Shane Beamer makes passionate case for importance of bowl games

Shane Beamer and the South Carolina Gamecocks earned their way to an important bowl game. Friday’s Gator Bowl game against Notre Dame is one of the more high profile matchups this postseason, even if it’s not a New Year’s Six or College Football Playoff game.

“Yeah, it’s been great,” Beamer said of the lead up to the Gator Bowl. “I’m a bowl game guy. Love bowl games, what they mean to college football, for sure. I’ve been a part of a lot of different bowl games. This bowl is first class with the way they do things, the excitement level here. I think they’ve done a great job of giving our guys activities and things to do but also giving them their free time. We’re staying out by the beach. That’s been great. We’ve really enjoyed it.”

There is a lot of pageantry when it comes to bowl games, but Beamer acknowledged there’s still a job to do.

“To me, that’s what bowl games are, you’re there to win a football game, it’s a lot of work, but there needs to be some fun and enjoyment as well because these guys have worked their butts off to get to this point,” Beamer said.

“The fact that we were 1-2 at one point. I was getting asked questions about whether this team had given up and quit. Since that point, I think we’re 7-2 since that point. They’ve earned the right to be here because of their leadership and the way that they’ve played.”

South Carolina ended its regular season with a blowout win over a seemingly-playoff bound Tennessee Nov. 19 and followed it up with a road upset over rival Clemson. The Gamecocks earned their way into a high profile game against another hot team in Notre Dame.

“We’re here to win a football game, but we want them to have some fun, have a chance to finish this season the right way because of all the hard work they’ve put in to getting to a bowl game like the Gator Bowl in Jacksonville,” Beamer said. “That’s exactly what this week has been.

“It’s no surprise, my dad coached in five of these, I think, as a coach at Virginia Tech, five Gator Bowls. I know every time he came, he had an amazing experience. It’s only gotten better with Greg and the rest of his staff’s leadership.”

No. 20 South Carolina (8-4) takes on No. 19 Notre Dame (8-4) Friday at 3:30 p.m. ET.