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How South Carolina is preparing during a short week
By Collyn Taylor
Devonni Reed is a seasoned vet to short weeks in college football. This week, he’ll get his first taste of it at South Carolina.
Reed—who participated in MACtion at Central Michigan—will be part of a Gamecocks team that saw its game against SC State moved up from Saturday to Thursday.
There are some inherent challenges of a shortened week, particularly condensing a week’s worth of game plan installation into two days.
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“The only thing different is the schedule. Football is football at the end of the day. You have to adjust to the schedule,” Reed said. “You might have class in the morning the day of a game. As long as you’re focused on the game and the task at hand you’ll be OK.”
Because the Gamecocks were originally scheduled to play Saturday and the game didn’t get moved until Tuesday morning, South Carolina will only get two full days of practice beforehand.
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South Carolina didn’t do any on-field practice Sunday and had its off day Monday before reconvening Tuesday morning.
The Gamecocks had their typical Tuesday practice, but now have to fit three or four days worth of installation into about two.
“We weren’t in full pads, went a little bit shorter and threw some things out as well,” Shane Beamer said Tuesday. “Tomorrow and the next day will be a combination of what we typically do on a Thursday and Friday. Just condense it and try to get it done in two days,” Beamer said. “It’s unique.”
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Beamer mentioned the Gamecocks have multiple coaches on staff with NFL ties who have played Sunday only to turn around to play Thursday.
Tight ends coach Jody Wright was with the Giants then analyst Freddie Kitchens and defensive ends coach Sterling Lucas have spent their entire careers in the NFL.
Beamer also spoke with the Dolphins, who play on Thursday this week, about their schedule during a short week.
The emphasis, though, is to approach this week as a professional.
“Just getting in the film room when you’re not in class. You just have to be excellent at being a student-athlete this week,” Eric Douglas said. “Getting your class work done early. Then whenever you finish that, get back up in the building and get in film on your own.”
The Gamecocks kick off against South Carolina State at 7 p.m. on the SEC Network.
They’ll practice again Wednesday before game day with one more full practice to install the game plan.
“We have to study film more than normal,” Jakai Moore said. “It’s close to game day. It’s sticking to the same plan but keep it simple.”
