PRESS PICKS (Week 9): A broken foot is not the answer to Beamer's issues
STAFF REPORT
South Carolina coach Shane Beamer admitted he broke his foot Saturday after the Gamecocks dropped a 41-39 decision to Florida.
The record fell to 2-4 overall and 1-3 against SEC competition.
Beamer shared the news Monday during his press conference. He did it with a smirk and somewhat of a revelry.
He didn’t say it but he almost took it as a war wound, earned on the field of battle when he actually lost his temper.
“Coach (Ray) Tanner (SC athletic director) died laughing about it,” Beamer bemused when asked what happened.
“Before anyone starts the narrative that the head football coach is frustrated and lost his poise, no, I care. I care about these kids.”
Sure, Coach. You care. And you can do whatever you want with your appendages. But what is the real message?
Just go out and break something? Here’s a trash can, kick it across the room? Show the world I’m going to beat this pain and it will make me a better man?
Mike Gundy, we need your opinion on this.
Nope, the message for most is Beamer can’t handle the pressure. His idea of expressing anger is to do something drastic. Yeah, it probably got a laugh from the South Carolina media but the rest of the world is laughing for a different reason.
For whatever justification, we started 2023 with Beamer and the Gamecocks on a pedestal. They came off a decent ’22 season that included their first win over arch-rival Clemson in eight tries (the two didn’t play in 2020 due to COVID). They beat Tennessee and everybody thought the ‘Cocks had arrived.
Instead, they proudly showed up in Jacksonville, Fla for the Gator Bowl and got spanked by Notre Dame.
But no one was really paying attention and as the new season arrived, the Gamecocks were considered a threat to unseat two-time national champ Georgia.
That idea was quickly squashed after an opening loss to North Carolina and later by a conference-opening loss to the Bulldogs.
Sure, they led the No. 1 team in the country at halftime. Quarterback Spencer Rattler looked like an All-American and the Gamecocks were on their way.
Instead, the outcome expected took place with the Georgia defense shutting out Rattler on the way to a relatively easy 24-14 win. Yes, the score may not look it but Georgia held SC to 110 yards in total offense in the second half and most of the yardage was in the final minutes when the winner was all but decided.
But back to Beamer. He has been coddled by the media as an up and coming coach with a bright future. He has an upset or two on his resume but generally he gets his “attaboys” mostly due to his heritage. His father, Frank, was one of the best. The comparisons have already been made. It’s not fair to either one.
At some point, SC fans will see through the facade and start to wonder if this guy is the answer. Breaking his foot might get a few laughs but when it comes to winning football games, it takes more than motivational tools, which he is using this week to get ready for Missouri.
Chances are that the Gamecocks will be sitting at home come bowl season due to a losing record. Only the Vanderbilt game seems to be an automatic victory, and the way SC is playing, nothing is for certain.
They need four more wins and there aren’t any gimmes, including Jacksonville State, a newcomer to FBS.
How funny will a broken foot be when Christmas is spent in Columbia, Coach?
Graham Dunn and Doug Amos broke away from the four-way tie a week ago to take the top spot on the panel.
2023 Overall Standings (Last week)
1. Graham Dunn 96-24 (12-3) .800
Doug Amos 96-24 (12-3) .800
3. Mike Peacock 94-26 (10-5) .783
4. Wesley Lyle 93-27 (9-6) .775
Tim Gayle 93-27 (11-4) .775
6. Lindsey Bonner 89-31 (11-4) .741
7. Michael Butler 86-34 (10-5) .717
8. Rosie Langello 85-35 (12-3) .708
9. Barry McKnight 74-46 (7-8) .617
Rick Hendrick 74-46 (9-6) .617
Graham Dunn (River Region Sports/WTLS/Voice of Alabama State Hornets)
96-24 (12-3) .800
Sidney Laner vs. G.W. Carver - Carver
P. Julian (Lee) at Prattville - Prattville
Russell County at Park Crossing - Park Crossing
Holtville at Demopolis - Demopolis
Tennessee at Alabama - Alabama
Ole Miss at Auburn - Ole Miss
Miss St at Arkansas - Arkansas
South Carolina at Missouri - Missouri
Duke at Florida St - Florida St
Clemson at Miami, Fla. - Miami
Penn St at Ohio St - Ohio St.
Washington St at Oregon - Oregon
Utah at Southern Cal - Utah
Texas Tech at BYU - Texas Tech
Air Force at Navy - Air Force
Doug Amos (ESPN The Ticket)
96-24 (12-3) .800
Sidney Laner vs. G.W. Carver - Carver
P. Julian (Lee) at Prattville - Prattville
Russell County at Park Crossing - Park Crossing
Holtville at Demopolis - Demopolis
Tennessee at Alabama - Alabama
Ole Miss at Auburn - Auburn
Miss St at Arkansas - Arkansas
South Carolina at Missouri - Missouri
Duke at Florida St - Florida St
Clemson at Miami, Fla. - Miami
Penn St at Ohio St - Ohio St.
Washington St at Oregon - Oregon
Utah at Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Texas Tech at BYU - Texas Tech
Air Force at Navy - Air Force
Mike Peacock (River Region Sports)
94-26 (10-5) .783
Sidney Laner vs. G.W. Carver - Carver
P. Julian (Lee) at Prattville - Prattville
Russell County at Park Crossing - Russell County
Holtville at Demopolis - Demopolis
Tennessee at Alabama - Alabama
Ole Miss at Auburn - Ole Miss
Miss St at Arkansas - Arkansas
South Carolina at Missouri - Missouri
Duke at Florida St - Florida St
Clemson at Miami, Fla. - Clemson
Penn St at Ohio St - Ohio St.
Washington St at Oregon - Oregon
Utah at Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Texas Tech at BYU - Texas Tech
Air Force at Navy - Navy
Wesley Lyle (River Region Sports & al.com)
93-27 (9-6) .775
Sidney Laner vs. G.W. Carver - Carver
P. Julian (Lee) at Prattville - Prattville
Russell County at Park Crossing - Russell County
Holtville at Demopolis - Demopolis
Tennessee at Alabama - Alabama
Ole Miss at Auburn - Ole Miss
Miss St at Arkansas - Arkansas
South Carolina at Missouri - Missouri
Duke at Florida St - Florida St
Clemson at Miami, Fla. - Clemson
Penn St at Ohio St - Ohio St.
Washington St at Oregon - Oregon
Utah at Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Texas Tech at BYU - Texas Tech
Air Force at Navy - Navy
Tim Gayle (River Region Sports/Montgomery Independent)
93-27 (11-4) .775
Sidney Laner vs. G.W. Carver - Carver
P. Julian (Lee) at Prattville - Prattville
Russell County at Park Crossing - Park Crossing
Holtville at Demopolis - Demopolis
Tennessee at Alabama - Alabama
Ole Miss at Auburn - Ole Miss
Miss St at Arkansas - Arkansas
South Carolina at Missouri - Missouri
Duke at Florida St - Florida St
Clemson at Miami, Fla. - Clemson
Penn St at Ohio St - Ohio St.
Washington St at Oregon - Oregon
Utah at Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Texas Tech at BYU - Texas Tech
Air Force at Navy - Air Force
Lindsey Bonner (Sports Director WAKA Ch. 8)
89-31 (11-4) .741
Sidney Laner vs. G.W. Carver - Carver
P. Julian (Lee) at Prattville - Prattville
Russell County at Park Crossing - Russell County
Holtville at Demopolis - Holtville
Tennessee at Alabama - Alabama
Ole Miss at Auburn - Ole Miss
Miss St at Arkansas - Arkansas
South Carolina at Missouri - Missouri
Duke at Florida St - Florida St
Clemson at Miami, Fla. - Miami
Penn St at Ohio St - Ohio St.
Washington St at Oregon - Oregon
Utah at Southern Cal - Utah
Texas Tech at BYU - BYU
Air Force at Navy - Navy
Michael Butler (WTLS 106.9&94.7 FM/1300 AM/Tallassee Times)
86-34 (10-5) .717
Sidney Laner vs. G.W. Carver - Carver
P. Julian (Lee) at Prattville - Julian
Russell County at Park Crossing - Park Crossing
Holtville at Demopolis - Demopolis
Tennessee at Alabama - Alabama
Ole Miss at Auburn - Ole Miss
Miss St at Arkansas - Arkansas
South Carolina at Missouri - Missouri
Duke at Florida St - Florida St
Clemson at Miami, Fla. - Clemson
Penn St at Ohio St - Penn St.
Washington St at Oregon - Oregon
Utah at Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Texas Tech at BYU - BYU
Air Force at Navy - Air Force
Rosie Langello (Sports Director - WSFA Ch. 12)
85-35 (12-3) .708
Sidney Laner vs. G.W. Carver - Carver
P. Julian (Lee) at Prattville - Julian
Russell County at Park Crossing - Russell County
Holtville at Demopolis - Demopolis
Tennessee at Alabama - Alabama
Ole Miss at Auburn - Ole Miss
Miss St at Arkansas - Arkansas
South Carolina at Missouri - Missouri
Duke at Florida St - Florida St
Clemson at Miami, Fla. - Miami
Penn St at Ohio St - Penn St.
Washington St at Oregon - Oregon
Utah at Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Texas Tech at BYU - BYU
Air Force at Navy - Air Force
Barry McKnight (SportsRadio 740 /Voice of Troy Trojans)
74-46 (7-8) .617
Sidney Laner vs. G.W. Carver - Carver
P. Julian (Lee) at Prattville - Prattville
Russell County at Park Crossing - Park Crossing
Holtville at Demopolis - Demopolis
Tennessee at Alabama - Tennessee
Ole Miss at Auburn - Ole Miss
Miss St at Arkansas - Arkansas
South Carolina at Missouri - Missouri
Duke at Florida St - Florida St
Clemson at Miami, Fla. - Miami
Penn St at Ohio St - Penn St.
Washington St at Oregon - Oregon
Utah at Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Texas Tech at BYU - Texas Tech
Air Force at Navy - Air Force
Rick Hendrick (WXFS 95.1 The Fox/PA Montgomery Biscuits)
74-46 (9-6) .617
Sidney Laner vs. G.W. Carver - Carver
P. Julian (Lee) at Prattville - Prattville
Russell County at Park Crossing - Park Crossing
Holtville at Demopolis - Holtville
Tennessee at Alabama - Alabama
Ole Miss at Auburn - Ole Miss
Miss St at Arkansas - Arkansas
South Carolina at Missouri - South Carolina
Duke at Florida St - Florida St
Clemson at Miami, Fla. - Miami
Penn St at Ohio St - Ohio St.
Washington St at Oregon - Oregon
Utah at Southern Cal - Southern Cal
Texas Tech at BYU - Texas Tech
Air Force at Navy - Air Force