Extend Beamer, increase buyout

[18IsTheMan]

The general assumption around here is that Beamer is safe to return next year, no matter what. I think most have come around to the reality that we also need to replace our OC.

However, it would be the greatest act of futility to bring Beemer back on the hot seat, expecting him to make any substantial upgrades to the offense. No OC worth his salt is going to uproot to go work for a coach on the hot seat. He will just make a terrible OC hire and then we end up firing him next year and starting from scratch again.

if we are committed to keeping Beamer, it seems to me the smartest move would be to extend him and increase his buyout. That gives prospective OCs, some measure of reassurance that they won’t be looking for a new home in the next year or two. It’s the only way to both retain Beamer AND have the hopes of attracting respectable OC.

Then you have to throw the bank at a proven OC. Talking $2 million range.

 

[Evilchicken]

That is the logical move. Push the chips all in for Beaner.

 

[18IsTheMan]

That is the logical move. Push the chips all in for Beaner.

I would say it’s counterintuitive, but if you’re going to bring him back, there’s no sense in bringing him back with handicaps.

 

[Ckali7]

I disagree.... Any OC with stones would gladly take the job (providing the contract was appropriate) with the expectation that if HC gets canned they get a shot at the job.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I disagree.... Any OC with stones would gladly take the job (providing the contract was appropriate) with the expectation that if HC gets canned they get a shot at the job.

That rarely happens. So very rarely. In almost 100% of instances, the head coach is dismissed, a new coach external to the program is hired and he cleans house. That's the norm.

It's just the simple reality. If we bring Beamer back under his current contract, it's a major gamble for any OC. Stones or no stones, these guys are not looking to jump into a situation where they could very possibly be having to look for a job again in a year.

Extending Beamer and increasing his buyout accomplishes two things. 1. It gives potential OC candidates some measure of job security, which is what most coaches are looking for. 2. It gives Donati leverage to press Beamer to make changes. "We are bringing you back and we're going to extend your contract and increase your buyout. But you're going to clean house and hire a legit OC and let him build the offensive staff."

THEN we offer legit OCs, serious money. $1.5 million should be the starting point. And make the OC contract fully guaranteed.

That's the road map.

Any other path is an exercise in futility.

 

[18IsTheMan]

There is also the impact to recruiting to consider. With the portal and high school recruiting, what weight does being recruited by Beamer carry when players know he's on the hot seat? What weight will it carry if they know we're getting a bargain bin OC?

 

[gamecock stock]

Most outside coaches know the scoop before fans do. It's going to be hard to attract a quality OC. Besides, has Beamer ever picked one? I don't know next years schedule. But someone said it's formidable. Next year will be Beamer's last in his "dream job". If I had been making $8 million/year, that would be my dream job too. Beamer does not have the "coaching" skills. For him to succeed, he has to have a competent staff. But some of his hires have been eyebrow raisers. We all know that. It's just a matter of short time in my opinion.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Most outside coaches know the scoop before fans do. It's going to be hard to attract a quality OC. Besides, has Beamer ever picked one? I don't know next years schedule. But someone said it's formidable. Next year will be Beamer's last in his "dream job". If I had been making $8 million/year, that would be my dream job too. Beamer does not have the "coaching" skills. For him to succeed, he has to have a competent staff. But some of his hires have been eyebrow raisers. We all know that. It's just a matter of short time in my opinion.

In that case, we need to just fire him.

IF we are dead set on bringing him back, there is zero sense in doing so without doing what I suggest here.

I also don't know about his ability to evaluate or attract quality assistants. But if we're bringing him back, it needs to be in a situation where there are no handicaps to landing a quality OC.

All of my above recommendation is based on the assumption that he's coming back next year. If we just bring him back under his current contract, he'll hire a lousy OC, we flush next year down the toilet before it even starts. Where's the sense in that?

 

[gamecock stock]

I read that Beamer says he is confident in Shula, whose contract goes to the end of 2027. I think it is a moot point.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I read that Beamer says he is confident in Shula, whose contract goes to the end of 2027. I think it is a moot point.

Well, he has to say that. I'm pretty sure he expressed confidence in Teasley at some point earlier this season.

 

[VidaliaGamecock]

The general assumption around here is that Beamer is safe to return next year, no matter what. I think most have come around to the reality that we also need to replace our OC.

However, it would be the greatest act of futility to bring Beemer back on the hot seat, expecting him to make any substantial upgrades to the offense. No OC worth his salt is going to uproot to go work for a coach on the hot seat. He will just make a terrible OC hire and then we end up firing him next year and starting from scratch again.

if we are committed to keeping Beamer, it seems to me the smartest move would be to extend him and increase his buyout. That gives prospective OCs, some measure of reassurance that they won’t be looking for a new home in the next year or two. It’s the only way to both retain Beamer AND have the hopes of attracting respectable OC.

Then you have to throw the bank at a proven OC. Talking $2 million range.

What talent will be left at the end of this season? My guess is Dylan Stewart and LaNorris Sellers are either in portal or draft. The cupboard is about to be bare. Beamer deserves to be fired for wasting a year of Sellers. With the portal and NIL, things are about to go from bad to worse. SC maybe done for a decade.

 

[18IsTheMan]

What talent will be left at the end of this season? My guess is Dylan Stewart and LaNorris Sellers are either in portal or draft. The cupboard is about to be bare. Beamer deserves to be fired for wasting a year of Sellers. With the portal and NIL, things are about to go from bad to worse. SC maybe done for a decade.

Valid concerns.

But if we're bringing Beamer back, I see no point do so without any commitment to fixing the problems. If we're bringing him back just to fire him next year, then just do it now.

 

[Hoganman1]

I'm curious as to whom we should pursue as OC.

 

[gamecock stock]

Well, he has to say that. I'm pretty sure he expressed confidence in Teasley at some point earlier this season.

Oh I know he has to say that. What makes me question him making a move is that I suspect he has struck a kinship with Shula in that both are trying to get out of the shadows of legendary fathers. Regardless, Beamer has yet to show the ability of hiring a competent OC. Besides, to think that Beamer will get an extension after failing to get to a bowl, is a fantasy. By the way, I'm all for firing Beamer now. But, that too is a fantasy.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Besides, to think that Beamer will get an extension after failing to get to a bowl, is a fantasy.

I know it would look very odd. But the only 2 sensible moves I see are: 1. Fire Beamer. 2. Retain Beamer with an extension and increased buyout to enable him to attract a decent OC.

If we retain Beamer under his current contract, it's program suicide. So that's probably what we'll do.

 

[gamecock stock]

I know it would look very odd. But the only 2 sensible moves I see are: 1. Fire Beamer. 2. Retain Beamer with an extension and increased buyout to enable him to attract a decent OC.

If we retain Beamer under his current contract, it's program suicide. So that's probably what we'll do.

Put me down for number one.

The hirings, back-to-back, of Muschamp and Beamer, were the most perplexing and program destroyers of all time at South Carolina.

 

[Piscis]

He's not getting fired after this season but an extension is a bad idea unless the extension comes with a total renegotiation of the buyout terms. If he gets and extension, it should be with a buyout of maybe $1 million if he is fired for not performing. Otherwise, he can sit back, mail it in for a few years making $8 million a year until he does get fired and then walk away with a huge buyout. Any extension needs to have Beamer putting some skin in the game.

At this point, it appears that every dollar Beamer gets is nothing more than throwing good money after bad. He has a contract until 2030, which is absurd in itself. Bring him back next season, let him know improvement is expected (7 regular season wins minimum) or he will be fired and let him worry about who the OC is. Beamer is getting paid enough that he needs to make the decision on who his OC is.

 

[18IsTheMan]

He's not getting fired after this season but an extension is a bad idea unless the extension comes with a total renegotiation of the buyout terms. If he gets and extension, it should be with a buyout of maybe $1 million if he is fired for not performing. Otherwise, he can sit back, mail it in for a few years making $8 million a year until he does get fired and then walk away with a huge buyout. Any extension needs to have Beamer putting some skin in the game.

At this point, it appears that every dollar Beamer gets is nothing more than throwing good money after bad. He has a contract until 2030, which is absurd in itself. Bring him back next season, let him know improvement is expected (7 regular season wins minimum) or he will be fired and let him worry about who the OC is. Beamer is getting paid enough that he needs to make the decision on who his OC is.

No OC is coming here without some reassurances. Increasing the HC buyout offers some assurance to potential OCs. If we're not willing to do that, then we need to just pull the plug.

We need to commit one way or the other. Cut him loose or go all in.

 

[Piscis]

No OC is coming here without some reassurances. Increasing the HC buyout offers some assurance to potential OCs. If we're not willing to do that, then we need to just pull the plug.

We need to commit one way or the other. Cut him loose or go all in.

I understand your thought but I don't see an extension happening. An extension could result in a rebellion by the fans who might stop donating and buying tickets if they saw Donati double down on Beamer. They can probably understand not firing him because of the buyout and having to find another coach after five years but they wouldn't understand rewarding a coach for an abysmal year like this year is shaping up to be.

He'll be back for next year and who knows what he does for an OC? Maybe he gets lucky and finds an unknown star in G5 or FCS to come in as OC and turns things around? Maybe he hangs on to Shula and hopes for the best but doesn't really care because he already has generational wealth.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I understand your thought but I don't see an extension happening. An extension could result in a rebellion by the fans who might stop donating and buying tickets if they saw Donati double down on Beamer. They can probably understand not firing him because of the buyout and having to find another coach after five years but they wouldn't understand rewarding a coach for an abysmal year like this year is shaping up to be.

He'll be back for next year and who knows what he does for an OC? Maybe he gets lucky and finds an unknown star in G5 or FCS to come in as OC and turns things around? Maybe he hangs on to Shula and hopes for the best but doesn't really care because he already has generational wealth.

It should come with some very clear messaging.

I guess we'll stick to the script to our own demise. Bring back a coach who you know you're going to fire next season.

 

[gamecox4982]

I will

 

[Piscis]

It should come with some very clear messaging.

I guess we'll stick to the script to our own demise. Bring back a coach who you know you're going to fire next season.

There are no good options. Tanner painted the program into a corner with the raise and extension last year.

 

[kidrobinski]

This is all eerily reminding me of the Brad Scott regime; had decent coordinators, they left, brought in duds, program crashed, at the end everyone just kind of standing around going through the motions.

For what it’s worth, in the romanticized memories department, these were my Facebook ‘memories’ today from posts I made 13 years ago :

“Lol...Spurrier schooled by Miles last week, Muschamp this week. We need an offensive coordinator. What happened to all those tight ends I heard about in spring and fall...”

“Gonna find out today if Connor Shaw can do anything other than hand off and throw dumps. He'll have to for us to win.” (a friend’s comment: ‘He's already missed 4 passes’).

 

[SouthernBelly]

Well, he has to say that. I'm pretty sure he expressed confidence in Teasley at some point earlier this season.

He expressed confidence in Teasley in the press conference where he talked about firing him.

 

[18IsTheMan]

He expressed confidence in Teasley in the press conference where he talked about firing him.

lol, you're right.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

That rarely happens. So very rarely. In almost 100% of instances, the head coach is dismissed, a new coach external to the program is hired and he cleans house. That's the norm.

It's just the simple reality. If we bring Beamer back under his current contract, it's a major gamble for any OC. Stones or no stones, these guys are not looking to jump into a situation where they could very possibly be having to look for a job again in a year.

Extending Beamer and increasing his buyout accomplishes two things. 1. It gives potential OC candidates some measure of job security, which is what most coaches are looking for. 2. It gives Donati leverage to press Beamer to make changes. "We are bringing you back and we're going to extend your contract and increase your buyout. But you're going to clean house and hire a legit OC and let him build the offensive staff."

THEN we offer legit OCs, serious money. $1.5 million should be the starting point. And make the OC contract fully guaranteed.

That's the road map.

Any other path is an exercise in futility.

If top OCs think our coach is just a cringy joke good luck even throwing money at them. We've already seen what Shane can get. Suckage.

 

[18IsTheMan]

If top OCs think our coach is just a cringy joke good luck even throwing money at them. We've already seen what Shane can get. Suckage.

Throwing the bank at someone is really our only hope. If we want to get someone with a good track record. Just being brutally honest: if you were a proven OC, why would you go work for Beamer? You would probably think you know more than he does.

 

[Gamecock Jacque]

Retain Beamer with an extension and increased buyout

That sounds like Ray Turner. Hopefully Donati is different.

 

[uscfan1981]

The general assumption around here is that Beamer is safe to return next year, no matter what. I think most have come around to the reality that we also need to replace our OC.

However, it would be the greatest act of futility to bring Beemer back on the hot seat, expecting him to make any substantial upgrades to the offense. No OC worth his salt is going to uproot to go work for a coach on the hot seat. He will just make a terrible OC hire and then we end up firing him next year and starting from scratch again.

if we are committed to keeping Beamer, it seems to me the smartest move would be to extend him and increase his buyout. That gives prospective OCs, some measure of reassurance that they won’t be looking for a new home in the next year or two. It’s the only way to both retain Beamer AND have the hopes of attracting respectable OC.

Then you have to throw the bank at a proven OC. Talking $2 million range.

God I hope this is sarcasm as it is a stupid idea. Beamer will be on the hot seat regardless.

Everyone knows buyouts do not guarantee stability at all. A&M paid 75 million, Penn St paid 60 Million FSU paid 20 million a few years ago is about to pay another 60 million. Texas paid 40 million for Herman and his assistants, LSU paid Orgeron nearly 20 million, Arkansas just paid 9 million, Florida just paid 46 million to make there last 4 coaches go away, Auburn will be paying 46 million to make there last 3 coaches go away, North Carolina and Kentucky will soon be paying 40 million each.

If 75 million doesn't stop a school from firing a coach how high does the buyout need to be? Everyone understands it is a year to year deal. You are just advocating to give more unearned money away. When we hired Beamer no one wanted him yet we still paid 4 million per year. After last year, no one wanted Beamer and we are paying him over 8 million a year.

If Beamer is fired we will have paid him more than the aggregate cost to build and upgrades made to Williams Brice Stadium in its 90 year history.

Arguably the best coach in college football was at JMU making 400k 2 years ago, There are a lot of great coaches at lower levels, you just need to find them.

 

[Anon1760979431]

​

The general assumption around here is that Beamer is safe to return next year, no matter what. I think most have come around to the reality that we also need to replace our OC.

However, it would be the greatest act of futility to bring Beemer back on the hot seat, expecting him to make any substantial upgrades to the offense. No OC worth his salt is going to uproot to go work for a coach on the hot seat. He will just make a terrible OC hire and then we end up firing him next year and starting from scratch again.

if we are committed to keeping Beamer, it seems to me the smartest move would be to extend him and increase his buyout. That gives prospective OCs, some measure of reassurance that they won’t be looking for a new home in the next year or two. It’s the only way to both retain Beamer AND have the hopes of attracting respectable OC.

Then you have to throw the bank at a proven OC. Talking $2 million range.

Steve Englehart, Presbyterian College head coach, coaches in a conference that has no football scholarships. Beat both Furman and Mercer this season, both schools that offer scholarships.

 

[18IsTheMan]

God I hope this is sarcasm as it is a stupid idea. Beamer will be on the hot seat regardless.

Everyone knows buyouts do not guarantee stability at all. A&M paid 75 million, Penn St paid 60 Million FSU paid 20 million a few years ago is about to pay another 60 million. Texas paid 40 million for Herman and his assistants, LSU paid Orgeron nearly 20 million, Arkansas just paid 9 million, Florida just paid 46 million to make there last 4 coaches go away, Auburn will be paying 46 million to make there last 3 coaches go away, North Carolina and Kentucky will soon be paying 40 million each.

If 75 million doesn't stop a school from firing a coach how high does the buyout need to be? Everyone understands it is a year to year deal. You are just advocating to give more unearned money away. When we hired Beamer no one wanted him yet we still paid 4 million per year. After last year, no one wanted Beamer and we are paying him over 8 million a year.

If Beamer is fired we will have paid him more than the aggregate cost to build and upgrades made to Williams Brice Stadium in its 90 year history.

Arguably the best coach in college football was at JMU making 400k 2 years ago, There are a lot of great coaches at lower levels, you just need to find them.

If you want a stupid idea, watch what we do: retain Beamer as a lame duck. He'll hire some trash OC b/c that's all he can get as an OC. Next year will suck as bad as this one, then we'll fire Beamer.

Every school you stupidly mention has far greater resources than us to pay exorbitant buyouts. We can make Shane's buyout prohibitive for us.

If we're not firing Beamer the dumbest thing we can do is bring him back under his current contract and ask him to hire a new OC in those circumstances. We might as well forfeit next season.

 

[uscfan1981]

"We can make Shane's buyout prohibitive for us."

I do not think you understand the words you're using.

 

[Anon1705945076]

People clamoring for Shula to be fired(deserved)need to think about what top OC would step into a situation where the coach has a strong chance of being fired at seasons end.Not sure a multi yr contract would make any difference.Most good coaches will have better options.

 

[gamecock stock]

If you want a stupid idea, watch what we do: retain Beamer as a lame duck. He'll hire some trash OC b/c that's all he can get as an OC. Next year will suck as bad as this one, then we'll fire Beamer.

Every school you stupidly mention has far greater resources than us to pay exorbitant buyouts. We can make Shane's buyout prohibitive for us.

If we're not firing Beamer the dumbest thing we can do is bring him back under his current contract and ask him to hire a new OC in those circumstances. We might as well forfeit next season.

!8, we are trapped. There's no other way to put it. The fact that we hired someone with Beamer's credentials as a "coach" (I use the term "coach" loosely). immediately after hiring a proven failure in Muschamp, seriously makes me just want to give up on Gamecock football. It is disheartening when the hiring authorities make hires like the last two.

 

[Legal_fowl]

The general assumption around here is that Beamer is safe to return next year, no matter what. I think most have come around to the reality that we also need to replace our OC.

However, it would be the greatest act of futility to bring Beemer back on the hot seat, expecting him to make any substantial upgrades to the offense. No OC worth his salt is going to uproot to go work for a coach on the hot seat. He will just make a terrible OC hire and then we end up firing him next year and starting from scratch again.

if we are committed to keeping Beamer, it seems to me the smartest move would be to extend him and increase his buyout. That gives prospective OCs, some measure of reassurance that they won’t be looking for a new home in the next year or two. It’s the only way to both retain Beamer AND have the hopes of attracting respectable OC.

Then you have to throw the bank at a proven OC. Talking $2 million range.

If we lose to Coastal (and we might) he should not come back. There are ways to play hardball on his buyout too. No raises for anyone and no money for a new OC. Make do with what you have. Make him coach in front of a half empty stadium while we wait for his buyout to decline. Or, tell him to sign a new contract and take a 50% reduction in salary and a 50% reduction in his buyout and he can come back next year.

 

[Lurker123]

People need to stop worrying about "top" OC's. Look for some G5 OC who can be enticed partially by money, but partially by the chance to coach in the SEC.

 

[SouthernBelly]

People need to stop worrying about "top" OC's. Look for some G5 OC who can be enticed partially by money, but partially by the chance to coach in the SEC.

Yes. Not sure what is meant by top OC. Weather we’re talking new coordinators or a new head coach it’s going to have to be someone coming up from a lower level. That’s the only way to get a new OC in Columbia next year. Someone who will take the job even if only for a year because their next step in the coaching rung inevitably requires a relocation anyway.

Of course none of this is actually going to happen because Beamer ain’t firing Shula. If Donati makes him (as some suspect - I don’t believe he will either) then Beamer should not be the coach.

It’s going to have to burn down further in 2026 before anything potentially useful happens with changes.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Yes. Not sure what is meant by top OC. Weather we’re talking new coordinators or a new head coach it’s going to have to be someone coming up from a lower level. That’s the only way to get a new OC in Columbia next year. Someone who will take the job even if only for a year because their next step in the coaching rung inevitably requires a relocation anyway.

Of course none of this is actually going to happen because Beamer ain’t firing Shula. If Donati makes him (as some suspect - I don’t believe he will either) then Beamer should not be the coach.

It’s going to have to burn down further in 2026 before anything potentially useful happens with changes.

I think part of Beamer's frustration is knowing he has to fire him but he doesn't want to.

Donati or not, he has no choice. The offense hasn't just sputtered. It's the worst offense we've had around here since the late 90s.

 

[SouthernBelly]

I think part of Beamer's frustration is knowing he has to fire him but he doesn't want to.

Donati or not, he has no choice. The offense hasn't just sputtered. It's the worst offense we've had around here since the late 90s.

I’m not convinced he knows he has to. How many seasons did we watch the OL struggle under Teasley and he got a raise? How many games into Satterfield’s tenure as OC did we need to know he wasn’t the guy? Yet Beamer never saw it.

We don’t make make this stuff up right? Matt Rhule was stupid enough to hire Satt away from here but wised up and demoted him mid-season in his second year.

 

[18IsTheMan]

I’m not convinced he knows he has to. How many seasons did we watch the OL struggle under Teasley and he got a raise? How many games into Satterfield’s tenure as OC did we need to know he wasn’t the guy? Yet Beamer never saw it.

Well, Teasley probably got a pass last year b/c we won 6 games in a row. Even though the OL still struggled in those games, a 6 game streak gave him the cover he needed. There's nothing to give cover for Shula.

Satterfield's offense sucked in Year 1, but we went to a bowl and punked UNC, so it ended on good vibes. And he wasn't gonna fire his first OC in his first year as HC.

I just can't possibly fathom any way imaginable he returns. There might be an actual riot in Columbia.