Shane Beamer Stands Firm: South Carolina’s Spring Game Isn’t Going Anywhere
While several major programs are canceling their annual spring games, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer has no plans to follow suit.
Beamer recently spoke with ESPN’s Heather Dinich about the growing debate over whether spring games are still valuable. The discussion gained traction after Nebraska’s Matt Rhule scrapped his team’s game, citing concerns over roster tampering. In total, 19 Power 4 programs have canceled their spring games this year—but South Carolina is not one of them.
“We don’t get preseason games in college football,” Beamer stated. “I’ve got an opportunity with all of these freshmen—the last game they played was in high school—to let them play in front of tens of thousands of people. They get a chance to perform in a big crowd instead of waiting until our first game in Atlanta against Virginia Tech.”
Beamer Still Advocates for Preseason Games
Beamer has long pushed for college teams to have preseason matchups against outside opponents, something that already exists at every other level of football. With South Carolina losing several key starters, the reps under the lights at Williams-Brice Stadium will be crucial for the Gamecocks’ incoming talent.
The team faces significant turnover on both sides of the ball. On defense, they need to replace standouts like Nick Emmanwori, Kyle Kennard, O’Donnell Fortune, and multiple starters on the line and at linebacker. On offense, South Carolina is breaking in a new running back, reworking the entire interior offensive line, and incorporating a highly touted freshman receiver class.
No Tampering Worries for Beamer
While Rhule cited tampering as a major concern behind Nebraska’s decision, Beamer doesn’t seem too worried.
“They don’t need to watch a spring game to figure out who’s on our team if they are trying to tamper with them and get them,” he told Dinich.
South Carolina’s spring practices begin on March 19, with the spring game set for April 18 at 7:30 p.m. One thing is clear: Beamer isn’t backing down from tradition.
