South Carolina passed its first SEC test of the season last week with flying colors. As a 9.5 point underdog, the Gamecocks won by 25 points at Kentucky. They play their SEC home opener this Saturday against 16th ranked LSU and again are pegged as a 9.5 point underdog.
That’s just another selling point to his team by Shane Beamer as he used the disrespect card last week in preparing his team for the Wildcats. The Gamecocks sit atop the SEC standings at 1-0. Beat LSU and they will remain there, and the respect will follow.
Highlights from Beamer’s press conference on LSU:
- Excited about this week against a talented, well coached LSU team, lots of respect for Brian Kelly, his teams are tough, disciplined, physical and well coached.
- LSU defense has guys who can disrupt things at all levels, very impressed with Nussmeier, can make all the throws, good tight end and talented group of receivers who have size and speed, arguably best OL in the country.
- Feels like the spotlight is back on his program, and they have to handle success and the distractions the right way, realize the bandwagon is getting full in a lot of ways, and many will jump off the next time things don’t go their way.
- Thinks his team is prepared to handle the success and distractions, they’ll find out, they’ve got a lot of guys who have been around for a long time and lean on them to set the tone for the rest.
- Practice today showed him they are preparing the right way and now they just need to continue to improve through the week and play well Saturday.
- Likes what they are doing schematically in the running game, they had a chance to pop a few more big runs vs Kentucky, they do need to get better and increase their yards per carry average.
- They played well vs Kentucky because they prepared well all week and that’s why he was confident going into the game, and he’s looking for the same type of preparation this week.
- Teams have done different things against their defensive ends in first two games, expects LSU to relay on their two excellent tackles but will give them some help if they need it, and if they want to use four to block the ends that will open things up the DTs.