LSU didn’t wait for December to clean house. Less than 24 hours after a humiliating 49–25 defeat to Texas A&M, the Tigers made a bold move — firing head coach Brian Kelly and offensive coordinator Joe Sloan. Despite averaging 25.8 points and 355.5 yards per game, LSU’s offense ranked dead last in SEC rushing, and the administration decided it had seen enough. The message from Baton Rouge was loud and clear: accountability starts at the top.
Meanwhile, in Columbia, South Carolina’s offense under Mike Shula has been even worse — yet no action has been taken. The Gamecocks sit last in the SEC and 127th nationally in total offense, managing just 302.1 yards per game, their lowest mark in over two decades.
If LSU’s production was enough to warrant sweeping changes, South Carolina’s stagnation raises an uncomfortable question — is this patience or paralysis?
Offensive Comparison (Through Week 9)
| Metric | LSU (Joe Sloan) | South Carolina (Mike Shula) |
|---|---|---|
| Points per Game | 25.8 | 20.4 |
| Total Yards per Game | 355.5 | 302.1 |
| Passing Yards per Game | 249.3 | 195.0 |
| Rushing Yards per Game | 106.3 | 107.1 |
| Third Down % | 38.6% | 33.6% |
| Total Touchdowns | 23 | 20 |
| Sacks Allowed (Yards Lost) | 16 (-129 yds) | 28 (-251 yds) |
Both programs have stumbled offensively, but LSU’s leadership refused to normalize mediocrity. South Carolina, on the other hand, continues to ask fans to “trust the process” — while fielding an offense that’s rewriting the record books for all the wrong reasons.
Beamer’s Dilemma
To be fair, Shane Beamer’s situation differs from Brian Kelly’s. Beamer has built a strong locker-room culture and sustained recruiting momentum, creating optimism for the program’s long-term trajectory. But even culture can’t outlast poor production.
Mike Shula’s offense, molded by his NFL background, leans on pocket passing and big offensive lines — a model ill-suited for today’s SEC tempo-driven, RPO-heavy systems. The scheme risks neutralizing LaNorris Sellers’ mobility, turning Nyck Harbor into a decoy, and reducing playmakers to short-yardage checkdowns and predictable inside runs.
As one Gamecock insider put it: “At some point, loyalty becomes liability.”
Accountability: Baton Rouge vs. Columbia
LSU’s firings weren’t just about play-calling — they were a statement of standards. Dismissing both the head coach and offensive coordinator showed that mediocrity won’t be tolerated, no matter the contracts involved.
In Columbia, however, urgency seems absent. The same offensive struggles repeat weekly: stalled drives, wasted possessions, and conservative calls that drain momentum. Even Beamer admitted that rewatching the film was “sickening.”
When your team ranks last in the SEC in total yards, third-down conversions, and red-zone scoring, the word “stability” starts to look like avoidance.
Beamer’s faith in Shula is admirable — but it’s isolating him from a fan base growing restless.
The Question That Won’t Go Away
LSU pulled the plug before November, choosing accountability over comfort. South Carolina, sitting at 3–5 and sliding, could do the same. With major matchups ahead, the Gamecocks have nothing left to lose and everything to gain by exploring a fresh offensive direction.
Because the truth is simple: if LSU can fire its head coach and offensive coordinator with better numbers than South Carolina’s, then the Gamecocks have no excuse for complacency.
If accountability matters in Baton Rouge — it should matter in Columbia, too.
