At one point in the season, South Carolina held a 3-3 record, and fans were calling for head coach Shane Beamer’s dismissal. However, the fourth-year coach turned things around with an impressive six-game winning streak, making a strong case for the team’s inclusion in the College Football Playoff.
Beamer has built this program to be one where players don’t just want to represent the university, but they want to represent a coach who truly cares for them. Beamer has created a culture at South Carolina that truly isn’t seen in other programs and that is clear with the fact that the Gamecocks only had two players opt out of the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl on New Year’s Eve.
Two key players, star EDGE rusher Kyle Kennard and running back Raheim Sanders, opted out, but both reportedly had open discussions with head coach Shane Beamer about their decisions. This highlights the culture Beamer has fostered—one where players feel comfortable communicating openly with him.
Even backup quarterback Robby Ashford, who is entering the transfer portal, expressed his desire to play one final game in a South Carolina uniform. After discussing it with Beamer, who gave his approval contingent on team consensus, Ashford received the team’s full support to participate in the bowl game.
During an interview in Orlando following bowl game practice, Beamer reflected on the significance of having only two opt-outs and a fully committed squad eager to compete for their 10th win of the season.
“It says that they are very invested,” Beamer said when interviewed by ABC Channel 25 Columbia. “It says that they are very motivated to try and go get a 10th win.”
Shane Beamer has excelled at keeping his core players intact, avoiding significant losses to the transfer portal each season. The culture he has cultivated encourages players to stay for more than just a year or two—something increasingly rare in modern college football.
“This is a group that’s been very committed to one another, going back to last year, and securing a 10th win is something they’re eager to achieve, along with spending a week together here in Orlando,” Beamer shared.
The team will have the opportunity to showcase their efforts in the Cheez-It Citrus Bowl against No. 20 Illinois on December 31, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. on ABC, aiming to secure the program’s fifth 10-win season in history.
