Shane Beamer’s “Money” Remark Raises Eyebrows After Missouri Loss
When Shane Beamer started talking about money, it caught people off guard.
In the aftermath of South Carolina’s 29-20 loss to Missouri — a game in which the Gamecocks managed minus-9 rushing yards — Beamer was asked about the offensive struggles. His response quickly turned into an unusual remark about the transfer portal.
“Give them a little bit of credit, too,” Beamer said. “(Number) 40 is a really good player that they spent a lot of money on in the portal to get him there. And he was hard to block.”
The coach was referring to Missouri linebacker Josiah Trotter, a player South Carolina once recruited in high school and again when he entered the transfer portal from West Virginia. What stood out, though, was Beamer’s use of the word “money” — as if hinting that Mizzou outbid South Carolina in the NIL market.
While not improper (it’s perfectly legal in today’s college football landscape), Beamer has generally avoided such open talk about NIL. Normally, he opts for vague encouragement rather than singling out an opponent’s finances. Doing so after dropping to 2-2 made the comment feel especially out of character.
The remark raised questions: Was Beamer sending a message to fans and boosters about South Carolina’s financial position in the portal? Was it frustration that the Gamecocks’ 2025 portal class hasn’t delivered as expected? Or was it simply a slip fueled by the sting of defeat?
On Tuesday, Beamer clarified where responsibility lies when it comes to roster management and NIL allocation.
“I’m the head coach, so I’m in charge,” Beamer said. “It’s not like someone else is making the decision, in regards to money and how it’s being allocated, and they’re just sending me an email letting me know what we’re doing.
“Everything that happens in this building,” he added, “I’m responsible for. I hire good people and allow them to do their jobs, but there’s not a major decision that’s made in this program that I’m not responsible for.”
Beamer’s comments echo a broader reality across college football. Nebraska’s Matt Rhule, for example, said something similar this week when discussing his running back depth.
“Some people paid more money than I had,” Rhule admitted. “That’s the reality to it.”
Like every program, South Carolina is working within a budget. The staff decided to lean on returning linebackers Fred “JayR” Johnson and Jaron Willis, while also signing four high school prospects and two transfer additions — Shawn Murphy (Florida State) and Justin Okoronkwo (Alabama).
“So you’re always looking at the money from a rev-share standpoint,” Beamer said. “Again, I’m ultimately responsible for all those decisions.”
