COLUMBIA, S.C. — Ahead of South Carolina’s home matchup against Coastal Carolina, head coach Shane Beamer addressed the media Tuesday in his weekly press conference.
Coastal Carolina enters the week at 6-4 and sitting second in the Sun Belt East. The Chanticleers are looking to rebound from a 45-40 loss at Georgia Southern after posting three straight wins over App State, Marshall, and Georgia State.
South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer opened his weekly press conference by addressing last week’s loss at Texas A&M, saying the Gamecocks “did not play well enough or coach well enough in the second half.” He said the team responded well in practice afterward, calling Sunday’s workout “spirited” and “energetic,” and noted that the focus now is on finishing the season the right way.
Beamer acknowledged the challenges of a disappointing year but said the team remains motivated heading into its final two games. “It sucks,” Beamer said. “But we still get an opportunity to go compete two more times together as a team. The record is what it is, but the opportunity to compete hasn’t changed.”
South Carolina and Coastal Carolina are set to kick off at Williams-Brice Stadium in Columbia at 4:15 p.m. ET on Saturday on the SEC Network.
Key comments from Shane Beamer
- On responding to the Texas A&M loss: “We did not play well enough or coach well enough in the second half… but our guys responded just like I knew they would. We had a spirited, energetic practice Sunday night.”
- On finishing the season: “It sucks. But we still get an opportunity to go compete two more times together as a team. The record is what it is, but the opportunity to compete hasn’t changed.”
- On Senior Day and playing time: “I’m trying to win the game. Period. We’re not into, ‘You’re a senior, let’s get you some carries.’ The best way to honor the seniors is to win.”
- On the offseason and next year: “We’re not far away. We’ve made a lot of progress, and now it’s about taking that next step. We’ll be firmly in the mix for a College Football Playoff berth next year.”
Shane Beamer previews Texas A&M
USC Ranking Summary Through 11/15
Key Rankings
- #1 Nationally / #1 SEC – Blocked Punts Allowed (0)
- #1 Nationally / #1 SEC – Blocked Kicks Allowed (0)
- #1 SEC / #8 Nationally – Turnovers Gained (20)
- #2 Nationally / #1 SEC – Defensive Touchdowns (4)
- #3 SEC / #9 Nationally – Punt Returns (16.16 avg)
- Vicari Swain – #1 Nationally / #1 SEC in Punt Return Touchdowns (3)
- Nyck Harbor – #1 SEC / #5 Nationally in Yards per Reception (20.96)
CCU Ranking Summary Through 11/15
Key Rankings
- #1 Sun Belt / #25 Nationally – Kickoff Returns (24.44 avg)
- #2 Sun Belt / #12 Nationally – Fumbles Recovered (8)
- #3 Sun Belt / #14 Nationally – Turnovers Gained (18)
- #1 Sun Belt / #7 Nationally – Field Goal Percentage (Kian Afrookhteh – 93.3%)
- Malcolm Gillie – #1 Sun Belt / #7 Nationally in Kickoff Return Average (28.0)
- Xamarion Gordon – #2 Sun Belt / #2 Nationally in Fumbles Recovered (3)
Ranking Summaries provided by stats.ncaa.org