South Carolina is 2-5 (1-4) in a season where some expected nine wins. A more realistic win total of seven is still, theoretically, on the table, but presents an uphill battle. The disappointing results have many fans asking what is really happening with the Gamecocks. Social media provides an outlet for anyone to voice opinions and gain traction with those thoughts. Between message board meltdowns and coaches blocking media members on X (formerly Twitter), the public perception in Gamecock Nation is troublesome at best.
However, it’s not time to panic just yet. This season will end with a subpar record and changes will need to be made. But let’s talk program, not team. Look at the big picture and consider the narrative that success is not linear. There are some questions to consider that help reveal what is really happening with the Gamecocks.
Is Beamer The Guy?
Year three presents a challenge for any coach. The newness has worn off and opposing teams have figured out what they need to do to defend or attack certain schemes and strategies. Patterns emerge and other teams adjust. Personnel changes are a major factor as the transfer portal and NIL play a bigger and bigger role. For Shane Beamer, all of these factors have come into play in year three. But anyone questioning whether or not Beamer should be retained as the coach in Columbia does not understand this program. Timelines for coaches are shortened in this era, but Beamer’s resumé speaks for itself.
His teams over-performed in both of his first two seasons. The dominant bowl win against North Carolina to close year one above .500 (7-6) was a springboard into year two. After an up-and-down season in 2022, Carolina finished the year with back-to-back top-ten wins over two significant rivals, including Clemson who had owned the Gamecocks for the better part of a decade. From a recruiting standpoint, each class has been better than the last as Beamer is establishing this team as a constant top 20 team. Portal additions have also been significant.
While there are bad losses on the field over the past two and a half seasons, as well as, a few impactful recruiting battles lost, there is little to no argument that another head coach could have outperformed Beamer thus far. The positive changes that have been made would be undone if a change was made at the top. Additionally, a new head coach coming in would have the same resources that Beamer has nearly maximized, leaving little room for anyone else to do a better job. The “Fire Beamer” narrative just stems from frustration over the current record. What is really happening with the Gamecocks starts with the head coach, but is not even close to time for a change.
Coaching Questions
With that being said, there are some questions about this coaching staff that are fair. Clayton White’s defense has given up 34 points per game in SEC play this season. That compares to 32 points per game in 2022 and just under 29 points per game in 2021. These totals determine wins and losses. There have been standout games both positively and negatively.
In some cases, the Gamecocks’ defense has held high-flying offenses under 20 points, but they’ve also given up 40 plus to otherwise pedestrian groups. Personnel usage seems to be a major issue in 2023. South Carolina defensive backs who have previously performed above expectations are now underperforming.
So, what is really happening with the Gamecocks defense? Has Torian Gray regressed as a position coach despite his proven track record at multiple schools? (Highly unlikely.) Are onlookers a victim of recalibrating expectations of certain players too high after seeing them perform well early in their careers? These are fair questions, but the true answer seems to be that players are out of positions that maximize their strengths. To put these players in the best positions, the overall scheme may need some adjustments… or major changes. Safeties should play safety, not shift to press man against an opponent’s top target out wide. Linebackers who are a step slow should be used primarily inside, not sideline to sideline or in coverage. Changes need to be made. These changes could be schematic, personnel, or coaches.
Insult to Injury
Two of the most popular excuses for South Carolina’s performance in 2023 are the schedule and injuries. Coaches and players take the high road and declare that there is no excuse, as they should. However, these factors can’t be ignored from our standpoint. Of Carolina’s five losses, Florida is the worst team at 5-2. For the record, South Carolina should not have lost that game. The blown fourth-quarter lead really propelled the line of questioning as to what is really happening to the Gamecocks. However, the other four losses: UNC, Georgia, Tennessee, and Missouri are all ranked inside the top 21 as of October 22. South Carolina has to beat teams that they are not supposed to beat. Beamer did this in his first two years in Columbia. This season, they have just lost to better teams.
The injuries are so significant that it’s laughable at some positions. To begin, the biggest playmaker on the roster has been out for essentially the entire season. Juice Wells was injured in the summer and made a feeble attempt to return during which he scored a touchdown and re-injured himself all at once. Now, the second biggest playmaker, Xavier Legette may also miss time after sustaining an undisclosed “upper body” injury and sitting for the majority of the matchup with Missouri. Nagging injuries to a few defenders has impacted the Gamecocks as well.
But the most impactful injuries have been on the offensive line. Ten offensive linemen are currently injured for South Carolina. Of the ten injured, nine were a part of the two-deep. One starter remains and he is not in the same position that he started the season in. This quantity of injuries in one position group is just unheard of. Beamer has reserve tight ends playing offensive line in practice just to field a second group. Walk-ons and freshmen have all been used, and some of them have been injured as well. For a group that had some questions coming into the season anyway, these injuries have been cataclysmic for South Carolina.
Sacrifice and Survive
As this season begins to wind down, the Gamecocks have a more favorable schedule in November with four home games. They can still salvage some goodwill if they can go on a run there. However, the off-season brings big challenges. The transfer portal will be pivotal for the Carolina staff. Positions of need on the defensive front and the offensive backfield will be top priority. But perhaps holding on to the current roster should be elevated to number one status. Coaches will need to fight off opportunities for players to leave Columbia and keep this roster together, while also adding a few key players.
The caveat to this challenge is that buried within it is NIL. South Carolina is in the bottom quarter of SEC schools in terms of NIL funds. The inability to pay will limit the pool of players that will consider joining the Gamecocks. It could also impact the coaches that Beamer can convince to come to Carolina if he indeed makes changes. The fanbase has to see the significance of giving and continue adding to the collectives. South Carolina has partnered with the Garnet Trust as the official NIL collective of the University.
Fans also have the option of giving to Carolina Rise, an NIL collective that funds a partnership with Park Avenue, “a subsidiary of one of the nation’s top sports marketing agencies,” according to their X account. Park Avenue works exclusively with South Carolina athletes and finds them marketing deals where they get all of the profit and don’t have to sacrifice a portion to an agent because Carolina Rise is paying for the service.
Don’t hit the panic button yet, Gamecock fans. This season has been disappointing. But understanding what’s really happening with the Gamecocks requires a big-picture examination. The future is still bright and every fan can be a part of that success.
