The postgame moments of college football are often filled with handshakes, hugs, and the rush of celebration, but after No. 13 South Carolina’s 24-11 victory over Virginia Tech on Sunday, one gesture stood out above the rest.
As the Gamecocks celebrated at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, quarterback LaNorris Sellers sought out legendary Hokies coach Frank Beamer, shook his hand, and handed him a game ball. It was a short interaction, but one that carried a lot of meaning.
The scene quickly went viral. ESPN’s video clip of the exchange had already racked up more than a million views by Monday morning, with fans praising Sellers for his class.
“Sellers is top notch human!!!!!” one fan posted.
Another wrote: “Classy!! Top notch all around!!”
A third added: “We’ve got a special one here coach — and I don’t just mean the player on the field. He’s a special human being. We’re so lucky to have him in Columbia.”
The emotional context behind the moment made it even more powerful. Sunday’s game carried heavy ties to the Beamer family — Shane Beamer played at Virginia Tech and later coached under his father, Frank, who is widely regarded as the greatest coach in Hokies history.
Frank and his wife, Cheryl, were honored before kickoff. Dressed in a South Carolina jacket paired with a Hokies lapel pin, Frank Beamer also delivered the pregame invocation.
“I was doing pretty good with the emotions until I did my walk and I saw my parents at the end of it,” Shane Beamer admitted afterward.
Later that night, at 11 p.m., the Gamecocks’ head coach shared his gratitude publicly, posting a heartfelt message to his quarterback.
“Thank you @LanorriSellers. Means so much to our entire family,” Shane Beamer wrote on X.
