14 in 14: South Carolina
Last season was one to forget and puts the Gamecocks close to rock bottom. What does Shane Beamer need to do to turn it around?
By: Bossman Slim
We’ve made it. Our last 14-in-14 of the offseason, looking hard at the South Carolina Gamecocks. We hope you’ve enjoyed this inaugural offseason of 14-in-14’s, we plan to make this a regular offseason series. Now let’s get into it.
Hope springs eternal. That’s what the folks in Columbia, SC are going off of these days. That and the constant positivity and outlook of new head coach Shane Beamer. After a stint of mediocrity from the end of the Spurrier era through Will Muschamp, with few bright spots between, fresh blood was needed to bring life back to Sandstorm.
So how is the state of the program? If you need a refresher on the biscuits rating system, see our first 14-in-14 on the Florida Gators.
State of the Program is… Flirting with the SEC abyss; 4/12 biscuits
At 2-8 in conference play last year, it was the final straw for Muschamp. He never could translate respectable recruiting into wins on the field. And so he was shown the door midseason after three straight losses. It’s hard to say much else, other than the program is in shambles.
Only ahead of Vanderbilt in the SEC East in 2020, that is not the Gamecock standard, especially with the talent that was in the building. While Muschamp left us some great meltdowns and soundbites, the era was an abject failure.
Enter Shane Beamer to clean up the mess. The South Carolina administration hailed Beamer’s hire as a coup, a big win for the program. Beamer’s initial speech at his press conference showed why they hired him - he is a good man, and he will lead the young men in his locker room well. He’s a South Carolina man after all.
It was all smiles at the presser, but it will only stay that way by stacking Ws. (Photo: South Carolina Athletics)
But Beamer wasn’t hired to increase the team GPA or make feel-good social media clips. He was hired to win games and help the Gamecocks regain their place near the top of the SEC East, competing for SEC Championships. He’s got a lot of work to do. And if you’ve read any of our previous 14-in-14’s, I think you know where it starts: recruiting. And those biscuits aren’t looking too hot. The 2021 class can be excused a bit, as Beamer had little time to keep it together and strengthen it. But dang does it hurt to look at. Just 13 commits, last in the SEC and 80th in the country, behind college football titans like San Diego State, UNLV, North Texas and UTSA. YIKES. But the Gamecock faithful can drink some more of that hope kool-aid. Beamer has built some early momentum in the 2022 class, where the Gamecocks currently sit at #16 in the 247 rankings, but there is a long way to go, and Ws to earn in 2021 to excite recruits.
What went right in 2020
It was a year to forget in Columbia, but there were a few performances worth remembering. The first of those was running back Kevin Harris, who rushed for over 1,000 yards and finished second in the SEC only behind Alabama’s Najee Harris. For a team that went 2-8, that’s pretty darn good. After that it was Shi Smith, who made circus catches and bailed out many drives for the Gamecocks. His stats don’t jump off the page, but his highlights do.
Finally, the play of defensive backs Jaycee Horn and Israel Mukuamu were bright spots, especially Horn’s two-interception game against Auburn that helped put the Tigers away. Unfortunately, both opted out of the last three games of the season after Muschamp was fired.
Only one of these players returns next year, Kevin Harris, making Beamer’s first year that much tougher.
What went wrong in 2020
We could write the great American novel on this, or possibly fill a few volumes the size of the Encyclopedia Britannica. But for the sake of your time and ours, we’ll keep it short and sweet. The main problem: the Garnet and Black still had the wrong coach at the top. Muschamp may have great support off the field from former players, but the onfield story was a different matter. The offense never clicked under first-year offensive coordinator Mike Bobo, and Collin Hill wasn’t able to deliver as the starter at QB. And the defense, supposed to be the strong side of the ball with Muschamp’s background, leaked like a sieve, finishing 10th in the SEC and giving up over 40 points 5 times.
2020 was a trainwreck as Muschamp was let go and the Gamecocks roster mutinied after his firing and the team lost 6 straight to end the season.
What the Gamecocks need in 2021
Recruiting, recruiting, recruiting, more recruiting, and stealing a win or two. If the Gamecocks can surprise one of the big guys, like Florida, Georgia, or A&M, they’ll build trust and belief in the locker room and the coaching staff can take that on the recruiting trail.
Much like Bryan Harsin at Auburn, Clark Lea at Vandy and the other new coaches, this year will be all about culture. Shane Beamer has to win the locker room, get buy-in from the players on the roster, and establish a culture that can carry the Garnet and Black to future wins.
How they can earn some extra biscuits
Follow the blueprint above. Sitting at a lowly 4 biscuits, there is much room for improvement, and it won’t take a whole lot. SC needs to finish in the top 25 in recruiting, finish .500 or better and show significant improvement, even if the result is a loss.
All that is easier said than done. Spurs up, Coach Beamer.
Did we get it right? Completely wrong? What’d we miss? Chirp us on Twitter @biscuitsandsec.
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