Shane Beamer Addresses Virginia Tech Speculation After Gamecocks’ Loss
It was a rough weekend for South Carolina football. The Gamecocks fell 31-7 at home to Vanderbilt on Saturday night, a defeat made worse when starting quarterback LaNorris Sellers exited in the first half with a head injury.
Now, with a pivotal SEC road matchup against Missouri looming next week, head coach Shane Beamer finds himself having to swat away distractions unrelated to his team’s struggles on the field.
On Sunday, Virginia Tech announced the firing of Brent Pry after the Hokies’ 0-3 start to the season. That immediately sparked speculation about Beamer’s potential return to Blacksburg, given that his father, Frank Beamer, built his Hall of Fame career at Virginia Tech from 1987 to 2015.
Beamer, however, made it clear where his priorities lie.
“I think the week of the Virginia Tech game, I told everyone how I feel about South Carolina and my love for this place,” Beamer said during his weekly teleconference, according to The State. “That’s where my focus is at right now, just getting our football team better.”
The statement was direct, but the chatter isn’t likely to die down anytime soon. Until Virginia Tech announces a new head coach, Beamer’s name will almost certainly remain part of the conversation.
For now, though, the Gamecocks turn their attention to Week 4, where they’ll travel to face an unbeaten Missouri team in Columbia.
