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Shane Beamer, Dabo Swinney comment on special guests attending South Carolina-Clemson matchup

imageby: Jack Veltri11/21/23jacktveltri
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Nov 26, 2022; Clemson, SC, USA; Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney, left, and South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer talk before the game at Memorial Stadium in Clemson, S.C. Saturday, Nov. 26, 2022. Mandatory Credit: Ken Ruinard-USA TODAY Sports

Shane Beamer knows plenty of people will be in attendance for South Carolina’s big game against Clemson this Saturday. He’s even caught wind of some important people being in the crowd for the matchup, as well.

Former President Donald Trump will be in Columbia this weekend for the game as a guest of South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster.

When asked about the 45th president, Beamer didn’t have a ton to say at first.

“We’re going to have 80,000 people in attendance so I really don’t think I can comment on all 80,000 people that are going to be in the stadium,” he said.

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And it’s the same feeling on the other side of the state. Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney doesn’t care who will be in the stands for the annual rivalry game.

“Just care about who’s playing in the game, unless Shane’s going to put him in and throw him a halfback pass or something,” Swinney said. “I ain’t worried about who’s at the game. I just want to win it. Focused on who’s playing.”

However, Trump won’t be the only political figure in attendance this weekend. There’s a chance former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who graduated from Clemson, will also be there. Haley is challenging Trump for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination.

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“The fact that Donald Trump, Nikki Haley apparently and whoever else wants to come, President (Joe) Biden, James Clyburn, whoever from a political political realm,” Beamer said, “I think it’s just a great statement about those people want to be at this game. There’s a lot of eyes on this game, as well.

“And it’s another great statement about the things that are going on here in Columbia, South Carolina, whether it be football, city of Columbia, or academics, state of South Carolina, women’s basketball, men’s basketball, there’s a lot of great things going on in Columbia. And it’s neat that there’s that much attention on this game.”

South Carolina will face the Tigers at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday night at Williams-Brice Stadium. The game will be broadcasted on SEC Network with Taylor Zarzour, Matt Stinchcomb and Alyssa Lang on the call.