First of all never would of thought it back in August. Shane Beamer should be SEC Coach of the year? Why not? Who is a better candidate in your mind?
But preaching optimism, Beamer breathed life into an otherwise listless program that had won just six games over its last two seasons. The former Oklahoma and Georgia assistant told reporters Sunday he liked a handful of the cards he was dealt in Columbia. The defensive line could be elite. Secondary pieces like Jaylan Foster and Cam Smith felt primed for breakout seasons.
Quarterback would be a question, to some degree. But a quartet of talented tailbacks gave the Gamecocks enough offensive options to play with. Preseason prognosticators gave South Carolina little, if any, benefit of the doubt. The Gamecocks were picked to finish ahead of only Vanderbilt in the SEC East. Most national outlets slotted USC’s projected win total somewhere around three or four.
With one game remaining against Clemson, South Carolina is 6-5 overall, 5-1 at home, bowl-eligible and playing with more house money than could be lost by even the most mediocre of gamblers. “Shane Beamer leading South Carolina to wins over Auburn and Florida in Year 1 is one of the biggest upsets of this wild 2021 season,” Sports Illustrated national college football reporter Ross Dellenger posted to Twitter on Saturday night.
Beamer spoke at length Sunday evening about the increasing pressure on head coaches in this modern day and age. So far, 14 FBS head coaching jobs have come open. Two SEC schools LSU and Florida are seeking new coaches. Take Dan Mullen as the preeminent example of modern-day college football. Mullen brought Mississippi State to heights it had rarely, if ever, seen during its decades-long football history. He parlayed that success into the head coaching gig at Florida, where he went 34-15 and reached the SEC title game a season ago.
But preaching optimism, Beamer breathed life into an otherwise listless program that had won just six games over its last two seasons. The former Oklahoma and Georgia assistant told reporters Sunday he liked a handful of the cards he was dealt in Columbia. The defensive line could be elite. Secondary pieces like Jaylan Foster and Cam Smith felt primed for breakout seasons.
Quarterback would be a question, to some degree. But a quartet of talented tailbacks gave the Gamecocks enough offensive options to play with. Preseason prognosticators gave South Carolina little, if any, benefit of the doubt. The Gamecocks were picked to finish ahead of only Vanderbilt in the SEC East. Most national outlets slotted USC’s projected win total somewhere around three or four.
With one game remaining against Clemson, South Carolina is 6-5 overall, 5-1 at home, bowl-eligible and playing with more house money than could be lost by even the most mediocre of gamblers. “Shane Beamer leading South Carolina to wins over Auburn and Florida in Year 1 is one of the biggest upsets of this wild 2021 season,” Sports Illustrated national college football reporter Ross Dellenger posted to Twitter on Saturday night.
Beamer spoke at length Sunday evening about the increasing pressure on head coaches in this modern day and age. So far, 14 FBS head coaching jobs have come open. Two SEC schools LSU and Florida are seeking new coaches. Take Dan Mullen as the preeminent example of modern-day college football. Mullen brought Mississippi State to heights it had rarely, if ever, seen during its decades-long football history. He parlayed that success into the head coaching gig at Florida, where he went 34-15 and reached the SEC title game a season ago.
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