Well, Beamer proved us all wrong

[18IsTheMan]

It's been quite a week and a half for the big guy since the season ended. Secured a very, very good recruiting class on the heels of a wildly disappointing season, capped off with a wildly disappointing loss to Clemson. In the process, he flipped a possible instant impact player from Michigan and fended off a late push by Lane and LSU to flip our coveted QB recruit.

Now he goes out and hires Kendal Briles as our OC, which far exceeds almost everyone's expectations. I don't know if he would have been my very first choice, but he checks absolutely every possible box you would want checked. Some assumed the worst, that Furrey would end up with the job. Most assumed he'd have little shot to hire any decent OC given his hot seat status. Most assumed he'd have to dip down to the G5 ranks to get someone with actual, decent OC experience. Instead, he hired Briles.

Given how the season went and ended, I don't think we could possibly ask for anything more than we've gotten since Wednesday.

If we can hold onto White, we could be vastly improved next season. If we aren't improved, Beamer went down swinging.

 

[kidrobinski]

Penn state running backs coach, hence the trip to Virginia or wherever prior to Texas.

 

[92Pony]

If it all ends up shaking out, and if they didn’t meet at Hall’s (UVA isn’t still around these parts is he?), then we could be onto something!!
I give Beamer credit for sure!! I’m going to do my level best to temper my excitement though. I’ve been a Gamecock fan for too dang long! Admittedly, it’s going to be difficult, because I don’t know that we could have come out of this situation with a much better result!

 

[KingWard]

It's been quite a week and a half for the big guy since the season ended. Secured a very, very good recruiting class on the heels of a wildly disappointing season, capped off with a wildly disappointing loss to Clemson. In the process, he flipped a possible instant impact player from Michigan and fended off a late push by Lane and LSU to flip our coveted QB recruit.

Now he goes out and hires Kendal Briles as our OC, which far exceeds almost everyone's expectations. I don't know if he would have been my very first choice, but he checks absolutely every possible box you would want checked. Some assumed the worst, that Furrey would end up with the job. Most assumed he'd have little shot to hire any decent OC given his hot seat status. Most assumed he'd have to dip down to the G5 ranks to get someone with actual, decent OC experience. Instead, he hired Briles.

Given how the season went and ended, I don't think we could possibly ask for anything more than we've gotten since Wednesday.

If we can hold onto White, we could be vastly improved next season. If we aren't improved, Beamer went down swinging.

It's all sand until it's converted into concrete.

 

[18IsTheMan]

It's all sand until it's converted into concrete.

At this point, I'm just grateful we even have the sand. Didn't have that 10 days ago.

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

It's all sand until it's converted into concrete.

And then it has to bear fruit by delivering a productive offense.

 

[gamecock stock]

It's been quite a week and a half for the big guy since the season ended. Secured a very, very good recruiting class on the heels of a wildly disappointing season, capped off with a wildly disappointing loss to Clemson. In the process, he flipped a possible instant impact player from Michigan and fended off a late push by Lane and LSU to flip our coveted QB recruit.

Now he goes out and hires Kendal Briles as our OC, which far exceeds almost everyone's expectations. I don't know if he would have been my very first choice, but he checks absolutely every possible box you would want checked. Some assumed the worst, that Furrey would end up with the job. Most assumed he'd have little shot to hire any decent OC given his hot seat status. Most assumed he'd have to dip down to the G5 ranks to get someone with actual, decent OC experience. Instead, he hired Briles.

Given how the season went and ended, I don't think we could possibly ask for anything more than we've gotten since Wednesday.

If we can hold onto White, we could be vastly improved next season. If we aren't improved, Beamer went down swinging.

Will be interesting to see how the defense and the running game performs next season.

 

[sclawman77]

Penn state running backs coach, hence the trip to Virginia or wherever prior to Texas.

And Penn State oline coach Trautwein

 

[18IsTheMan]

Will be interesting to see how the defense and the running game performs next season.

The proof is in the pudding. But we at least have some the ingredients now, which we couldn't say 10 days ago.

 

[stormtrooper2001]

It's been quite a week and a half for the big guy since the season ended. Secured a very, very good recruiting class on the heels of a wildly disappointing season, capped off with a wildly disappointing loss to Clemson. In the process, he flipped a possible instant impact player from Michigan and fended off a late push by Lane and LSU to flip our coveted QB recruit.

Now he goes out and hires Kendal Briles as our OC, which far exceeds almost everyone's expectations. I don't know if he would have been my very first choice, but he checks absolutely every possible box you would want checked. Some assumed the worst, that Furrey would end up with the job. Most assumed he'd have little shot to hire any decent OC given his hot seat status. Most assumed he'd have to dip down to the G5 ranks to get someone with actual, decent OC experience. Instead, he hired Briles.

Given how the season went and ended, I don't think we could possibly ask for anything more than we've gotten since Wednesday.

If we can hold onto White, we could be vastly improved next season. If we aren't improved, Beamer went down swinging.

You can also give a lot of credit to Donati on this. Don’t think this is all Beamer here. Donati definitely used his TCU tenure to facilitate this hire. I don’t mean to necessarily discredit Beamer but it’s important to give credit to where it’s due. Beamer deserves a ton of credit though on the recruiting.

 

[18IsTheMan]

You can also give a lot of credit to Donati on this. Don’t think this is all Beamer here. Donati definitely used his TCU tenure to facilitate this hire. I don’t mean to necessarily discredit Beamer but it’s important to give credit to where it’s due. Beamer deserves a ton of credit though on the recruiting.

I'm sure that is true.

If Donati is playing 3D chess, maybe he's bringing Briles in to be Shane's successor.

For now, I'll just assume he used his connections to help Beamer land a solid OC

 

[KingWard]

And then it has to bear fruit by delivering a productive offense.

That would be in line with the solidification analogy I propounded.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Beamer hired a P4 OC with a track record of success, which is something nobody here thought possible.

Not even the most ardent Beamer supporter with the darkest garnet tinted glasses thought we could get an established P4 OC.

Sand, concrete, fruit...whatever analogy you want to use. Beamer did what wasn't considered feasible.

 

[Lurker123]

You can also give a lot of credit to Donati on this. Don’t think this is all Beamer here. Donati definitely used his TCU tenure to facilitate this hire. I don’t mean to necessarily discredit Beamer but it’s important to give credit to where it’s due. Beamer deserves a ton of credit though on the recruiting.

I had not even thought of that connection.

Yay for Donati of true. But if true, what does that say about a HC who 5 years in has to have the AD hold your hand through a hire?

 

[kidrobinski]

That would be in line with the solidification analogy I propounded.

As your continuous predilection for irrelevancy demonstrates.

 

[Go Gamecocks]

It's all sand until it's converted into concrete.

 

[Lurker123]

As your continuous predilection for irrelevancy demonstrates.

Whoa. The irony is hip deep with this one.

 

[gamecock stock]

The proof is in the pudding. But we at least have some the ingredients now, which we couldn't say 10 days ago.

Beamer will prove us wrong if he makes the playoffs next season. Until then, I will be in wait and see mode.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Beamer will prove us wrong if he makes the playoffs next season. Until then, I will be in wait and see mode.

His outlandish prediction notwithstanding, I'm not using the playoffs as a barometer for success. For me, I'd need to see 8 wins next season in the regular season.

 

[gamecock stock]

His outlandish prediction notwithstanding, I'm not using the playoffs as a barometer for success. For me, I'd need to see 8 wins next season in the regular season.

For me 8 wins plus a bowl win is always the minimum. If you can't win 2/3 of your games, you should not be our coach. BUT, and this is important, you must do it continually. This up one year and down the next, is not what we hired him for.

 

[kidrobinski]

For me 8 wins plus a bowl win is always the minimum. If you can't win 2/3 of your games, you should not be our coach. BUT, and this is important, you must do it continually. This up one year and down the next, is not what we hired him for.

This mindset has always caught my eye, and I’m not being argumentative or critical, just thought I’d ask.

Why do you believe this? I won’t go into our inherent disadvantages, some of which are tangible, some not as much, but everyone that cares is aware whether or not they want to account for them.

Its your opinion that, while playing in the SEC, our status entitles us to be continually better than 2/3 of fbs teams in the country with 6-6 records or worse (that being those that don’t go to bowl games based on what seems to be popular opinion that 6-6 teams should not go to bowls).

Its your opinion that, while playing in the SEC which is moving to 9 in-conference games, we are a program that should be expected to consistently win a minimum of 8 games each season.

Obviously you do, that’s what you posted. I’m just curious why you believe if a coach cannot accomplish that consistently, he ‘should not be our coach,’ given that everyone else is trying to do that also, inside the SEC and out, and taking into account our overall history. So we just change coaches that don’t meet those criteria until we get one that does? Knowing that as soon as that happens if it does, the poachers saddle up?

Or is it more because it’s just en vogue (a habit, actually it seems), to become disillusioned with and to ridicule our current coach, whoever he may be?

Don’t have an answered myself; I don’t really roll any of those ways; just curious as to yours as you seem to represent a good bit of the board mindset.

 

[cocean]

Sad, this site wants you to pay, but you gotta go to ESPN if you want the info.

 

[18IsTheMan]

OF course, as happy as I am to have Briles as OC, I'm still a Gamecock fan. I fully expect our offense to score 30+ ppg next season and for our defense to suddenly look like Wally Burnham is running the show.

 

[sclawman77]

Sounds like Briles is bringing his oline coach from TCU. And Drayton from Penn State as rb coach

 

[gamecock stock]

This mindset has always caught my eye, and I’m not being argumentative or critical, just thought I’d ask.

Why do you believe this? I won’t go into our inherent disadvantages, some of which are tangible, some not as much, but everyone that cares is aware whether or not they want to account for them.

Its your opinion that, while playing in the SEC, our status entitles us to be continually better than 2/3 of fbs teams in the country with 6-6 records or worse (that being those that don’t go to bowl games based on what seems to be popular opinion that 6-6 teams should not go to bowls).

Its your opinion that, while playing in the SEC which is moving to 9 in-conference games, we are a program that should be expected to consistently win a minimum of 8 games each season.

Obviously you do, that’s what you posted. I’m just curious why you believe if a coach cannot accomplish that consistently, he ‘should not be our coach,’ given that everyone else is trying to do that also, inside the SEC and out, and taking into account our overall history. So we just change coaches that don’t meet those criteria until we get one that does? Knowing that as soon as that happens if it does, the poachers saddle up?

Or is it more because it’s just en vogue (a habit, actually it seems), to become disillusioned with and to ridicule our current coach, whoever he may be?

Don’t have an answered myself; I don’t really roll any of those ways; just curious as to yours as you seem to represent a good bit of the board mindset.

Good question (I don't think you are being argumentative). I believe we have a ceiling. I have posted many times that our ceiling is to be a Top 20 program. And by the way, looking at this year's recruiting, we are bringing in a Top 20 class. Good coaching combined with reasonable talent, can get us there. And certainly Beamer has done it. We finished number 19 in 2024 (finished number 23 in 2022). So Beamer has proven he is capable. If he recruits well, why not do it often? Regarding 8 wins, Spurrier averaged about 8 wins per season. So, that can be done at this university. The potential is there at USC and with Beamer.

I don't have all the answers. Everybody has to decide for themselves what is acceptable performance here to coach to their Social Security eligibility age. Some people may say more than 8 and Top 20. Others may say less.

 

[kidrobinski]

Good question (I don't think you are being argumentative). I believe we have a ceiling. I have posted many times that our ceiling is to be a Top 20 program. And by the way, looking at this year's recruiting, we are bringing in a Top 20 class. Good coaching combined with reasonable talent, can get us there. And certainly Beamer has done it. We finished number 19 in 2024 (finished number 23 in 2022). So Beamer has proven he is capable. If he recruits well, why not do it often? Regarding 8 wins, Spurrier averaged about 8 wins per season. So, that can be done at this university. The potential is there at USC and with Beamer.

I don't have all the answers. Everybody has to decide for themselves what is acceptable performance here to coach to their Social Security eligibility age. Some people may say more than 8 and Top 20. Others may say less.

Yes we do have a ceiling, and its just asking for disappointment to not acknowledge it.

Only thing I'll comment is that Spurrier can't be used as a benchmark. I see it less as he showed it can be done here and more that he showed he could do it anywhere.

 

[gamecock stock]

Yes we do have a ceiling, and its just asking for disappointment to not acknowledge it.

Only thing I'll comment is that Spurrier can't be used as a benchmark. I see it less as he showed it can be done here and more that he showed he could do it anywhere.

Your comment on Spurrier is not necessarily false. But we got Spurrier when he was past his prime. Joe Morrison produced 2 Top 15 teams here. Lou Holtz produced one Top 15 and one Top 20 team here, past his prime. It can be done at this university. If we say we accept mediocrity, that is what we will get. It's human nature, when you don't feel the pressure, to ease off, get lazy.

 

[18IsTheMan]

It'll be interesting to see how things play out long term for Cignetti at IU. If he keeps them in the top 10-15, it'll be an exceedingly rare case of a total program transformation. I remember when Northwestern was the darling of the college football world in the 90s under Barnett with Darnell Autry. But then they quickly regressed after 2 years back to typical NW football (did have a resurgence later under Pat Fitzgerald.

All I know is, if IU can produce a title contender, anyone can. There are zero reasons IU should be able to do something in football that we can't. There aren't many P4 teams who have a less illustrious history in football than we do. IU is one of them.

 

[treyno2722]

For me 8 wins plus a bowl win is always the minimum. If you can't win 2/3 of your games, you should not be our coach. BUT, and this is important, you must do it continually. This up one year and down the next, is not what we hired him for.

I've always been a 6-6 guy and a cheesy Birmingham Bowl, Music City Bowl. Going forward with 9 conference games, 6-6 might be a stretch.

 

[gamecock stock]

OF course, as happy as I am to have Briles as OC, I'm still a Gamecock fan. I fully expect our offense to score 30+ ppg next season and for our defense to suddenly look like Wally Burnham is running the show.

We need to have a better offense. That is undeniable. But defense is the more important of the two, Bear Bryant said offense wins tickets, defense wins championships. Teams with the best defenses usually win. 6 of the playoff teams have defenses ranked in the Top 10. The number of playoff teams with Top 10 offenses is 3.

TCU has the 70th ranked defense in the nation. Their rushing attack ranks 93rd. The passing attack ranks number 8. I am not going to editorialize there. People here can connect the dots. I believe there is an obvious reason why TCU is happy to send us Briles. It's not my worry. My job is not on the line. Shane Beamer's is.

 

[PrestonyteParrot]

Sounds like Briles is bringing his oline coach from TCU. And Drayton from Penn State as rb coach

That would be a positive.

 

[Lurker123]

That would be a positive.

Per above, their rushing attack was abysmal. Granted, we're not taking their RB coach, but do we want their OL coach?

 

[Go Gamecocks]

"nepo baby"

 

[18IsTheMan]

Per above, their rushing attack was abysmal. Granted, we're not taking their RB coach, but do we want their OL coach?

Posted in another thread. Their current OL coach has been there since '21. They had top 30 rushing offenses in '21 and '22. Dropped precipitously in '23 when Briles arrived. But Arkansas has top 10 rushing attacks in 2 of his 3 years there as OC.

 

[kidrobinski]

Your comment on Spurrier is not necessarily false. But we got Spurrier when he was past his prime. Joe Morrison produced 2 Top 15 teams here. Lou Holtz produced one Top 15 and one Top 20 team here, past his prime. It can be done at this university. If we say we accept mediocrity, that is what we will get. It's human nature, when you don't feel the pressure, to ease off, get lazy.

Well that’s my point chief. Joe Morrison didn’t coach against our schedule; I know, I had season tickets back then. Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier, hall of famers. Past prime, not past prime, they still coached the same way. Couldn’t get the players here like they got at Notre dame and Florida; big difference, nothing to do with not enough effort. I stick with my statement on Spurrier; he showed he could do it anywhere, including a school that doesn’t recruit itself.

Accept? How do we control what we accept? Stop attending games? That’s not going to happen. Fire the board? That not going to happen either.

I don’t see it as accepting mediocrity, because I don’t think college football excellence can simply be demanded in the long term. It can be finagled, Clemson pre-NIL, and it can be a natural occurent, see traditional blue bloods, but beyond that if it could be demanded everyone would have it.

 

[kidrobinski]

It'll be interesting to see how things play out long term for Cignetti at IU. If he keeps them in the top 10-15, it'll be an exceedingly rare case of a total program transformation. I remember when Northwestern was the darling of the college football world in the 90s under Barnett with Darnell Autry. But then they quickly regressed after 2 years back to typical NW football (did have a resurgence later under Pat Fitzgerald.

All I know is, if IU can produce a title contender, anyone can. There are zero reasons IU should be able to do something in football that we can't. There aren't many P4 teams who have a less illustrious history in football than we do. IU is one of them.

This guy Cignetti could be the new Spurrier/Saban; we’ll see. My perception was that they were very, very well disciplined and focused, but that qb was either out of his mind in a zone or one of the best qbs to come along in many moons. I believe if you would have switched qbs Ohio state wins that game.

 

[Lurker123]

Posted in another thread. Their current OL coach has been there since '21. They had top 30 rushing offenses in '21 and '22. Dropped precipitously in '23 when Briles arrived. But Arkansas has top 10 rushing attacks in 2 of his 3 years there as OC.

With a very mobile qb, unlike at TCU.

 

[18IsTheMan]

With a very mobile qb, unlike at TCU.

In 2021 with Jefferson. 2022 is when Rocket Sanders blew up.

 

[gamecock stock]

Well that’s my point chief. Joe Morrison didn’t coach against our schedule; I know, I had season tickets back then. Lou Holtz and Steve Spurrier, hall of famers. Past prime, not past prime, they still coached the same way. Couldn’t get the players here like they got at Notre dame and Florida; big difference, nothing to do with not enough effort. I stick with my statement on Spurrier; he showed he could do it anywhere, including a school that doesn’t recruit itself.

Accept? How do we control what we accept? Stop attending games? That’s not going to happen. Fire the board? That not going to happen either.

I don’t see it as accepting mediocrity, because I don’t think college football excellence can simply be demanded in the long term. It can be finagled, Clemson pre-NIL, and it can be a natural occurent, see traditional blue bloods, but beyond that if it could be demanded everyone would have it.

You and I had season tickets back then. Will Muschamp won 9 games in 2017 but his team was not ranked. The pollsters have their own criteria and make their ranking decisions. The fact is that Morrison produced ranked teams, Muschamp in 2017 with a SEC schedule did not. And I would say we did play some tough teams back in Morrison's day.. He produced some good teams. Still, we did not get Spurrier and Holtz' best. I stand by everything I said. Hell Beamer produced a top 20 team, as well as top 25 team. He has shown he is capable.

When I talk about accepting, I'm referring to those who do the hiring and firing, not the fans. Man, I might be a tough person to work for if I was doing the hiring and firing. You got to be you. I got to be me.

 

[kidrobinski]

You and I had season tickets back then. Will Muschamp won 9 games in 2017 but his team was not ranked. The pollsters have their own criteria and make their ranking decisions. The fact is that Morrison produced ranked teams, Muschamp in 2017 with a SEC schedule did not. And I would say we did play some tough teams back in Morrison's day.. He produced some good teams. Still, we did not get Spurrier and Holtz' best. I stand by everything I said. Hell Beamer produced a top 20 team, as well as top 25 team. He has shown he is capable.

When I talk about accepting, I'm referring to those who do the hiring and firing, not the fans. Man, I might be a tough person to work for if I was doing the hiring and firing. You got to be you. I got to be me.

Meh. Morrison played SOME tough teams occasionally and got smoked more often than not; we play tough teams every week once conference play starts and despite the current disillusionment more than held our own this season with umpteen chances to win; one exception.

Don’t get me wrong on JoMo though; by far my favorite coach; I was devastated when he passed. To show you my world, the 1986 3-6-2 team is my favorite all time team; heart, hustle, grit, and fight; just couldn’t get over the hump that season. I think Morrison both captured the spirit of and defined what WAS gamecock nation at that time. It ain’t no more; espn, finebaum, Reddit, x, etc define what fans buy into now.