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Former South Carolina Coordinator wells up when asked about the Gamecocks

DSC_0394by: Joe Macheca01/23/24joemacheca
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Photo: Chris Gillespie | GamecockCentral.com

On Sunday, it was announced that South Carolina’s special teams coordinator Pete Lembo had accepted the head coach opening at the University of Buffalo.

In his introductory press conference at Buffalo on Tuesday, Lembo got emotional when speaking about his relationship with Shane Beamer and the Gamecocks.

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“I don’t think that there’s any way that I’m here in front of you today if I didn’t first get the opportunity to go with Shane Beamer to the University of South Carolina,” Lembo said, fighting off the tears. “Shane’s a great person and many of you know about Frank Beamer and Shane is definitely Frank’s son. They’re both great people and I had an incredible experience the last three years in Columbia.”

For an area of football so close to the Beamers, Lembo succeeded in keeping it important. His departure leaves big shoes to be filled by his replacement.

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“It was a very special time in my 30-plus year career and it should be hard to leave a place. It was hard to leave them,” Lembo said.

Lembo spent three years in Columbia and spearheaded one of the best special teams units in the country. 2022 was Lembo’s best season, a season where he was named Phil Steele’s Special Teams Coach of the Year.

Lembo’s platoon also earned the No. 1 spot in ESPN’s special teams efficiency ranking. The unit also produced an All-American in punter Kai Kroeger.

The Staten Island, New York native has plenty of experience running his own program. Lembo has tallied a 112-65 mark as a head coach. His previous stops as a head coach include Lehigh, Elon and Ball State.

Lembo returns to the MAC, with plenty of new Buffalo fans in Columbia, South Carolina.

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