Shane Beamer shares frustrations for missed opportunities: 'We've got to convert a freakin' third down'

Shane Beamer called it an SEC “fistfight,” but the Gamecocks came out on the losing end with a 16-10 loss to Kentucky on Saturday night.

Overall, the Gamecocks couldn’t capitalize on 3 Kentucky turnovers, and were 3-for-12 on third down and 0-for-3 on fourth down in the loss. The Gamecocks couldn’t get much going offensively, and had just 58 yards rushing as UK held the time of possession edge by about 11 minutes.

South Carolina fell to 2-2, while UK improved to 4-0.

Here’s some of what Beamer shared with reporters:

#Gamecocks HC Beamer on getting 0 points on 3 turnovers: When you win the turnover margin in consecutive games but lose both of them, that’s frustrating. With our defense giving us the ball and great field position, we have to capitalize

— SportsTalk Media Network (@sportstalksc) September 26, 2021

#Gamecocks Beamer on UK’s TD drive: We were misfitting on the run early on and that led to their touchdown. We adjusted and did a better job but we still have to do a better job of pushing guys back and not letting the RB fall forward

— SportsTalk Media Network (@sportstalksc) September 26, 2021

#Gamecocks HC Beamer: Hard to win when you go 3 of 12 on 3rd down and running just 51 plays …. Kept going for it b/c defense kept bailing us out and at some point, we’ve got to convert a 3rd down or 4th down and finish w/a touchdown

— SportsTalk Media Network (@sportstalksc) September 26, 2021

#Gamecocks Beamer: I’m very proud of our players’ effort. I hope our fans see how hard they’re playing. Now we have to help them as coaches to get better

— SportsTalk Media Network (@sportstalksc) September 26, 2021

Beamer: “At some point we’ve got to covert a freakin’ third down or a fourth down.”

— Ben Portnoy (@bportnoy15) September 26, 2021

“When you win the turnover margin — which I guess we’ve done two games in a row…That is disappointing for sure.”

— Ben Portnoy (@bportnoy15) September 26, 2021

Beamer said that the time charts they keep on the sideline indicated it was worth kicking deep instead of onside-ing it with about 2:30.

Added he felt confident in the defense and how it was playing to get a stop.

— Ben Portnoy (@bportnoy15) September 26, 2021

Shane Beamer talking with reporters now.

“Give coach (Mark) Stoops credit. That was an SEC fistfight.”

— Ben Portnoy (@bportnoy15) September 26, 2021