USC head coach Shane Beamer limped into Tuesday’s press conference, and that isn’t a reference to how his team finished Saturday’s game against Florida. The Gamecocks’ boss actually broke a bone in his right foot following the loss to the Gators.
“I was frustrated and kicked something I shouldn’t have kicked,” Beamer blushed when asked about his injury. “I was really upset on Saturday night because I didn’t do enough Saturday night to help them (players) get over the hump and win the football game. Lesson learned. It was stupid on my part.” Beamer also joked that he got no empathy and only laughter from athletics director Ray Tanner when he informed him of the injury.
“Before anyone starts the narrative like the head football coach is frustrated and lost his poise,” Beamer continued. “No, I care. I care about these kids. It hurts like you know what, but I’ve got to show toughness and fight through it. It’s been one of those years.”
USC will have to be healthy and tough on Saturday as the Gamecocks travel to Missouri to battle for the “Mayor’s Cup” at 3:30pm on the SEC Network. On Tuesday, Beamer laid out the ins and outs of this weekend’s matchup with the Tigers.
Some of Beamer’s key comments on Tuesday:
- Opportunity to go on the road and face a really good Missouri team. Really impressed with the quarterback. He’s made some big-time throws. This is a very veteran team that we’re playing.
- The last two years, the story of our game with them has been their defensive line. They are disruptive.
- Mario Anderson is okay for Saturday. Blanton is questionable and Beamer is unsure about Vershon Lee’s availability against the Tigers. Adds it would be one-step forward and two-steps back on the OL if Lee is out.
- On playing at Missouri, it’s different. Every place you go in the SEC is different. But it’s not like we’re flying to Siberia or going across the country like some of the PAC-12 teams will have to do.
- On bigger travel rosters in the SEC, teams can travel 74 players this year. Beamer says that the guys they take on the trip have earned the right to be on the trip. He doesn’t want to take someone because they’re worried that player might transfer if he doesn’t travel. “We want to reward guys who play really hard. I don’t want to take people who we know aren’t going to play. I want to reward players who have earned the right to be on the trip.
