Spencer Rattler, South Carolina offense carrying more confidence entering Kentucky game

Spencer Rattler is beginning to find his groove for South Carolina, and it’s coming at the perfect time.

After sputtering a bit to begin the season and being handed two losses, the Gamecocks have found a reprieve in victories over Charlotte and South Carolina State. Now with a huge SEC game against Kentucky on the docket for Saturday, Rattler believes South Carolina is in better shape than it’s been all season long.

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“We work hard every day to be our best,” stated Rattler. “I feel like these last two weeks specifically have gotten us back on track. You know, we’re scoring points, no matter who the opponent is. 

“We’ve definitely got more confidence rolling into SEC play.”

While Rattler recognizes each game on the schedule is important, the value of SEC victories isn’t lost on the Gamecocks quarterback.

“Every game is important, but obviously getting into SEC play is a big game for us,” continued Rattler. “We don’t want to take it out of proportion and make it anything it isn’t.

“So we’re going to work hard every day, we know we’ve got a good opponent in-front of us, but we’re a good team as well.”

Thus far on the season for the Gamecocks, Rattler has completed 64.9% of his pass attempts, amassing 1,121 passing yards, four touchdowns and seven interceptions on the season. However, the South Carolina offense as a whole has begun to hit their stride, outscoring opponents 106-30 over their last two games.

Against Kentucky, the Gamecocks will need Spencer Rattler’s best. It’s a huge showdown for the program, and they’ll be hoping to leave the field with their first SEC win of 2022.

Shane Beamer downplays storylines ahead of Kentucky-South Carolina game

Moreover, 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.”