Shane Beamer takes optimistic message, preseason injuries into Eastern Illinois opener
By Keith Farner
Published:
Shane Beamer has brought a certain level of optimism to South Carolina, and the Gamecocks get out of the gate this week to show how much that positive message translates to the scoreboard.
That messaging has caused many fans to almost forget that the program went 2-8 last season and fired Will Muschamp with 3 games to go.
“We’ve got the best fan base in the nation, loud, passionate,” Beamer said at SEC Media Days. “I’ve been to Gamecock club events throughout the state of South Carolina since I got started. … We’ve got sold-out events. The excitement they have has only increased since I left South Carolina back in 2011.”
Sure, with injuries or surgeries to Luke Doty and Kevin Harris over the summer, the offensive backfield brings additional question marks. And the defensive secondary, which saw a mass exodus at the end of last season, has plugged some holes.
There appears to be some optimism that Doty and Harris will be back to full speed sooner than later, and their injuries aren’t long-term concerns.
What helps these injury and inexperience concerns is that the Gamecocks have above average line play on offense and defense, so that’s why there’s some hope that any combination of Doty and St. Francis (Pa.) transfer Jason Brown or Trey Lance’s best friend Zeb Noland could do enough to help the team reach 5 wins. Noland, the graduate assistant from North Dakota State turned QB has already been a solid contribution to the program on his playbook knowledge and experience alone.
Honestly, if a player or two really step up at wide receiver or tight end, such as Nick Muse, the quarterbacks won’t have to do a lot outside of avoiding mistakes as long as Harris and MarShawn Lloyd are churning out yards.
Between the 4 coaching staff re-hires, and plenty of players overlooked, or who transferred from lower-level schools, the Gamecocks have plenty of reason to be motivated to prove people wrong this year.
The latest example of that is Marcellas Dial, who started his career at Georgia Military College, has drawn positive reviews as a playing time has come open with projected starting corner Cam Smith out for most of the preseason after foot surgery, and transfer Karon Prunty leaving the Gamecocks during the first week of camp.
Dial and Darius Rush are expected to start at cornerback at a position where the Gamecocks last year had NFL talent in Jaycee Corner and Israel Mukuamu.
As for the Gamecocks’ opponent on Saturday, Eastern Illinois last week got off to a rough start and lost to Illinois State.
The Panthers, who played 6 games in the spring, outgained Indiana State 378-245 and had 8 more first downs. But they also gave up 2 interceptions, a lost fumble and 5 sacks.
The positive story for the Gamecocks is this is an easy opener, and they only have 3 virtually unwinnable games against Georgia, Texas A&M and Clemson. The fact that several of their games are at least toss-ups speaks to what talent Muschamp left Beamer, and the combination of offensive and defensive line talent and experience and quality transfers like Tyrese Ross.
“There have been some great days in Columbia, South Carolina, some great days for South Carolina football, but I am 100 percent convinced that the best days of South Carolina football are right in front of us,” Beamer said, “and I couldn’t more excited about that, couldn’t be more excited about being the head football coach of South Carolina.”
The offseason talking ends Saturday, and Beamer’s work now translates to wins and losses.
A former newspaper veteran, Keith Farner is a news manager for Saturday Down South.
