle nod to the fact that South Carolina is hosting five-star edge rusher Nyckoles Harber for his official visit. The Gamecocks have not yet landed a five-star high school recruit commitment under Beamer. “There’s a long time until the 2023 class signs and a long time until the 2024 class signs,” Beamer said. “But I think we’re in a great position with a lot of them. We’ve worked really, really hard at it.” Beamer expects the start of the game to be delayed a few minutes so ESPN can show the team coming out to “2001,” bringing attention to what college football looks like in Columbia.
He hopes for the afternoon game to have a better atmosphere than the Georgia State night kick. *We’ve got an opportunity for our fanbase to show the entire country, on national television, what Williams-Brice Stadium and a gameday at South Carolina is like,” Beamer said.
Why Dakereon Joyner’s role has been limited for the 2022 season
Through two games this fall, though, Joyner has barely registered a blip in South Carolina’s offensive equation. “It’s not like we have forgotten what he did in the bowl game,” Beamer said Tuesday. “He showed that he can play quarterback at a high level in that bowl game. He wasn’t healthy in that first game and he was healthier last Saturday against Arkansas.” Joyner’s unique career at Columbia is well-documented.“When he is healthy, he’s a fantastic leader,” Beamer said. “He’s a really good football player that’s a valuable member of our special teams and then a valuable member of our offense whether it’s wide receiver, whether it’s quarterback, whatever. He’s shown that he can do that and we need to continue to find ways to keep him involved, have him involved.” South Carolina is deeper than it was at receiver a year ago.
Last year’s leading receiver Josh Vann is back in the fold. The Gamecocks also added Corey Rucker (who’s been injured to this point) and Antwane “Juice” Wells to the equation. Oklahoma import Austin Stogner and do-it-all tight end Jaheim Bell are factors as well. “Frankly, we’ve got more depth,” Beamer said as to why South Carolina has taken a statistical step forward so far in 2022.
“We’ve got a really experienced quarterback who continues to get more comfortable with what we’re doing each week. We’ve got more experienced running backs. We’ve got more depth at wide receiver.” “. We’ve got more weapons around the guys than what we went into the season with last year at this time,” Beamer continued. “For us, it’s just continuing to develop depth and continue to get more and more confident and more and more comfortable with what we’re doing.”
A new chapter will be added to the storied rivalry when Georgia pays a visit to Williams-Brice Stadium for a noon kickoff, Saturday.
VIDEOS COURTESY OF USC MEDIA OUTLET
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