Shane Beamer breaks down his early thoughts on Notre Dame

After a two-year drought, South Carolina head coach Shane Beamer has brought the Gamecocks to their second straight bowl appearance in his second year at the helm. South Carolina will take on Notre Dame in the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl on December 30, and Beamer spoke about what he knows regarding the Irish from watching film this season.

“Yeah one common opponent getting ready for Clemson, and they certainly played great that night. Had an interception I think that was returned for a touchdown maybe, I know they blocked punt. I guess they had an interception backed up deep the Clemson threw and then they blocked a punt in that game as well and did a nice job offensively,” Beamer said.

Notre Dame’s win over Clemson was highlighted by scoring on all sides of the ball, with the Irish scoring on offense, returning an interception for a touchdown, and returning a blocked punt for the game’s opening touchdown. Beamer also watched season finale game against USC where they weren’t as fortunate and lost 38-27 to the Trojans.

“I watched them versus Southern Cal because we got back from Clemson that night and the Southern Cal game was on so I was watching that one not knowing I was gonna be playing Notre Dame in the bowl game, more just friends at Southern Cal with Lincoln (Riley) and players that I knew. It was the game that was on that I was flipping around and watching, so I’ve watched them a little bit,” Beamer explained.

Beamer also showed respect for the Irish, and the job head coach Marcus Freeman has done in his first season, drawing parallels between the seasons of both teams.

“Obviously don’t know Marcus Freeman, but great respect for what he’s done in his career and then this year as well,” Beamer said. “They started slow like we did in some ways but they’ve been on fire in a lot of ways and have done of continuing to get better throughout the year.”

Beamer may not be as familiar with Freeman, but he is familiar with the talent of his roster from recruiting many of their players, which should make for an exciting game in TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville at the end of the month.

“They’ve obviously got some players on their offense and defense that we tried to recruit either here at South Carolina or even when I was at Oklahoma, so I know they’ve got talent as well, because some of those guys we recruited heavily when I was at Oklahoma and South Carolina so I know they’ll be talented, well coached,” Beamer explained. “Great tradition, great team and it should be a heck of a matchup, I know the Gator Bowl’s gotta be excited about it.”