South Carolina releases statement confirming the Gamecocks will not be playing in the Gasparilla Bowl
South Carolina’s 2020 football season is officially over.
Following multiple reports indicating the Gamecocks would not be playing in the Gasparilla Bowl, the school officially confirmed that new on Tuesday.
The game was set to be played on Saturday, Dec. 26.
The reason for not playing? South Carolina currently features a roster that is depleted and the coaching staff has been hit hard this week following a COVID outbreak in Columbia.
Here is the statement issued by AD Ray Tanner:
Our football team has been on campus since the summer preparing for a football season that saw change being the only constant.
They had to go through strict COVID testing protocols that were as varied and numerous as any group of young people has had to do.
We had a season that was cut short but had to play more Southeastern Conference games than any year in history. Our players, who thrive on the energy from a full Williams-Brice Stadium, played in front of just 20 percent of a stadium, as dictated by state regulations.
Our team competed hard all season, despite injuries, positive COVID tests and contact testing, and several opt outs late in the year.
When the NCAA announced in October that it was waiving the minimum wins requirement to participate in bowl games, we knew that the SEC had enough bowl tie-ins, that we would likely get to play in a bowl game.
The team was excited to learn Sunday that it would play in the Gasparilla Bowl in Tampa on Saturday.
However, between members of the coaching staff and student-athletes, COVID and contact tracing has taken a toll too high for us to overcome. I have notified the bowl and the SEC office that we are not able to play in the game on Saturday.
I am proud of this team. Their commitment to represent their program and University, themselves, their families, and their coaches, is second to none.
With new head coach Shane Beamer, staff, and student-athletes, we will be ready for 2021 and we’re excited about the future.
Covid my big old hairy arse. My sources tell me there is a rebel uprising in the Coot locker room and the players voted not to play another snap for Bobo due to the ineptness and dumpster fire he and Mushchamp have left the program in.
And we thought things were bad when the sorry sot spurrier quit in shame and left the gamecock program ablaze.
#laughingstock
Maybe I’m reading too much between the lines, but I’m not seeing any specifics in this statement. Below the 53 line? What position group(s) are below the minimum? How many coaches unable to participate? In fact, it reads like “Long, hard season with a number of setbacks, and we’ve had enough. See ya next year.”
If so, that’s a tough pill to ask UAB to swallow.
Also, what has drastically changed since they accepted the bowl bid less than 48 hours ago?
yeah right, if there’s one thing this virus has shown us is that it takes a while to spread.
They don’t want none of that UAB smoke.
Tanner actually was meaning to say, been an embarrassing situation for quite some time now. We’re just going to take this boat full of holes and motor that’s broke and dry dock it. We’re going to fix it next spring, see you then.
Embarrassment to the SEC. Gamecock fans are already comparing Shane Beamer to Dabo Swinney. Give me a break.
# laughingstock Lol
Pipe dream. This was a high risk hire. They will be back to square one in five years.
So says the leg humping fan base that is wanting smart gone.
I like Smart, and he has way more coaching experience than Beamer. But hey, who knows maybe Beamer works out…I just said it is a high risk hire, and it is.
It is a high risk hire, but you also said it may work out and also that we would be back to square one in five years. Seems like you contradicted yourself or you’re weak minded.
IMO, No Beamer will not work out. I was just being nice.
You live in fantasy land…no one has said that. Take your medicine.
No, flash probably lives in a trailer park in southern Alabama with a shed full of roundup.
Well now Tennessee also had to cancel so let UAB and W. VA go at it somewhere!
I’m among those suspicious of the number of “cases”! Let’s just let this dog of a season die and have a Merry Christmas!
A bowl game would have been a bonus for the players…sounds like the players merely wanted this season over & done…and go home for the holidays. I can’t blame em as it has been a long & difficult season of college football for everyone.
Was Beamer a good hire ? He has a good bloodline & now we can see if he can do that heritage justice. I really hope so as the Cock fans have been great & loyal throughout the years. Upward & Onward for the Cock football program in 2021.