Shane Beamer has no plans of leaving South Carolina for the opening at Mississippi State.

The Gamecocks head coach has plenty of Starkville connections. He spent a few years at Mississippi State in the early part of his career, serving as a cornerbacks coach from 2004-2005 and a running backs coach in 2006. Beamer’s wife is also from Starkville. But the connections aren’t enough for him to leave his “dream job” at South Carolina.

“As far as Mississippi State, I understand the connection,” Beamer said in his press conference Tuesday. “Wife is from Starkville, Mississippi State grad. I spent 3 years there, not to mention that Zac, their athletics director is one of my best friends in the entire world. In fact, the night before I interviewed for this job, we spent Thanksgiving with he and his family, and he and I talk regularly. Got a ton of respect for him and he’s doing an awesome job in Starkville. But no, this is where I want to be, and love Columbia and want to be here for a long time and said when I got hired that this was my dream job and still feel that way. In my mind, we’re just getting started here.”

Beamer is looking for a pair of wins to close out the season and reach bowl eligibility. The Gamecocks take on Kentucky this week before closing out the season against Clemson.