Alright everyone, live from Orlando, it’s been a tough day for the South Carolina Gamecocks. They just couldn’t recapture that late-season magic in their 21-17 loss to Illinois in the Citrus Bowl.
Coach Shane Beamer isn’t blaming the 31-day layoff between their last regular season game and this bowl matchup. He acknowledged the challenge of balancing rest and staying sharp, noting both teams faced the same situation. As Beamer said, “It’s something you always struggle with as head coach,” finding “the balance of keeping your team sharp and ready to play…and giving them a break.” He added that the long layoff makes it “so much like a game one, the first game of the season.” Despite this, Beamer insisted, “(But) I thought both teams handled it well. I wouldn’t say it was necessarily a challenge. Our guys were ready to play.”
However, the performance on the field tells a different story. The Gamecocks (9-4), who finished the regular season winning six of their last seven games, looked out of sync. There were dropped passes, penalties, fumbles, missed tackles, and missed opportunities. It seemed the long break cooled off the team that was once considered one of the hottest in the nation. This loss also means the wait continues for the program’s fifth double-digit win season and first since 2013.
The past month has brought significant changes for South Carolina. Offensive coordinator Dowell Loggains left to become Appalachian State’s head coach. Mike Shula stepped in to run the offense. Additionally, they had two star players opt out of the bowl game, plus others have entered the transfer portal.
Despite the close score, at just a four-point difference, it’s hard not to wonder what a fully intact Gamecocks team could have accomplished if they had been in the College Football Playoff. As the article states, “All things considered, that four-point margin between the Gamecocks and Illini seems even smaller. And it drives the vision of what a fully loaded USC team could’ve done if it had suited up for a playoff game.”
The article also highlights the unpredictability of college football by mentioning Alabama’s loss to Michigan in the ReliaQuest Bowl. If a program like Alabama can have such a stumble, it serves as a reminder that any team, including South Carolina, is vulnerable.
Adding to the Gamecocks’ woes, All-American defensive back Nick Emmanwori left the game at halftime, seemingly making a “business decision” to protect his future NFL prospects. This raises the question of whether he would have made the same choice in a CFP game.
The article concludes by emphasizing that the focus now shifts to the future. While this loss is a disappointment, it doesn’t diminish the overall progress the Gamecocks have made. The question now becomes: what will they do for an encore in 2025? We’ll have to wait 242 days to start getting some answers.
