Shane Beamer celebrates win over Virginia Tech with father Frank, touts special teams touchdown
South Carolina coach Shane Beamer had talked about it for months. The build-up was enormous leading into the season opener against Virginia Tech, the former program that his father Frank Beamer piloted for years.
On Sunday afternoon in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Frank donned a black Gamecocks sports jacket. He was pulling for his son.
And, boy, did Shane deliver. His team fought tooth and nail and then ultimately wore down the Hokies, doing so with a trademark type play from the Frank Beamer era in Blacksburg: a special teams masterpiece.
South Carolina would go on to win 24-11, starting the season 1-0. And Shane sought out his father, Frank, after the game.
“Oh man, glad that one’s over,” the younger Beamer said. “Thought you’d like a special teams touchdown.”
The special teams touchdown was arguably the difference-maker in the game. It occurred after Shane Beamer opted to force Virginia Tech to punt once again after doing so and incurring a penalty for an illegal formation.
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What a brilliant decision that turned out to be. After the Hokies booted it away, the Gamecocks were ready.
Electric return man Vicari Swain fielded it at the 20-yard line, danced one way, then sprinted the other. He cut threw a row of defenders, leaving them grasping at air on the sidelines. He rumbled, bumbled and stumbled his way down to the end zone, eventually diving in for the score.
It broke open what had been a 10-8 game in South Carolina’s favor. Then quarterback LaNorris Sellers came through with the sealer. He found athletic phenom Nyck Harbor down the field for a 64-yard touchdown hookup a few minutes later that extended the lead to 24-11 with 7:42 left in the game.
Done and dusted. And for Frank Beamer, it was the end of whirlwind day. A fun family moment for all involved and another memory to store away.