Shane Beamer calls out Vanderbilt for not allowing Sir Big Spur in stadium: ‘Do better’

Sir Big Spur, South Carolina‘s live mascot, is at all of the football team’s home games and most of its away games, as well. However, not every university is as welcoming of the Old English Black Breasted Red Fighting Gamecock.

Vanderbilt doesn’t allow any live mascots inside its home arena, FirstBank Stadium. Evidently, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer took this rule personally. After the Gamecocks’ 28-7 win over Vanderbilt on Saturday, Beamer criticized the Commodores for not allowing Sir Big Spur to attend the game.

“I promised Sir Big Spur I would do this,” Beamer said. “Disappointed that Sir Big Spur is not here. I think it’s ridiculous that this is the only place apparently in the SEC that does not allow live mascots in the stadium.

“That is what makes this league special is the fact that LSU can have a freaking tiger at their stadium tonight and we can’t bring Sir Big Spur. Sir Big Spur came over and gave us a sendoff before we left the facility yesterday. I told them I would say hello to Sir Big Spur in the press conference. Come on Vandy, do better.”

South Carolina is currently on its seventh iteration of Sir Big Spur. The tradition began in 1999 and the live mascot only appeared at home games at first but eventually began to hit the road with the team, as well.

While Sir Big Spur was unable to stroll South Carolina’s sideline on Saturday, the Gamecocks played with plenty of passion. In the win, the Gamecocks tallied 452 total yards of offense while holding Vanderbilt to a mere 274.

South Carolina locked down Vanderbilt’s typically dynamic quarterback, Diego Pavia, who only completed 16-of-his-31 pass attempts for 166 yards and didn’t throw a touchdown.

The Commodores didn’t have an answer for South Carolina running back Raheim Sanders, who erupted for 126 yards and two touchdowns on just 15 carries. After the game, Beamer raved about his team’s performance.

“Just really happy for our guys to come in here, I think everyone thought there would be a letdown coming off last week,” Beamer said. “For our guys to come in here knowing it is going to be a gritty, tough, hard game just because of the way Vanderbilt plays football is really satisfying for us as a football team.”