Shane Beamer downplays the possible additional offseason storylines ahead of Kentucky-South Carolina game

If this weekend’s Kentucky–South Carolina game doesn’t sound like a big matchup, you likely weren’t paying much attention this offseason. Storylines circled after some comments Wildcats coach Mark Stoops made ended up linked to Gamecocks coach Shane Beamer. Beamer, for his part, is downplaying those storylines this week.

Long story short: Beamer has been flashy on social media trying to breathe life back into the USC program, and Stoops seemingly took a shot at a viral video clip the Gamecocks put out just prior to SEC Media Days, saying it takes more than “stupid sunglasses” to change a program’s culture.

Stoops made those comments while at SEC Media Days filming a special for the Marty and McGee Show that wouldn’t be released until a month after SEC Media Days. When the show aired, both coaches were asked about the seeming potshot.

The Kentucky coach would go on to deny he was referring to Beamer, noting he was referring to his own program-building process in Lexington, Ky.

Whatever the case, both coaches are opting to steer clear of those storylines prior to this week’s game, whether they’re deriving a little extra motivation from them or not.

“They’re all important, that’s not coach-speak,” Beamer said. “Any time you get back in the SEC it’s critical, as well. We’ve got great respect for their program. This is a game that was a big game when I was here before.”

‘Cats have had upper hand in Kentucky-South Carolina game lately

Stoops’ program has won seven of the last eight meetings in the annual rivalry after South Carolina had put together its own run of 13 wins in 14 meetings from 2000-2013.

Beamer was a part of a few of those South Carolina wins as an assistant coach on Steve Spurrier‘s staff. He was there in 2007, when No. 11 South Carolina knocked off No. 8 Kentucky in a nationally televised Thursday night game. He was there in 2010, when the Wildcats upset the No. 10 Gamecocks with a 24-yard touchdown pass with 1:15 left to play.

“I remember, I think I talked about it last week, Kentucky coming here nationally ranked on a Thursday night and us winning,” Beamer recalled. “And then all you guys that were here, I mean we beat Alabama (the week before), they were No. 1 in the country, and then I’m still having visions of Randall Cobb on fourth down or whatever it was on a game-winning touchdown pass.”

Neither program has quite achieved those heights in recent years, though Kentucky has been on the uptrend and might be on the verge again under Stoops, while South Carolina has tailed off post-Spurrier.

Want to re-establish your program as a real threat in the SEC East if you’re South Carolina? Beating No. 13 Kentucky on the road would be a good start.

“This game’s always been competitive and I think it’s two programs that have a lot of respect for each other and it’s certainly a critical game for us,” Beamer said. “It’s the next one on the schedule. We had a heck of a game with them last year and couldn’t quite finish and get over the hump and win that game. I know our guys are excited for the challenge this week.”