My message to players who might opt out of bowl:

[Coastal Gamecock]

Assuming we dont make playoffs, and I know these players wont see this but here it is anyway: If you are a pro prospect and opt out, THANK YOU for a magical 2024 season. 10 wins would be incredible. However, CFB has changed and making the 12 playoff is what matters. Yall players beat LSU and got screwed. Yall are truly 10-2 and a playoff team, but that said, I cant blame a pro prospect not wanting to risk if in an Outback Bowl. ESPECIALLY guys like Kennard and Rocket, who came here for 1 glorious year and made themselves true pro prospects. You guys set an example that USC can use to draw other portal guys now.

This season has set our culture and path to the playoff for the future and its awesome! Bring in the next Kennard, the next Rocket, and lets run it back again!!!

 

[Coastal Gamecock]

And yes this is a 180 from my past stance on opting out, but whats changed is how I see non-playoff bowls now. I used to think they were important, but the 12 playoff has truly made them irrelevant. A glorified spring game against another team. I almost think they shouldnt even count on a teams record just because the rosters are so gutted.

 

[18IsTheMan]

My message is: don't be a quitter. Don't let your last memory to the Gamecock fan base be you quitting on the team. No, these games are not glorified scrimmages, no matter what anyone tells you. That "rationale" doesn't even begin to make sense (though nobody has ever tried to make it make sense). This team was projected to get 5 wins. We have the chance to get to 10 wins for only the 5th time in program history and have a shot at a nearly top 10 finish. That would make this a historic season for Gamecock football. Don't just think of yourselves; think of the future of Gamecock football after you leave. Staying to help us win a bowl game, secure 10 wins and finish with a high ranking will go a long way towards securing top talent in recruiting and the portal. Stay. Be a part of history. Be a part of something bigger than yourselves. Be a part of building something that will stand long after you leave. Don't be the person who says "I got mine, so I'm outta here."

 

[Cackmandu]

My message is: don't be a quitter. Don't let your last memory to the Gamecock fan base be you quitting on the team. No, these games are not glorified scrimmages, no matter what anyone tells you. That "rationale" doesn't even begin to make sense (though nobody has ever tried to make it make sense). This team was projected to get 5 wins. We have the chance to get to 10 wins for only the 5th time in program history and have a shot at a nearly top 10 finish. That would make this a historic season for Gamecock football. Don't just think of yourselves; think of the future of Gamecock football after you leave. Staying to help us win a bowl game, secure 10 wins and finish with a high ranking will go a long way towards securing top talent in recruiting and the portal. Stay. Be a part of history. Be a part of something bigger than yourselves. Be a part of building something that will stand long after you leave. Don't be the person who says "I got mine, so I'm outta here."

I like the way you think and I hope our guys feel the same way, I just don't think that is realistic in this day and time!

 

[18IsTheMan]

I like the way you think and I hope our guys feel the same way, I just don't think that is realistic in this day and time!

It's downright shocking to me how many of our fans care so little about our chances of getting 10 wins and, for sure, a top 12 finish. That puts this season in a very very small handful (literally) of best Gamecock seasons ever. And, considering our preseason expectations, it's up there for best season ever.

Makes me wonder how many of our fans have been around longer than 4-5 years.

So few seem to know our history.

 

[Cackmandu]

It's downright shocking to me how many of our fans care so little about our chances of getting 10 wins and, for sure, a top 12 finish. That puts this season in a very very small handful (literally) of best Gamecock seasons ever. And, considering our preseason expectations, it's up there for best season ever.

Makes me wonder how many of our fans have been around longer than 4-5 years.

So few seem to know our history.

I was just thinking the same thing listening to the morning show! It’s definitely a special year in our history, that being said being part of OUR history means little to a young man looking at HIS future!

 

[18IsTheMan]

I was just thinking the same thing listening to the morning show! It’s definitely a special year in our history, that being said being part of OUR history means little to a young man looking at HIS future!

Unfortunately, true. No concern for our past or our future.

 

[SouthernBelly]

Time to incentivize. The school tells the players their future children’s education is already covered. The fans chip in for some top of the line prostitutes. I think they’ll stay for the bowl game.

 

[Sweetwatergolf]

It's downright shocking to me how many of our fans care so little about our chances of getting 10 wins and, for sure, a top 12 finish. That puts this season in a very very small handful (literally) of best Gamecock seasons ever. And, considering our preseason expectations, it's up there for best season ever.

Makes me wonder how many of our fans have been around longer than 4-5 years.

So few seem to know our history.

Been a fan 45+ years and well aware of the history. But, if a player is projected in top 3 rounds I don't blame the opt out choice. I always look at what happened to ML in that Tennessee game. Freak accident I know, but it can cost a player serious $ for the future.

 

[Rhode Island Dork]

Finish what you start. Don't be like the quitters who didn't play the Gator Bowl & cost us a victory there.

 

[18IsTheMan]

Been a fan 45+ years and well aware of the history. But, if a player is projected in top 3 rounds I don't blame the opt out choice. I always look at what happened to ML in that Tennessee game. Freak accident I know, but it can cost a player serious $ for the future.

lol, used to "if a player is a first round lock" then it became "if they're projected to go in the first 2 rounds". Now it's first 3 rounds.

How low can we go?

 

[will110]

If a player opts out it'll really sour my memory of him. FINISH THE SEASON. We have a chance for one of the best seasons in school history with a bowl win.

I think we get a good chance here to see just how good a culture Beamer has instilled in his team. If we don't make the playoff, do our players quit and don't care, or do they finish what they started? Do they pull the FSU from last year, or do the pull the UGA?

FSU had a great season last year, but the culture wasn't there. Norvell lost the locker room, and you can see the results in 2024.
UGA had a great season, and none of their players opted out. They're back in the SEC Championship game.

 

[18IsTheMan]

If a player opts out it'll really sour my memory of him. FINISH THE SEASON. We have a chance for one of the best seasons in school history with a bowl win.

I think we get a good chance here to see just how good a culture Beamer has instilled in his team. If we don't make the playoff, do our players quit and don't care, or do they finish what they started? Do they pull the FSU from last year, or do the pull the UGA?

FSU had a great season last year, but the culture wasn't there. Norvell lost the locker room, and you can see the results in 2024.
UGA had a great season, and none of their players opted out. They're back in the SEC Championship game.

Yes!

Part of what we are dealing with though, is schools bringing in portal players who have no real connection to the school. It doesn't matter to them what a schools history or future is. To us fans, it's EXTREMELY important to get that 10-win season and top 10-ish finish. It's important because of our history and important for our future.

Fans often care more than the players though.

I'm still holding out hope that Beamer's culture wins out and everyone stays engaged for the bowl game.

 

[Lurker123]

Yes!

Part of what we are dealing with though, is schools bringing in portal players who have no real connection to the school. It doesn't matter to them what a schools history or future is. To us fans, it's EXTREMELY important to get that 10-win season and top 10-ish finish. It's important because of our history and important for our future.

Fans often care more than the players though.

I'm still holding out hope that Beamer's culture wins out and everyone stays engaged for the bowl game.

We hired a DE from GT for one year. Does he care more about GT or us? Does he care about our historical lack of 10 win seasons?

I would expect mercenaries to act like mercenaries and then just be pleasantly surprised if they don't.