Shane Beamer weighs in on idea of promotion, relegation in college football

South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer was caught off guard during his Tuesday press conference about the concept of promotion and relegation in college football.

The basis for his knowledge on the topic is the Emmy Award-winning Apple+ television series Ted Lasso.

“Hadn’t anticipated that question,” Beamer said. “I wish I had. I’m not trying to dodge the question. I did watch Ted Lasso this summer and knocked out all series so I’m familiar with relegation.”

The question was prompted by comments from Oregon State athletic director Scott Barnes, who said the possibility of a promotion/relegation system in college football seems likely with the way the world is heading.

“As you think about the future of even media rights, I think a sort of relegation model, either in unequal distribution, a contraction of teams and/or peer relegation will take place. I think that’s coming,” Barnes said last month.

Beamer said he did see the comments but doesn’t really know enough about how a system like that would work to comment on specifics.

“I did see those comments,” Beamer said. “I don’t know. I could probably do a little bit more research on it and give you a better answer. I did see that. I can maybe understand where he’s coming from, that standpoint. People get moved up, moved down. All that as well. It’ll certainly force schools, athletic departments, to really commit to how good do you want to be, resources and things like that as well.

“My question I don’t know if he was speaking to football specific or if he was talking to all sports at the university in general. I think that’s tough. If you’re a Group of Five school and you’re really good in this sport, but you’re terrible in the other sports, you get bumped up or not bumped up. There’s a lot of things.”

Beamer concluded his answer to the question by commenting on the fact he wouldn’t expect many coaches to know what relegation is. But can thank the fictional soccer coach for helping him understand the concept.

“I saw the comments, didn’t really dive into it,” Beamer said. “I had other things going on as well. But at least I’m familiar with that. Most of our coaches probably wouldn’t even know what relegation is if you ask them but I do know from Ted Lasso.”