Towson head coach Pete Shinnick Opens up to His team About Facing South Carolina at William Brice Stadium / sportsearchers.com

Towson head coach Pete Shinnick understands that his team is heading into an entirely different level of college-football atmosphere when it visits South Carolina at Williams-Brice Stadium. He emphasized that the Tigers should appreciate the opportunity while using it as a chance to improve.

“This is an amazing environment. This is a whole different experience.”

Shinnick specifically pointed to the unique challenge of playing an SEC opponent at night under the lights, while encouraging his players not to become overwhelmed by the occasion. His message is to enjoy the experience but remain focused on development.

“We want our guys to enjoy the experience but get better in the process.”

Towson enters the matchup after already facing an FBS opponent. The Tigers played Navy on Sept. 5 and were defeated 42-15, with Navy’s rushing attack producing an impressive 506 yards. The South Carolina game therefore represents another major test against a significantly larger FBS program.

Historically, this is a notable matchup for Towson because the Tigers have not faced an SEC team since traveling to LSU in 2012. Towson actually held a brief lead in that contest before ultimately losing 38-22, giving the program some experience with the intensity of SEC competition.

“We know this game was on our schedule for a long time. We knew it came after Navy.”

The scheduling of the South Carolina game also has an interesting connection to the Gamecocks. The matchup was announced in October 2022, shortly after Steven Eigenbrot became Towson’s athletic director. Eigenbrot previously spent 12 years at South Carolina, including senior administrative roles and work with the Gamecock Club. During his time there, he was involved with fundraising for projects including the Long Family Football Operations Center, Spurrier Indoor Facility and Williams-Brice Stadium renovations.

South Carolina is also providing Towson with a $550,000 guarantee for making the trip to Columbia. For an FCS program, the financial component is an important part of these non-conference opportunities, while the coaching staff can use the game as preparation for the remainder of the FCS schedule.

“When you play non-conference games that are FBS, you’ve got to continue to get better and continue to grow.”

Despite recognizing the enormous challenge ahead, Shinnick believes these games can make his team better. Rather than judging the matchup solely by the final score, he wants his players to learn from individual plays and situations.

“Every play has to be a learning lesson and something we are taking from it.”

🏈 South Carolina vs. Towson

Date: Saturday, Sept. 12
Time: 7 p.m.
Location: Williams-Brice Stadium
TV/Streaming: SEC Network Plus / ESPN+
Betting line: South Carolina favored by 42.5 points at DraftKings and FanDuel

Bottom line: Towson knows it faces a massive challenge against South Carolina, but Shinnick is framing the trip as more than just a difficult game. The Tigers hope to embrace the SEC atmosphere, compete, learn from every possession and emerge better prepared for the heart of their FCS schedule.