South Carolina’s stunning second-half collapse against Texas A&M sparked harsh criticism across the college football world, and ESPN’s Paul Finebaum did not hold back. After the Gamecocks blew a 30-3 halftime lead and ultimately lost 31-30, Finebaum unloaded on head coach Shane Beamer during an appearance on The Matt Barrie Show.
“There’s nothing like blowing a lead like that, especially [against] the No. 3 team, especially at their house,” Finebaum said. “Of the 19 mistakes you make in the second half, you only make 18, you still win the game. But, leave it to Shane Beamer and his team to make every one of them.”
Finebaum also reminded viewers that this isn’t the first time South Carolina has folded in the late stages of a game. “By the way, go back about four weeks ago. We saw—not quite, it wasn’t nearly as bad—but it was as gruesome, when they blew that lead at the end of the game to Alabama.”
A Historic Collapse for South Carolina
Texas A&M’s comeback marked the largest in their program’s history. It also snapped a staggering SEC streak: entering Saturday, conference teams were 0-264 since 2004 when trailing by 27 points or more in league play. That streak broke at South Carolina’s expense.
The Gamecocks’ second-half performance was night and day compared to the first. They mustered only 76 total yards after halftime, while Aggies quarterback Marcel Reed exploded for 298 passing yards in the second half alone.
With the loss, South Carolina dropped to 3-7 overall and 1-7 in SEC play.
Finebaum Questions Beamer’s Future
Beyond the loss itself, Finebaum suggested new athletic director Jeremiah Donati may already be evaluating Beamer’s long-term fit in Columbia.
“He’s also got another problem, and that’s a brand new, state-of-the-art AD, who I’m sure is looking around,” Finebaum said. “By the way, Jeremiah Donati is in that new breed of ADs that is plugged in to where it’s at in college athletics right now.
“… Shane Beamer, right now—hate to say it—just looks like a loser. There’s no getting around it. I don’t know how he scrapes that away. Eight weeks ago, people were concerned he might leave for Virginia Tech. That’s no longer on the board. He’s got a better chance of leaving being shown the door than he does getting another job.”
If South Carolina were to part ways with Beamer without cause, the buyout sits just under $28 million, the 24th-largest among the 105 football contracts reviewed by USA Today.
What’s Next for South Carolina?
With bowl eligibility off the table, Beamer and his staff will try to salvage any momentum they can from the remainder of the season. The Gamecocks host Coastal Carolina this Saturday before closing the year with their rivalry matchup against Clemson on Nov. 29.
